Where Does Morality Come From?

The Bible has some morality in it but it is certainly not the source of morality, no.

 

Well as long as your personal morality meets or exceeds the morality of your society then you are correct in that your own personal morality would be superior.

Morality in general is a common denominator of a society however, unless they are so immoral that they have little or no morality at all -- cannibals for example.

 

The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said in his writings that he though that morality comes from religion. He was also an atheist, and so he thought that since religion is wrong then if morality comes from religion then morality is wrong and that we should just do whatever we want in order to enrich our selves. This is an interesting argument because, would there be any morality without religions?

 

Nietzsche and Machiavelli are problematic philosophers.

You are going to come up with all sorts of dilemmas, paradoxes, and contradictions by referring to them.

I put them in a box deep in the back of a closet and I don't bring them out nor up unless the issue is of a political nature.

For example -- was it morally ok for DJ Trump to lie through his teeth to get elected?

Answer (from the perspectives of Nietzsche and Machiavelli) -- yes because it got him elected.

 

Mostly logic as applied to a societal perspective. Everybody benefits when they can live their lives as they see fit without fear of being killed or robbed by somebody who is more powerful or simply finds them in a vulnerable position.

 

How is your pet fly Ralph doing @robini123 ?

 

not unless you want anarchy and chaos

 

So the way you figure it, Germans who ratted out Jews in Nazi Germany were acting morally. Right?

 

I see two basic groups of people in terms of basis of a moral code. Those who follow a moral code set by another, or those who follow a moral code of their own creation such as I. The latter group are much more resistant to peer pressure as we tend to understand that peer pressure is a horrible basis for a moral code.

 

You are correct @robini123 .

There is probably also a 3rd group which has no morality. Cannibals, murderers, thieves, and liars probably belong in this 3rd group.

 

Jewish questions are always hard to figure out.

 

Fair enough

 

You have me at a disadvantage as I am not sure I have talked about Ralph here on the forums, or if I did, I did it long ago. Oh, lol, I bet it is in my profile.

 

Well @Ronstar I certainly do not want anarchy or chaos.

The purpose for people banding together and forming communities, cities, states, and nations is to preclude chaos and/or anarchy because there is strength in numbers.

Ergo they come up with constitutions, statutes, administrators, law enforcement, armies, navies, and air forces. I'll throw-in soldiers of the sea in there too. And then they take solemn oaths to uphold them.

Their degree of morality will be a separate matter however.

For example, I believe the Swiss are the most moral people on this planet.

And the N.Koreans are the most immoral right now.

 

Yup Ralph is on your profile page.

When I come across a particularly bright and interesting person I normally look up their profile page.

 

As morality is subjective some can morally justify the above. To some government taxation is theft thus it is seen as immoral to them. Or a religious person who kills others because they see it as a religious mandate.

 

While my brightness is debatable, I am sure that I am interesting to many as I tend to walk outside the norm, but either way I appreciate the kind words. I should really update my profile, probably been years since my last update.

 

Well this is a lot to chew on so I will cut it up and chew on it one piece at a time.

You @robini123 and I apparently agree that morality is indeed subjective. Not objective.

Taxation is merely the price of government. Government is the price of civilization. Government is the antidote for anarchy and chaos. Ergo anyone who thinks taxation is theft is an anarchist.

As far as killing for religion's sake goes, that is a huge dilemma. Note that Pope Urban 2nd called for the first crusade and the killing or extermination of muslims in the Levant. Knights took oaths of allegiance to the Pope. Ergo they were morally obliged to obey the oath they took to the Pope because a solemn oath is still an oath. Ergo morality is subjective.

 

In other words, Ralph died ?!

Sad !!

 

It's as old as the cave. Back then, the tribe learned that allowing children to eat and drink first, ensured the survival of the next generation (and therefore the tribe). They then learned that allowing old people to come second, ensured that the people caring for the children survived. Etc etc. Morals are simply habituated and enculturated survival tactics.

 

Speculative only.

If I don't feed my cat first he will steal my food.

If people do not feed their children first they will have no peace to eat their own food.

Plus pet owners and parents have a natural instinct to feed their pets and children first.

Q.E.D.

 

I agree.

Are you arguing that anarchist are nihilists?

 

I know what an anarchist is pretty good.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by nihilist though.

Please define.

 

I think Ralph is a Buddhist desperately trying to rid himself of bad karma through a cycle of reincarnation as I see him around from time to time.

 

Personally I myself do believe in reincarnation for all other animals except for humans.

And flies are animals too.