To entertain myself

[garran]

I am trying to determine which AD&D alignment best corresponds to the theories we've discussed in Moral Philosophy. (I will stop short of actually designing a specialty priest for each.)

Cultural Relativism espouses True Neutrality, in its most guarded and nonjudgemental form.

Subjectivism and Emotivism are nearby, but I think they embrace meaninglessness enough to have slipped into Chaotic Neutral.

Divine Command is amoral; most of it depends on the alignment of the God in question. I suppose that it requires its adherents to behave in a Lawful Neutral manner, though, as does Natural Law.

Ethical Egoism is Neutral Evil, with almost textbook fidelity. (This is the only theory here considered which falls unquestionably under TSR's descriptions of evil.)

Utilitarianism, conversely, asks behaviour that is unquestionably Neutral Good - the consequences of each action weighed, and that choice with the best outcome taken. (Since this is often the alignment I assign myself, it's interesting that Utilitarianism makes me as uncomfortable as it does.)

Kantianism (what an awkward word) is Lawful Good. You could totally have a Paladin of Kant.

Social Contract Theory is hard; it might be Lawful Neutral, although it suggests that you ought to obey cultural standards from very egoistic motives. Still, that's probably closest.

Virtue Theory (that's Aristotle, originally) is also difficult. I suspect that if you had someone who excelled in every virtue, they would probably come out Neutral Good, but it's by no means a clear thing.

It's amusing that this exercise is so helpful and clarifying to my understanding.

Edit: Oops! I forgot the Ethics of Care! With its emphasis on individual relationships and disdain for larger principle, it can probably best be described as Chaotic Good.

Comments

[vorkon.livejournal.com]

It could probably be argued that Ethical Egoism could be considered True Neutral, at least as they describe it in third edition.

Then again, the way they describe True Neutral in third edition is a load of horseshit.

And by the way, why NOT design specialty priests? It sounds like great fun! ^_^

[haibane-rachan.livejournal.com]

This makes me a little sick, because I hate how D&D people always bring everything back to fucking D&D. I mean, Jesus Christ, can you see the world without your stupid fucking gaming construct? GAH!!!! [/is the fucking stormcloud pissing rain all over this little parade] (That "you" is general, btw.)

But yeah.. the whole D&D alignment shit makes me want to beat my head into a wall until I start splatting out grey matter.

[opt513.livejournal.com]

Those specialty clerics would be amusing, I'd imagine.