Introduction
Intuitions come first, strategic reasoning comes second. Moral intuitions arise automatically - long before moral reason. The intuitions drive the reason.
Moral reason as a way to figure out the truth: Leads to frustration by how foolish, biased and illogical others are when they disagree with you.
Moral reasoning is a skill evolved to further our social agendas.
Look for others’ moral intuitions, not their moral arguments. The latter is mostly post hoc constructions.
Side note: In Europe, liberal does not mean leftist. It means valuing liberty above all else. Hence, it is closer to libertarianism. In this book, however, liberal means leftist.
A quote from Sengcan.
“The Perfect Way is only difficult for those who pick and choose;
Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear.
Make a hairbreadth difference, and Heaven and Earth are set apart;
If you want the truth to stand clear before you, never be for or against.
The struggle between ‘for’ and ‘against’ is the mind’s worst disease;”