“Normative” ethical theories

[Paleophyte]

One of the things that we rarely see is a justification for viewing ethics as anything more than the necessary behaviors of members of a tribe of apes with delusions of sentience. Sure, Don't-Be-A-Dick ethics is probably a bit too simple, but it's pretty much where it's at. Aside from keeping both philosophers and theologians occupied so that they don't endanger the public by studying anything with real-world applications, long-winded metaethical arguments never seem to be able to demonstrate a need for their inevitably bendy thinking.