Inherit morals/values or just conscience? (mystic, Buddhism, choices, choice)

[Lycan]

Do you hold a certain moral/view (x) because you have to (you subscribe to specific theology (or lack of) that says you have to believe x) or because you just feel x is right or wrong?

[Engyo]

Actually I subscribe to a specific religious philosophy (NOT theology)in part because the moral views and compass provided therein (in particular, the Eightfold Path) feels correct and appropriate to me.

[stemann]

I think that morality doesn't exist independent of people. People invented it; there is no actual reason to believe that murder etc. is inherently wrong. There are no moral absolutes like physical laws of the universe.

Why should we do to others as we would have them do to us? The idea of universal karma is not one i subscribe to in any way.

[Engyo]

Originally Posted by stemann

Why should we do to others as we would have them do to us? The idea of universal karma is not one i subscribe to in any way.

If I treat you like a piece of feces, how will you react? Will you not proceed to respond in some similar fashion to me? If you do not, you are a rare person. I personally have found "doing to others as I would be done unto" to be the most effective and efficient operational philosophy for my life. If you have found differently, I find that interesting. If you are still investigating this interaction, I wish you luck with it, and look forward to whatever results you derive for yourself (but I don't expect to change my habits regardless).

How about individual karma? Just curious, of course.

[stemann]

Someone hitting me back when I hit them is not mystical karma, it's retaliation, and if I killed them, they wouldn't be able to hit me back. But wait, you are saying treat other people well so that they treat you well, are you not? And in this case you are being selfish in your actions.

I agree with Joey on Friends: there's no such thing as a completely selfless action.

Btw, i learned a bit about Zen Buddhism reading Philip K Dick short stories and it makes more sense than other religions i know.

[cturne]

I feel that the Law is written in everyone's heart - we inherently know that certain things are wrong, such as murder. Yes, my religion subscribes to the 10 Commandments, and I am supposed to follow them, but I also know it's impossible to perfectly keep the Commandments, and therefore I must be repentant.

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Originally Posted by Lycan

Do you hold a certain moral/view (x) because you have to (you subscribe to specific theology (or lack of) that says you have to believe x) or because you just feel x is right or wrong?

Inherit morals/values or just conscience?

Of the three choices, conscience comes closest to what is believed the answer by social scientists. In an adult, morality is a product of rational thinking about the principles of moral action. The principles are gained from the developement of individual morality.

The newborn and the infant have no morality - they obey the commands of a parental authority. An infant is born concerned with hunger, heat (shelter) and hygene. Only those being satisfied will language and emotion be learned from the interaction with the parent. The toddler will hear the word "no" and begin to learn morality, a command process that continues till the child has associations outside the family. At that point, peer pressure for conformity to the peer group's rules, begins the second stage of learning morality. Mature morality is the deduction of the principles that encompass the group's rules and a decision is made to embrace or deny the rule.

Morality is neither innate in an evolutionary sense nor God given as his role of parental figure. Those that accept, without rational thought, God as the author of morality have reverted back to the development stage of infancy or adolesence.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by Lycan

Do you hold a certain moral/view (x) because you have to (you subscribe to specific theology (or lack of) that says you have to believe x) or because you just feel x is right or wrong?

Just because I feel it is right or wrong. I try to treat people fairly and in the manner I'd like to be treated.

[Tawn]

Originally Posted by stemann

Why should we do to others as we would have them do to us? The idea of universal karma is not one i subscribe to in any way.

I dont believe in karma.. but it actually has a sensible basis.
If we all act like selfish immoral idiots.. we will ruin each others lives. If we all treat each other with respect, life for all of us improves.
Of ocurse we have a mixture of the two.. and those who are selfish probably gain more than those that are selfish.. but.. if we were all selfish it would all crumble.

Its like those quiz shows.. two contestants.. they can choose to share or steal.
If both share - they split the cash. If one steals he gets the lot. If they both steal they get nothing..

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by stemann

Why should we do to others as we would have them do to us?

Because it's in our self interest and consonant with our being as a social, empathic species.