Since a moral rule like, “don’t steal,” can lead to immorality, as in not stealing to feed your child when that’s the only option. Is it possible we need a new way to define morality?
Can morality be permanently codified in words, or should we use words only to point at what is beyond the definitions, and alter the definitions as often as we come to understand new things about the world and our role in it?
Re: Morality.
Morality is defined by socially acceptable and unecaptable boundaries and norms.
Morals will change from place to place much like any other standards, however the criterion stay the same generally Morals are the accepted norms within a Society at least by the Majority of that Society.
So for example the Morals of Western City dwellers can only be applied to that region take them even to the Western "Hillbilly regions" and the differences will be startling never mind abroad.
Generally speaking there will be some universall human Morals pertaining to things like Murder, Arson, Vandalism etc... these will be more or less the same in most places however minor differences on Clothing style or type, use of Coloqial or Slang language, general manners... etc these will be more variable.
:)
I dont think the World needs to upgrade it's scope on Morality rather people need to lose the ignorance and come to understand various differences... nobody needs to accept them just understand that we are all different in our way and that so long as we stick within the main boundaries we still have a large scope of tolerance. :)
Re: Morality.
Peace ZareenKhan and Faris Udeen
I think Faris you have answered a different question. You have answered the question of whether morality is absolute or not and accordingly stated that time and culture difference bend that what was previously or otherwise known to be moral. I personally disagree because I feel it is immoral to allow morality to be subjected to change. Linguistically however that is how many societies operate - they use democracy as the basis to decide right and wrong.
What ZareenKhan is asking is whether morality can be defined and examples given - she is using the Socratic method to arrive at truth. She has already assumed that morality is absolute i.e. concrete and not subject to change, but rather she believes it is defined and through experience it becomes refined. Not changed, but the parameters, exceptions and exclusions become known. However, her last sentence seems to suggest that what you Faris have related. I think this is confusing two different matters.
I somewhat agree with the idea that morality can be contextualised ... we can see that case law provides us instances where certain cases have been won when certain things are in place which if were not in place would not lead to the result or verdict that was given. This being that, law is out to achieve justice and justice is a manifestation of morality.
However I ultimately feel there is a third way to look at morality. Morality is a guideline and it is never meant to be defined. It is a methodology to discern what is 'right' at a given moment in a given situation.
Re: Morality.
I will get back on this tomorow, today is a busy busy day :)
Re: Morality.
Thank you both for taking time out to share your views.
@ Faris.
1) Like psycah said, you took on a total different question. Perhaps it wasnt worded properly.
2) I thought morals were not necessairly the rules or customs laid out by the culture/society but perhaps those laid by the religion.
3) I agree with you that we need to accept everyone is different and hence there will be very many differences we will need to tolerate if not accept. However how far we can go about doing that? or maybe we need to stop judging people but is that really possible?.
@ Psycah.
1) I completely agree with your last lines. And this was a question i read up on net, didnt come up with myself but thought it was a very interesting one hence shared it with you guys to hear diff views.
2) Its about the intentions that matter more than what you did or did not do. If you went on about doing a "good" thing but with bad intentions then the goodness of it goes out of the window that very instance. And same way for doing a "bad" thing with good intentions.
Re: Morality.
Hello!!!
Re: Morality.
Hello!!!
Hello to you too ... LOL ... Thanks for the response and the name is psyah ....
psycah sounds like a girl ... not me hehehe
Peace
Re: Morality.
Hello to you too ... LOL ... Thanks for the response and the name is psyah ....
psycah sounds like a girl ... not me hehehe
Peace
My bad, i would have edited it if there was an option for it :)
I was hoping you would have had more to say for the post/topic :D.