RE: Why do we need morals?
May 12, 2013 at 9:38 pm
(This post was last modified: May 12, 2013 at 9:46 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
More like, if it wasn't considered immoral, it would be surprising to find someone who thought that it was wrong, or assigned some negative value to it. I was responding to the notion that if theft wasn't considered immoral people "still wouldn't want to steal". Laying aside that even though it is considered immoral here people -still want to steal- it's a very strange way of thinking about the subject. Assuming our morality wasn't in consideration -some other conception (or lack thereof) -we essentially assume that people would just naturally comport themselves in a way that conforms with our morality. We assume this sort of shit all the time, it's common, but very, very strange.
Why wouldn't they, and what sort of negative value would be associated with stealing or wanting to steal? Would there even be a word for it? To them, what you call theft could be like mismatching socks. To use a simple example, a culture or society which has a very loose or ill defined conception of property or possession would likely regard the shuffling around of objects to be amoral. There's nothing to "steal", there is no such thing as "theft". Amusingly, they may still exhibit some sort of consideration in the timing of the shuffling. For example, help yourself to my bowl, but not while I'm using it. lol. Then again, they may not. Another great example surrounds nudity, and what level of clothing is or is not appropriate. Ever seen those tribesmen that wear strings around their wastes, or masks to cover their face - while their balls swing proudly beneath them. Bet the thought of whether or not ball-swinging is immoral or moral never corses their mind....or perhaps they might even imagine that a glimpse of their glorious sack is the highest compliment that one can give to another.
Hopefully I expressed that better this time around, as re-reading it it did look a little bare.
Why wouldn't they, and what sort of negative value would be associated with stealing or wanting to steal? Would there even be a word for it? To them, what you call theft could be like mismatching socks. To use a simple example, a culture or society which has a very loose or ill defined conception of property or possession would likely regard the shuffling around of objects to be amoral. There's nothing to "steal", there is no such thing as "theft". Amusingly, they may still exhibit some sort of consideration in the timing of the shuffling. For example, help yourself to my bowl, but not while I'm using it. lol. Then again, they may not. Another great example surrounds nudity, and what level of clothing is or is not appropriate. Ever seen those tribesmen that wear strings around their wastes, or masks to cover their face - while their balls swing proudly beneath them. Bet the thought of whether or not ball-swinging is immoral or moral never corses their mind....or perhaps they might even imagine that a glimpse of their glorious sack is the highest compliment that one can give to another.
Hopefully I expressed that better this time around, as re-reading it it did look a little bare.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
