What if you apply the basic premise to itself? i.e.
I should believe that the statement, "Every 'should' statement is false, or meaningless," is true.
I don't see the word "should" meaning, "I'm planning to do X". That's "shall," or in a weaker sense, "will." Rather, "should" means "ought" and denotes a sense of compelling, a submission to a higher power, greater good, etc. Perhaps this is why you dislike this word :o)
Lastly, your idea could possibly fail its own litmus test (slavery, Holocaust) if the wording of the examples were changed slightly. For example, what if Hitler were motivated purely by self-interest? He'd simply be an uptight guy who really hated Jews and wanted them wiped off of the Earth, but really did not do so out of a sense of duty (a "should"). Regardless of historical accuracy (Hitler was a devout Catholic, after all) one could have a Holocaust-esque scenario motivated purely by self-interest.
Of course, I'm of the mind that everything is motivated by self interest, ot at least should be. :o)
Lastly, you have only one sentence in the entire post dedicated to the improvement of morals (I suppose fitting, given your avoidance of "should" statements). I guess your treatise begs the question, "Okay, I know what not to do, but how do I become a better person?"
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A quick critique:
Date: 2002-02-02 07:04 am (UTC)I should believe that the statement, "Every 'should' statement is false, or meaningless," is true.
I don't see the word "should" meaning, "I'm planning to do X". That's "shall," or in a weaker sense, "will." Rather, "should" means "ought" and denotes a sense of compelling, a submission to a higher power, greater good, etc. Perhaps this is why you dislike this word :o)
Lastly, your idea could possibly fail its own litmus test (slavery, Holocaust) if the wording of the examples were changed slightly. For example, what if Hitler were motivated purely by self-interest? He'd simply be an uptight guy who really hated Jews and wanted them wiped off of the Earth, but really did not do so out of a sense of duty (a "should"). Regardless of historical accuracy (Hitler was a devout Catholic, after all) one could have a Holocaust-esque scenario motivated purely by self-interest.
Of course, I'm of the mind that everything is motivated by self interest, ot at least should be. :o)
Lastly, you have only one sentence in the entire post dedicated to the improvement of morals (I suppose fitting, given your avoidance of "should" statements). I guess your treatise begs the question, "Okay, I know what not to do, but how do I become a better person?"