Antinatalism and Depression XXVI: Achilles at Troy
Channel: Anekantavad
Date: 2012-08-08

Damned if you do, and damned if you don't. Literally damned. Morally condemned.

"It is impossible to know what is right, and yet do what is wrong" - Socrates
To many people, this statement is best foreshortened to "It is impossible to know what is right" - the rest is just run-on.

When a human being attempts to "do the right thing" every second of every day of his/her life, is it reasonable to judge that person (at least morally)? If so, who is playing god: the person in the dock, or the person acting as jury?

The horror of existence, as illustrated by the Greeks: Achilles dragging Hector's body through the dirt: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3244079740_541d6df918.jpg He is violating his own moral code (and will pay dearly for it), but his feelings as a human being have overwhelmed his warrior's code. He is, ultimately, a victim of clashing moral expectations. He loves Patroclus (whom Hector has killed) and this loss deprives him of the strength to do what is honourable.

It is interesting that the Shaming of Hector's Body takes place in a chariot, the same place where Krishna shows Arjuna a way out of the tangle of conflicting moral expectations.