Wednesday Open Thread: First Do No Harm

It's Day 332 of the Year 2018 CE
So, November 28, 2018 - for my reference if nothing else.


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It widely believed that doctors swear an oath that begins with "First do no harm." That's very possibly why the large industrial corporate hospitals don't let them get involved in the admissions process, but that is another tale for another day. It is possibly also the the reason that some religious hospitals isolate them from involvement in formulating certain medical policies and decisions, which is also another story for another time. In fact, that isn't part of the Hippocratic Oath, but that doesn't really matter for my purposes. What I want to discuss is the use of that principle as what I am going to call an "action maxim".

OK, a maxim can be considered to be "a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct." but that's not what this is about. Wikipedia, in part, gives us the following:

A maxim is a concise expression of a fundamental moral rule or principle, whether considered as objective or subjective contingent on one's philosophy. A maxim is often pedagogical and motivates specific actions. The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy defines it as:

Generally any simple and memorable rule or guide for living; for example, 'neither a borrower nor a lender be'. Tennyson speaks of 'a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart (Locksley Hall), and maxims have generally been associated with a 'folksy' or 'copy-book' approach to morality.
...
Deontological ethics
In deontological ethics, mainly in Kantian ethics, maxims are understood as subjective principles of action. A maxim is thought to be part of an agent's thought process for every rational action, indicating in its standard form: (1) the action, or type of action; (2) the conditions under which it is to be done; and (3) the end or purpose to be achieved by the action, or the motive. The maxim of an action is often referred to as the agent's intention. In Kantian ethics, the categorical imperative provides a test on maxims for determining whether the actions they refer to are right, wrong, or permissible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_(philosophy)

I'm not going to go full bore into the Kantian Categorical Imperative, nor endorse it, and I am especially not going to address Kant's absolutism, beyond saying that it is, in my opinion, not remotely necessary to the functining of his categorical imperative. There is no reason that maxims fulfilling his categorical cannot be conditional or relativistic. So what then is this categorical?

"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law."

Essentially, the basis, motive, purpose, intent and goal of your actions should be such as would be proper for anybody and everybody to adopt and act on in similar circumstances. The much vaunted "golden rule" and many of its predecessor and successor formulations arguably should qualify, except for the fact that history shows us that populations do not abide by such rule except in somewhat rare or trivial instances.

So, as separate from any old pithy aphorism, I use "action maxim" to denote those maxims which I believe fit Kant's categorical, rules of action or decision that should always be followed, by all comers under appropriate circumstances. i believe that "do no harm" and/or "first, do no harm" fills the bill. This is no trivial matter, as I will attempt to explain. One often hears the "What difference will it make?" objection query to a proposed course of action. For example, it was recently "Bank Transfer Day". If you attempt to persuade people to shift their funds out of banks it is quite common for people to point out that their action, even that of their whole family, or neighborhood, is chicken feed to any sizeable bank. This argument for inaction pops up in every aspect of living. Eschew ozone depleting chemicals? What difference will my action make. Recycle, compost, plant a tree, conserve energy, conserve water, all of those campaigns and ideas routinely run into this counter-argument. And this, then, is the answer. Do not, yourself, actively abet and perpetuate the problem. Perhaps the trite old "If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem" is an over-broad formulation, but clearly we should not actively engage in behavior that causes harm. Once we accept that, we can then attempt to discern the fine points of what acts and activities do and do not cause such harm, but first we need to resolve to do no harm, or at least as little as possible.

Thus, all of us should be dedicated to "first do no harm", even indirectly, as an action maxim. Long before trying to ascertain how to maximize the total good, we need to stop abetting the bad. "Don't fuck it up!" is, after all, an instinctive motto.

(Image: Caduceus symbol by Jon Tester -- public domain)

OK, it's an open thread, so go for it ...

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enhydra lutris's picture

@lotlizard
certainly welcome out new teratogenic overlords, maybe.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

magiamma's picture

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enhydra lutris's picture

@magiamma

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

enhydra lutris's picture

yesterday, no change and damn little hope -

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

enhydra lutris's picture

or at a mimimum, try not to make things any worse, so as to not keep waking up singing:

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

It's been 10 days and I'm glad this is the first time I have ever pulled an external oblique, or whatever this is. For future reference, there is an acronym for the first 72 hours of a sprain: RICES. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Stabilization. I really biffed by using a heating pad and taking ibuprofen for the first 36 hours, I couldn't stop shaking without the heat to calm the spasms. I left my neighbor a message last Monday, and she called back on Thanksgiving without much to say. Meanwhile, I broke out with hives all over my back from the ibuprofen I guess, so I stopped taking it. Everything hurts all the time now, it is constant but not like those dagger spasms. so gnarly

That's life, now I feel lucky to have lived this long without constant back pain. Maybe in six or eight weeks it'll get a little better. luck bucket half-full

peace

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enhydra lutris's picture

@eyo
but, nonetheless, have no good advice beyond be very careful with all of your movements and try not to extend our arms with any weight whatsoever in/on them. Good luck ahd have the best day that you can.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris thanks, I wish you good health. I see now how things change through the eyes of a tender back, like why on earth is the bed four feet off the floor? All of my old ways hurt now, seventeen steps is one flight of stairs. no valley no mountain

I was invited to "Go f*ck" myself yesterday, downtown in the cold rain, by an owner who "Treats her dog better than most people", like tying it up outside as it barks and shakes to come inside, or get under the eave on the sidewalk. Short leash. All I said was "Yeah, I can tell" but I also flipped the bird in return when she f-bombed me. regrets

pain grouch

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magiamma's picture

@eyo
ten minutes on ten off is the best anti-inflammatory ever - says my friend in the hand therapy business. Sorry to hear about your back and the maybe, ibuprofen reaction. Never take ibuprofen w/o food first. 200 mg every four hours if you take it. I take it w a half a banana if I need to do so when I am not having a meal. Wish i could offer more. Sending good thoughts. Hope it gets better soon. peace eyo.

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@magiamma thanks, I have a freezer pack strapped to my back right now standing up typing, should have known better. Boney fingers and bad shoulders is maybe why I can't take another ibuprofen or other over-the-counter drug, need an alternative. I walked too far in the rain yesterday, had back spasms this morning. Spasm is such a funny word now, but not really. dagger twist out of nowhere is how it feels. Not recommended while in the crosswalk.

I picked up a tin of rescue pastilles, for stress. Stress candy, tastes like feet. lol vive la france

peace

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Raggedy Ann's picture

Do no harm.
Three simple words.
Three simple words
so difficult for people
to live by.
Do no harm.
Live to love.

Have a beautiful day, folks! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

enhydra lutris's picture

@Raggedy Ann
that pithy summary. Have a beautiful day yourself.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Azazello's picture

which is some of the densest prose I've ever read, to understand the Categorical Imperative.
My mom used to ask me all the time, when I was a child, "What if everybody did that ?"

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

earthling1's picture

@Azazello
an interger of forty-two?
s/

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

enhydra lutris's picture

@earthling1
notwithstanding, all we really know about 42 is that 7 is a freaky number and that there are 42 gallons in a barrel.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

enhydra lutris's picture

@Azazello
Husserl, or so I was told oh so long ago.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

enhydra lutris's picture

@Azazello

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

magiamma's picture

Furthering Unexamined Collective Knowledge To Help Initiate Strategic Shifts in Hierarchical Institutional Tyranny

morning el et al. back in the saddle here. we have rain, thankfully. birds are a singin' and I am a bloggin'. woo hoo.

be kind to all beings. thx for the ot and have a good one...

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enhydra lutris's picture

@magiamma
here. I'm saving one of Katie's more cheerful and upbeat vids for your next post, to cheere you up, heh. Wink

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

magiamma's picture

@enhydra lutris

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Barbara Lee just narrowly lost the vote for the Democratic caucus chair to a corprocrat. We have to move away from this and it is up to Republican voters to let us do that. They are holding the country hostage with their continual support for fascist assholes who are sowing the seeds of all our destruction. Republicans need to be pushed out of the picture so that we can deal with the corruption of the Democrats without the threat of turning into a hate-filled, violent dictatorship. Wake the f**k up Trumpers.

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Beware the bullshit factories.

earthling1's picture

@Timmethy2.0
But someone noted the Republicans are THE greatest threat to life on this planet.
I can't argue that.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

@earthling1

someone noted the Republicans are THE greatest threat to life on this planet.
I can't argue that.

Which sucks because we have a lot of other things to deal with besides the blind destruction of the planet by Republicans, such as the continuing corruption of the lesser evil party.

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Beware the bullshit factories.

enhydra lutris's picture

@Timmethy2.0
parties by their true names, The Capitalist Party, and The Other Capitalist Party.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

earthling1's picture

I've developed my lifestye to reflect the maxium "First, do no harm".
From driving an electric car to capturing the cold water in the piping from the hot water heater, I try to be thoughtful in everything I do.
Repairing, repurposing, recycling, or replacing with used anything that breaks or fails in my household.
Composting and gardening, check.
Making gifts by hand, check.
I could spend an hour listing things I do that have become subconscious habit.
Some people call me frugal. Some call me crazy.
But I know in my heart I'm doing the right thing, right down to planting milkweed for the Monarch butterflys, flowers for the bees, and a reverence for all life.
I am only one, but I feel like a powerful one.
Thanks again for giving me the space to vent.
Peace on earth, for the sake of all life.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

enhydra lutris's picture

@earthling1
repurpose front. We still don't have an electric vehicle, but our panels push a lot more into the grid than we consume, so we're still attacking carbon, just from the other end. Some sort of EV is definitely next, but Fnord only knows when.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

earthling1's picture

@enhydra lutris
is still good for 30% or $7500 max.
With all the factory, dealer, state, and federal incentives, I paid about $17k for my sticker priced $34k 2016 Nissan Leaf.
2019 is the last year for full credit on solar arrays. I'm angling for that next year. It's 30% no cap.
Also angling for a new roof next year. Want to do alluminum or steel in brite white to reflect heat.
Have already taken advantage of the credits for home weatherization and geo thermo heat pump HVAC.
I know it really pisses the Conservative Republicans off to no end, but without the Federal Energy Tax Credit Act of 2009, I probably would never be able to afford all these energy saving upgrades and make the switch to pollution and fossil fuel free transportation.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

@earthling1 @earthling1
The credit is only good for the first 200,000 models that a car company sells. Tesla has just about sold 200,000. Way more than any other EV. I sure see quite a few of them in Oakland's various upscale and gentrified neighborhoods. So lets see here: 200,000 x $7500.00 = 15 million damn wrong , 1.5 billion bucks. That must be like a fraction of a second of government spending pocket change with a huge payoff. Imagine if all government spending worked like that.

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Beware the bullshit factories.

k9disc's picture

mail today:
[video:https://vimeo.com/303393514]

And if you want to see it on our website with some commentary.

Pretty excited about it.

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“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu

enhydra lutris's picture

@k9disc

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --