Morality and its source

**Seraphim** · 12-09-2009, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I'm not saying they are. That would be a different discussion.

Perhaps I misunderstood the point you were making then.

**JimmyHAD** · 12-09-2009, 04:11 PM

In the eighteenth century in Britain a women would be properly attired when her clothing covered her leaving only her head above the neck and her hands below the wrists exposed. At the same time in Polynesia a women was properly attired in a grass skirt with a bare bosom.

There is the morality of people in Boston banning the movie "Gone With The Wind" in 1939 because Clark Gable's character says,"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." This progresses to The early seventies with the F word ubiquitous on the screen and "Deep Throat" playing in movie theaters around the country. One of the biggest and most popular award winners on TV in recent years was "The Sopranos" where murder, sex and foul language is constant. When I hear people talk about the decline of morals in our society I think of the above as a good example. OTOH, some folks might think that is a positive development.

That is one kind of mortality and than there is the morality of how we treat each other. I believe that is intuitive. Whether it comes from God or from evolutionary genetics I don't know but I believe it is there. Empathy is another word for what I'm talking about. If you don't have it you may be a socio path with no conscience. It is the thing that makes the do unto others as you would have them do unto you work..... when it does.

Those of us who have had young children know that at a certain age a child begins to have intuitive feelings on right and wrong. IME even pets such as dogs and cats that I have had 'know' when they are doing wrong to some extent. I really believe that some of what influences our morality .... or the lack of it , is cultural but that the core is inborn ....genetic, biological if you prefer.

**Seraphim** · 12-09-2009, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Which part was immoral, the killing or the eating? Because all societies seem to enjoy killing their enemies.

YouTube - Conan, what is best in life?

**Slartibartfast** · 12-09-2009, 04:14 PM

I could not resist the opportunity...

Originally Posted by Seraphim

SWEETNESS!

I didn't know they were shooting video of one of our SRP Conversation threads!

If I'm not mistaken, that's Hoglahoo sitting in the middle of the table?

**Seraphim** · 12-09-2009, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I could not resist the opportunity...

Shouldn't that be posted as a sticky in the "Finer thing in life" forum? I mean, it pretty much spells it all out, doesn't it? Not just "finer" but "what is best"!

**TexasBob** · 12-09-2009, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I really believe that some of what influences our morality .... or the lack of it , is cultural but that the core is inborn ....genetic, biological if you prefer.

I tend to agree with that point of view.

In my posts above I was deliberately avoiding stating what I personally think, but trying to pin down *if* there is a core, unchanging, morality as opposed to *what* I believe it is or what gives it authority. That was in response to the ever changing "moral compass" post. I hope the above "admission" doesn't cloud the issue!

**TexasBob** · 12-09-2009, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Perhaps I misunderstood the point you were making then.

From my just-above post:

I was deliberately avoiding stating what I personally think, but trying to pin down *if* there is a core, unchanging, morality as opposed to *what* I believe it is or what gives it authority. That was in response to the ever changing "moral compass" post.

**JimmyHAD** · 12-09-2009, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by Seraphim

So, for cannibals in New Guinea, I suppose it was entirely morally acceptable to kill and eat your enemies. No problemo.

I started a thread sometime ago addressing the practice of honor killing. In some cultures, notably Muslim this is an accepted solution to a perceived problem. In India and China killing female newborns was, and maybe still is, not uncommon. Although it may be illegal is not thought to be immoral ...... rather it is 'practical' AFAIK. In South America up until recently they didn't prosecute men who threw acid in an unfaithful spouses face.

Here in the USA many of us believe that capital punishment is moral. Across the world we are looked upon as barbaric. So morality is where you find it and as forum member Jende Industries said about honing, the answer to what it is will often be "it depends".

**TexasBob** · 12-09-2009, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

So morality is where you find it

This presupposes that dogma defines morality. It may *claim* to define morality, but as I interpret the OP, whether this is true or not is part of the question, not part of the answer.

**JimmyHAD** · 12-09-2009, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by TexasBob

This presupposes that dogma defines morality. It may *claim* to define morality, but as I interpret the OP, whether this is true or not is part of the question, not part of the answer.

Absolutely part of the question. Which came first, the cultural influences or the intuitive ? Maybe it is a chicken and egg question.

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