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Morality?
- Thread starter Darkness
- Start date
No. The opposite, really.
No. Morality only exists when there are sentient beings. Such beings are of accidental existence, not a required feature.
Both, since morality exists in the buffer zone between collective and individual spaces.
Morality is like tool use. It has three levels of causation. The first level is universal -- just like there seems to be some universal, genetically based predisposition for humans to use tools, there seems to be some universal, genetically based predisposition towards certain moral principles.
The second level is cultural -- just like the kinds of tools and the ways they are used vary from culture to culture, there seems to be a similar cultural variance in morality. On this level the causes of moral behavior are cultural -- that is, having to do with behaviors passed down in a non-genetic way from one generation to the next.
The third level is individual -- just like one person might have an unique tool he or she invented, or have unique ways of using the tools in their cultural tool kit, so too, individuals can have unique takes on morality. On this level the causes of moral behavior are psychological -- which can be reduced to a combination of environment and genes.
I think all three levels must be taken into account when comprehensively discussing the basis or foundations of morality, just as all three levels must be taken into account when comprehensively discussing the basis or foundations of tool use.
Anyway, that's how I see it, but then I might need more coffee.
The second level is cultural -- just like the kinds of tools and the ways they are used vary from culture to culture, there seems to be a similar cultural variance in morality. On this level the causes of moral behavior are cultural -- that is, having to do with behaviors passed down in a non-genetic way from one generation to the next.
The third level is individual -- just like one person might have an unique tool he or she invented, or have unique ways of using the tools in their cultural tool kit, so too, individuals can have unique takes on morality. On this level the causes of moral behavior are psychological -- which can be reduced to a combination of environment and genes.
I think all three levels must be taken into account when comprehensively discussing the basis or foundations of morality, just as all three levels must be taken into account when comprehensively discussing the basis or foundations of tool use.
Anyway, that's how I see it, but then I might need more coffee.
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mohammed_beiruti
Active Member
who tought "Adam" peace be upon him morals?
darkendless
Guardian of Asgaard
God has nothing to do with morality, unless we're trying to ban something thata fraction of people find horrible. Morality is not universal, we each see things differently and have our own conception of whats right and wrong based on things that impact our lives. Culture plays a big part, if it didn't we'd be able to do what we want. Except certain cultures have banned things for one reason or another, others have seen it and followed suit. Morals are based on the individual.
sandandfoam
Veteran Member
Hi Sunstone,
I was reading your post just after a bit of revision. I was reading about how Pinker has to go beyond the universality of language in humans in order to sustain an argument that language is an innate quality. To summarise greatly my understanding is that if one doesn't go beyond the universality argument, language can be regarded as a by-product of human information processing.
Regarding morality, I don't think it follows that universality = genetic predisposition, it could just be a by-product of information processing too?
If some behavior is universal, and there is no historical or environmental reason for it to be universal, then so far as I can see that constitutes evidence that it might have a genetic component. It's not conclusive evidence, but it's nevertheless good evidence.
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The Torah suggests that right-wrong/good-bad are independent of God.
.lava
Veteran Member
IMO,
conscience + intellect = moral
i think i would say 'yes' to your all questions. but only the first 'yes' is absolute.
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