Originally posted by: Amused
Incentive leads to people EXPECTING rewards, and failing in or dropping altogether their ethical code if and when that incentive expectation is not met. The carrot on a stick philosophy of ethics fails for this very reason. Look at some of the people in this thread who refuse to adopt ethics because they see others not doing so. They think ethics are only worth it if everyone else is doing it too.
If we're talking strictly on the process then you cant assume that the mechanism will fail -- that karma wont maintain balance.
If there is no "...others do unto you", then golden rule is also invalidated. not that it is ideal to begin with. one who does not value his/her life can go ahead and take another.
karma is action-unspecific
