What is morality?

What is morality? Does morality really exist, or is it a fantasy we made up - like the gods - to comfort ourselves and control others?

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• ethics
• morality
• philosophy
• meta-ethics
• metaethics

[Iwannabubbletube]

Morality is infinitely subjective because their are infinite circumstances. Objective morality is like saying planes=good, paper=good, needles=bad, knives=bad. What if the plane is flown into a building? What if that building was filled entirely with bioterrorists intent on unleashing a deadly virus into Time's Square the next day? What if the paper is used to extort money via blackmail? Used to print fake money?What if that money is used to buy food for a village of starving children?

[Iwannabubbletube]

In my view, you have to have a very good reason to steal or kill someone - if that someone was coming at you with a knife or gun, would I shoot him first? Yes. If I could. That's the DEFINITION of subjectivity. Just thinking it's good or saying to yourself its good, doesn't make me or anyone else think or say the same thing. It depends on the context. That's why one must use judgement to determine what is right and wrong.

[pngwn56]

@greydotjaguar

In that context, he obviously meant invalid. 

[greydotjaguar]

@MKcFirth lol Funny you said there is no right or wrong, then you said his argument is wrong.

[shortwavejones]

@MKcFirth ".. I'm certain I didn't say anything of the sort..."

But you did-if there IS no morality except that given by 'nature' then the only "right" is survival" and the only "Wrong" is failure.

True or false?

Justice,freedom,fairness being "human" values is meaningless if they're 'values' is ONLY when doing US good and are defined as "DUMB" when they do not.

Those are "manners" not values.

If you want to argue what the bible says or not thats OK but whats the bearing on YOUR Values?

[shortwavejones]

@MKcFirth "..Nature will never ask you to slaughter fellow human beings because they think something else is their god..."

Nope, just when they are bothersome and consume things I wnt or need... your saying that killing is neither wrong nor right. That whaever we do matters not in the grand scheme of things.. that morality, fairness,freedom justice and human rights are just pretty words that have value only as log as you think they should.

That you have fixed no morals or values

Honest at least

[shortwavejones]

@Jrink300 "..An airplane being used to do harm is objectively immoral, and vice versa..."

Jumping in here... In order for that to be true you must have an objective idea of morality. Materialism does not support such a view-the best it can do is evolutionary Psycology which was never intended as a guide to morality and makes a rather ruthlless one if used so.

[shortwavejones]

@MKcFirth "..Evolution says that, you'll work to the benefit of your social group.." Yes, for EXACTLY AS LONG AS IT IS GOOD FOR ME. Thats enlightened self interest. IF its a 'morality' at all it says that as soon as it benefits me more to steal and kill and enslave and rape then i "should" and if I dont then I'm letting faulty biological wiring lead me into error...

IS that what your saying? That Morality is only whats "good for ME" ?? EVen enlightened self interest IS STILL self interest.

[shortwavejones]

@MKcFirth ".. Evolution says that, you'll work to the benefit of your social group..." Natural selection says by definition that I work for the survival of my Genes.

IF a group helps with that then it would say to help the group AS LONG AS IT BENEFITS ME.

"..that benefits everyone in that group.."But the point is ME or my genes and behaviours fail

"..We don't kill each other in this group because it wouldn't make sense.." Except when it does..then its OK to do so ? Is that what your saying?

[Jrink300]

@Iwannabubbletube You are twisting the views of subjective vs. objective morality. An airplane is morally neutral. It is neither good nor bad. An airplane being used to do harm is objectively immoral, and vice versa. Same goes for paper and knives.

[shortwavejones]

Sorry, but saying that "Desires' are the basis of morality, while true from a materialist or Evo psyc POV is at heart saying that might is right.

I might desire a 'better' world (better FOR ME) but materialism gives me no reason to take a hit to MY good unless my genes benefit or it serves my longer term good.

Evolutionary Psyc and a materialist worldview says that suffering for others good without gain to me is DUMB, and that my biological wiring screwed up and made me make a mistake.

[IChIDH]

On the scales of morality which deed weighs more, good or bad? Are they equal, or does one act outweigh the other, and if so, which?