RE: Do we need others to determine our morals for us?
June 8, 2009 at 8:45 pm
(This post was last modified: June 8, 2009 at 8:46 pm by Oldandeasilyconfused.)
Morality is a system of ethics, ethics are social and therefore meaningless to individuals EXCEPT as part of a social grouping so my answer is yes ... a given society MUST dictate the morality against which our actions are evaluated.
Agreed.
A moral relativist and egoist,my morality is based on self interest and pragmatism,not a transcendent moral authority.
Although many of my actions are dictated by society (such as not hitting people who annoy me with my walking stick) .I decide my actions based on the outcome and/or level of desire. I may undertake actions society considers immoral,even criminal IF: I consider the reward is proportionate to the risk or that I can avoid unpleasant consequences entirely.OR am prepared to accept the consequences for my actions. Sadly,any seriously criminal impulses are restricted by the unfortunate vestiges of a really inconvenient Catholic conscience.
A life observation is that ethical/moral principles are guiding ideals for most people. Few human beings are capable of being consistently ethical and moral.(according to their own definitions).As a species, We are far more skilled and practised in rationalising immoral acts than actually acting in a consistently moral way,no what our belief system.
@moleque;
This link gives a good outline of what I mean by " egoist" (not to be confused with "egotist" although of course a person may be both)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egoism
Agreed.
A moral relativist and egoist,my morality is based on self interest and pragmatism,not a transcendent moral authority.
Although many of my actions are dictated by society (such as not hitting people who annoy me with my walking stick) .I decide my actions based on the outcome and/or level of desire. I may undertake actions society considers immoral,even criminal IF: I consider the reward is proportionate to the risk or that I can avoid unpleasant consequences entirely.OR am prepared to accept the consequences for my actions. Sadly,any seriously criminal impulses are restricted by the unfortunate vestiges of a really inconvenient Catholic conscience.
A life observation is that ethical/moral principles are guiding ideals for most people. Few human beings are capable of being consistently ethical and moral.(according to their own definitions).As a species, We are far more skilled and practised in rationalising immoral acts than actually acting in a consistently moral way,no what our belief system.
@moleque;
This link gives a good outline of what I mean by " egoist" (not to be confused with "egotist" although of course a person may be both)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egoism
