The Blurred Multiverse, or Whether Plato’s Alcibiades-1 Provides Clues for Reasoning on Morality

Plato’s Alcibiades-1 is being researched in order to illustrate the difficulty of defining good and just actions, especially in the context of existence of ideal and real worlds. The concept of common moral values is questioned, as decision-making often involves ethical dilemmas. The principle of double effect (allowing base consequence for good purpose) is discussed and questioned in more complex situations. The aforementioned problems are discussed in their interaction. The article challenges simplistic justifications for war and emphasizes the need for critical reflection on the morality of conflict. Philosophers like Heraclitus saw war as a necessary part of progress. Hobbes viewed a state of nature as constant war of all against all, driven by self-interest. Hegel considered war a necessary evil and a catalyst for change. In a result, the text acknowledges the positive outcomes of some wars, like the Paralympics emerging from World War II. This is presented as a rare example of positive outcomes from war. However, current armed conflicts underscore the moral complexities and human costs of wars. The article concludes by referencing Plato’s view that knowledge of good resides within us, questioning how AI can be programmed with the values we have not fully grasped ourselves. The text argues that any conflict, even internal and emotional, is a complex ethical issue with no straightforward solutions. It highlights the ambiguity of ethical conflicts and immense human costs associated with war, prompting reflection on the true purpose of moral values and existence of multiverse within us.

Keywords: moral values, necessary evil, artificial intelligence, multiverse problem, ethical cognition.