How Do You Define Morality?
 

By common standards, I am not only going to Hell, but I'm making the journey at light speed. Yet...you all know me, in a sense. Somehow, I've been able to communicate effectively enough that I never get anyone spewing back anything worse than, "I couldn't live that way, but I am interested in hearing how it works out for you."

Morals are supposed to be invariable. Absolute. Inflexible. But clearly, they are not.

So, Cellarites...what are your moral bases? And what do you accept, tolerate, and support in others, even though you yourself prefer not to cross a line?

For me, its in the Wiccan Rede..."an it harm none, do as ye will shall be the whole of the Law". And even that is subject to endless interpretation.

What say you? What's by you? What's by others?

I dont know what my morals are. I think my problem is the lack of them.

Right and wrong for me is very subjective to the situation, but as a rule, I am a fairly non judgmental person.

Like, I see nothing morally wrong with what you and Selene do 'spode , and most would know I can fully justify being the bit on the side.

The law is my moral compass mostly.

I'm with you on this one: "And it harm no-one, do as you will."

Seriously, all morality is just a codification of the rule-sets that allow humanity to exist in communities. Morality is intensely dependent on time, place and circumstance.

What Pie said.

Ditto, morals are just arbitrary codes of conduct, I can't believe at all that there's some ultimate truth and consequences from ignoring it.

Of course it's arbitrary. Your morals are the limits of behavior that you set for yourself. What you feel is right and wrong, what you feel you should and shouldn't do. Everyone determines their own morals.

It's cost vs benefit, what you can do depends on your situation and that of the people around you. If you're among people who are easily manipulated, then you have lots of options. It's an especially useful tactic to hogtie others with their own platitudes when the situation suits you.

Well, that's what your morals are... There are millions of people out there who believe that there is a true moral code. That God sets out rules and we are to follow them. So, to them, it's not arbitrary, it's absolute.

I always think "Would I be happy about this if I were on the receiving end". If not, I think harder and find other reasons to do bad things :lol:

Oh ok THIS IS SRS THRED?

then next I consider whether my actions benefit more than they piss off.

If the answer is still no, then morally it's a bad thing. But occassionally I play the family joker card -yes I would hate it, yes it's pisses off more than it benefits, but.... my daughter will die without a heart transplant so it's OK to murder this 10yo girl I found in the park. Just as long as I do it quickly enough that the heart will be harvestable.....

(that example may have been a little extreme, but you get the picture...)

Morels are tasty. :yum:

For me, it's in the two Great Commandments of Christ: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.

Of course I don't live up to this code; but the moral code is about what we ought to do, and strive for.

According to the Muslims, it's all written down in this one book, and you can kill people that disagree with you.

According to the Christians, it's all written down in this one book, and you can kill people that disagree with you.

I try pretty hard not to.

What Monster states here, whether in jest or not, is the core of the matter. Think about the oath that neurosurgeons take..."First, do no harm".

*Any* action based on a particular point of view has potential to be beneficial to one party, and the certainty of being detrimental to another. Think not? Next breath you take, try not to kill any microbes.

It's still up to you what your morals are. If you choose to copy someone else's morals that's your decision.