Thread: Morality and its source

Originally Posted by gregs656

no, I studied it and there just isn't much to prove it happens.

It would seem that when ever someone helps someone else, they do it to make them feel better or as a kind of karma thing, as a result of a past favor or in anticipation of a future one.

True altruism, gaining nothing, expecting nothing, and accepting some cost as a result of helping someone, doesn't seem to exist.

Thanks for the free lesson!

So is the general consensus that we do have a sense of right or wrong as infants or that we learn from society or religion how we should act or what is right or wrong?

I was enlightened in the womb. I gained consciousness in the 2nd trimester.

Originally Posted by JokiJo

So is the general consensus that we do have a sense of right or wrong as infants or that we learn from society or religion how we should act or what is right or wrong?

Originally Posted by TexasBob

Thanks for the free lesson!

Very interesting subject I think. There are some quite interesting evolutionary theories if that's what you're into.

Couple of the other more interesting ones are group selection and selfish mutualism.

The former is where you do something purely for the groups bennefit. There is a type of bird where members asses population size and if it's too large they restrain their clutch size, if it's too small they make it as large as possible. This helps them because if it was too large their young and them selves would suffer, too small and they risk getting smaller and smaller and going extinct.

Selfish mutualism is where a group at together so as they all gain a little. I guess a lottery syndicate is an example, but birds flocking in the winter to keep warm or a shoal of fish for saftey from predators.

Interestingly enough, these are accepted as altruistic acts even though there is some induvidual gain.

Originally Posted by TexasBob

Thanks for the free lesson!

seemingly at some cost to him, and expecting nothing and gaining nothing in return

Originally Posted by AZrider

The power of my mind would not protect this frail and squishy creature in a toe to toe with a polar bear!

In a way it does, by giving you the sense to realise that there are better ways to deal with a polar bear than to take it on with your bare hands.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

In a way it does, by giving you the sense to realise that there are better ways to deal with a polar bear than to take it on with your bare hands.

Especially the sense to prepare a better way ahead of time!

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I think there needs to be some foundation that is unchanging. This doesn't mean that your actions cannot be based on the situation or your level of understanding or maturity.

This is the constant and consistency I speak of, "The Foundation". I used the term "source" I believe. The "anchor" may be another way to say it.

I wish to address a couple of posts but will have to do this later when I get home tonight.

Originally Posted by JMS

My father always said that locks are to keep the honest people out.

I really butchered my fathers quote. I must've been half asleep.
What he actually said was "locks are only meant to keep honest people honest."

Originally Posted by gregs656

Altruism. hmm.

To put your self out for someone expecting nothing in return.

There's not a great deal of evidence to suggests true altruism exists.

Just because it is not very common does not mean that it does not exist.