How Do You Define Morality?

Elspode · 09-05-2007, 07:09 PM

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?

DucksNuts · 09-05-2007, 07:23 PM

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.

Pie · 09-05-2007, 07:36 PM

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.

jinx · 09-05-2007, 07:38 PM

What Pie said.

queequeger · 09-05-2007, 07:43 PM

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.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-05-2007, 08:28 PM

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.

9th Engineer · 09-05-2007, 08:28 PM

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.

queequeger · 09-05-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

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.

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.

monster · 09-05-2007, 09:18 PM

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

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...)

Pie · 09-05-2007, 09:35 PM

Morels are tasty.

orthodoc · 09-05-2007, 09:56 PM

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.

Flint · 09-05-2007, 11:04 PM

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.

Cloud · 09-05-2007, 11:41 PM

I try pretty hard not to.

Elspode · 09-06-2007, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

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

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.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-06-2007, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queequeger

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.

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

09-05-2007, 07:09 PM	#1
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	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? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

09-05-2007, 07:36 PM	#3
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	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. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

09-05-2007, 07:38 PM	#4
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	What Pie said. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

09-05-2007, 07:43 PM	#5
queequeger Hypercharismatic Telepathical Knight Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The armpit of the Universe... Augusta, GA Posts: 365	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. __________________ Hoocha, hoocha, hoocha... lobster.

09-05-2007, 08:28 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	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. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-05-2007, 07:23 PM	#2
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	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.

09-05-2007, 08:28 PM	#7
9th Engineer Bioengineer and aspiring lawer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 872	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. __________________ The most valuable renewable resource is stupidity.

09-05-2007, 09:18 PM	#9
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	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 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...) __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

09-05-2007, 09:35 PM	#10
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Morels are tasty. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

09-05-2007, 09:56 PM	#11
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	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. __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

09-05-2007, 11:04 PM	#12
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	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. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

09-05-2007, 11:41 PM	#13
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I try pretty hard not to. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

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