I also think that the baseline is the same everywhere. Murder, rape, thievery - people everywhere will accept that generally, it is no good. However, all the exception where these actions can be applied anyways, or can even be considered good, vary to a great degree. For example - there is a great discussion since...forever...if the state should be allowed to use the death penalty against criminals, and what crime would warrant that. You'll find a colorful array of opinion on that matter alone. Exceptions are also granted based on the identity of the target. Most people who wouldn't think that murder was any good still eat meat. It seems that the rule does not extend to animals. However, some have started to question that too (and call it speciesism) and become vegetarians or vegans. It seems that generally, the less the target is 'like us', the more lax the rules are. The vegetarians from the last example can identify with a cow to some extend, but a number of them would still swat at a wasp or fly. These creatures are even less like us then a cow is, so the rules are more lax on that target.
It's not something people really think about, but it seems to be that it works like this generally.
It's not something people really think about, but it seems to be that it works like this generally.
When I was a Christian, I was annoyed with dogmatic condescending Christians. Now that I'm an atheist, I'm annoyed with dogmatic condescending atheists. Just goes to prove that people are the same, regardless of what they do or don't believe.
