Written by: wikipedia
Morality, in the strictest sense of the word, deals with that which is regarded as right or wrong. The term is often used to refer to a system of principles and judgments shared by cultural, religious, secular (eg. Humanist) and philosophical communities who share concepts and beliefs, by which people subjectively determine whether given actions are right or wrong.
These concepts and beliefs about right and wrong are often generalized and codified by a culture or group, and thus serve to regulate the behavior of its members. Conformity to such codification may also be called morality, and the group may depend on widespread conformity to such codes for its continued existence. Individuals who choose to conform in this way are popularly held to posess "Moral Fibre", whereas those who lack "Moral Fibre" may be labelled as socially degenerate. A "moral" may refer to a particular principle, usually as an informal and general summary with respect to a moral principle, as it is applied in a given human situation.
Written by: wikipedia
The first social science
Assumptions about ethical underpinnings of human behavior are reflected in every social science, including: anthropology because of the complexities involved in relating one culture to another, economics because of its role in the distribution of scarce resources, political science because of its role in allocating power, sociology because of its roots in the dynamics of groups, law because of its role in codifying ethical constructs like mercy and punishment, criminology because of its role in rewarding ethical behavior and discouraging unethical behavior, and psychology because of its role in defining, understanding, and treating unethical behavior.
Written by: Patriarch
First, let us ask some questions to get us started:
Question 1: What is the ultimate source of moral rights?
(suggested answers deleted for freedom of mind)
Question 2: Do moral rights change?
(suggested answers deleted for freedom of mind)
Written by: jeff(fake)
(..)In an general sense morality is relative. However, for arbitary reasons human beings world wide share an almost identicle fundemental system of emotions and values. A Chinaman and an African can both agree that murder and rape are generally wrong for instance. We base our moral system on these values. Thus morality is in a specific sence absolute accross the human race.(..)
(..)Humans (thats us) have a set of needs and emotions which are hardwired into our brains. With the exception of sociopaths and some of the brain damaged, this is undeniable. We all retract our hand from fire and we find suffering unpleasant.(..)
the best smiles are the ones you lead to
According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle of Quantum Dynamics, we may already be making love right now...
Written by:
Noam Chomsky
'depending on circumstances, any human being has the potential to become a saint or a concentration camp guard'
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
Nietzsche
Faith
Nay, whatever comes one hour was sunlit and the most high gods may not make boast of any better thing than to have watched that hour as it passed
Dance like it hurts; Love like you need money; Work like someone is watching.
Never criticize someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you DO criticize them, you are a mile away, and you have their shoes.
Written by: dream
Morals are not hardwired, otherwise they could not change. And they quite clearly do. Its not hard to work it out..
Written by: dream
Otherwise either;
a) we all have slaves
b) no one ever had slaves. Slavery is immoral
or
a) we all want to exterminate Jews
b) the holocaust cannot have happened because exterminating Jews is immoral
If these statements dont concur with your ontological perceptions then the logical conclusion is that morality is not hardwired, but contextual.
"Moo," said the happy cow.
"Moo," said the happy cow.
Written by:
It used to be that only your tribe was part of your morality
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
Nietzsche
Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive
Shalom VeAhavah
New Hampshire has a point....
After much consideration, I find that the view is worth the asphyxiation.
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I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
the best smiles are the ones you lead to
According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle of Quantum Dynamics, we may already be making love right now...
Always use "so's your face" and "only on Tuesdays" in as many conversations possible
the best smiles are the ones you lead to
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Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
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Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!
the best smiles are the ones you lead to
Written by: FireTom
For example: Whenever in peace and everything goes smooth and we're nice citizens, we follow the common morality. Whenever we start parking in front of a hydrant and receive a ticket, we switch to our own morality (dough!). Whenever it gets hectic and wild, we like to trust upon the morals of a few individuals (particularly in times of war). And especially when we're close (to death) we love to trust in the morality of a supreme being ("G'd please help me, I promise to be good for the rest of my life")...
Written by: FireTom
We can see it every day (in the media): while we condemn the killing of nearly 3.000 people in the 9/11-terrorist attacks, we have little problems with about 3.000 innocent civilian casualties in the strafe-bombings on Afghanistan ("collateral damage") - now you may point out that YOU DO have a problem with it...
Written by: FireTom
...and that MOST of the american public has, but the results of Bush's re-election speak a different language.
Written by: FireTom
However you may now claim that the elections are manipulated, but then if you hold this view - how can you continue living in a country that started out as a refuge for religious and individual freedom and now is corrupted, almost opposite?
Written by: FireTom
While we support warlords and dictators, we have little problem in him (for say Saddam Hussein) killing some 250 - 300.000 of his own people, or about 1.000.000 souls "lost" in the Iraq-Irani war.
Written by: FireTom
We condemn and charge other peoples actions, but when we do something wrong ourselves we hope that there is no law enfocement officer around to catch us by the toe.
After much consideration, I find that the view is worth the asphyxiation.
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I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle of Quantum Dynamics, we may already be making love right now...
After much consideration, I find that the view is worth the asphyxiation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
Written by: Stone
I think the moral codes come from having to keep our “survival mechanism” in-check in a community situation. By survival mechanism I mean the “fight/fright” mechanism or reptilian brain if you like. The morals come after, as a learnt response, in the community situation.
Written by: Stone
I’m not sure if the mothering instinct is learned or bred in. I know that our cousins, the chimps etc don’t’ know how to look after their young when kept in isolation at a zoo.
"Moo," said the happy cow.
According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle of Quantum Dynamics, we may already be making love right now...
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle of Quantum Dynamics, we may already be making love right now...
Written by: Stone
spiralx, I’m not sure what you mean. I was speculating a bit there with the morals keeping the survival mechanism in check. We have not evolved as a species, so I’m open to suggestions. I would suggest that mothering instinct is a survival mechanism.
Written by: Stone
Jeff(fake) asked “Why would morality be so similar worldwide if it were simply a learned matter?” Communication and travel.
Addendum: Certainly the indigenous populations in the Americas and Australiahad had different values before Columbus, Cook and missionary men took European morals to those countries.
"Moo," said the happy cow.
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle of Quantum Dynamics, we may already be making love right now...
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
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