Main Topics of Socrethics

Starting Point

▪         Starting point of the Socrethics research is the emotional shock, which is created by extreme cases of suffering. The occupation with the phenomenon of suffering is (in accordance with Nichomachean ethics) not a means to an end, but an end in itself.

▪         An analytical approach to suffering is confronted with unpleasant theses. One of them is that the degree of suffering increases with evolution and seems not to be limited. The degree of happiness increases as well, but suffering cannot be compensated by happiness across individuals.

Science  

The basis of every therapy is the understanding of suffering. The prime goal is therefore the development of a contemporary theory of karma, i.e. a theory of the origination and dispersion of suffering.

▪         Does the cultural fight against suffering with its increasing complexity and its prolongation of lifetime lead to higher degrees of suffering (in analogy to the biological level)? The answer to this question requires analyzing the ambivalence of technological progress.

▪         Can the distribution of suffering be influenced in a long-term perspective? Will an extremely suffering minority pay the price for the progress of the majority (in analogy to the biological level)?

Ethics

Greek skepticism started the debate concerning the justification of suffering, known as theodicy. In a contemporary philosophical debate suffering cannot be charged to a divine creator any more, but (indirectly) to all individuals who procreate. On the other hand, turning against life might be a hopeless undertaking and result in an additional kind of suffering. The situation is characterized by a moral dilemma. What is the rational answer to the fact that traumatic forms of suffering exist and persist?

▪         Is it compassion and alienation in the tradition of Theravada-Buddhism?

▪         Is it the non-violent promotion of ethical knowledge in the tradition of Mahajana-Buddhism?

▪         Is it political and humanitarian action in the occidental tradition?

▪         Is it technological progress?