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Morality is not a set of rules
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Date Posted: 16:31:00 07/19/01 Thu
In reply to:
Mark7
's message, "Is there morality without God (oldie but goodie)" on 21:47:07 07/18/01 Wed
Rules have nothing to do with morality. If it was "rules" that explained behavior, then there would be no explanation for those isolated native tribes in the amazon who HAVE no rules, yet are "moral" people. There are some of them that don't have laws or a code of conduct, simply because 99% of the members would never dream of doing anything amoral. There's no standard punishment for murder, no rule that says "you shouldn't kill someone" simply because these people are so peaceful that they can't conceive of harming another human. This incidentally explains the ability of our wonderful "civilized" race to completely annihilate many races. Many babies, too young to understand rules, will behave in a manner that shows their concern about other's feelings, while other babies show definite signs of aggression and selfishness at the same age. Laws and rules weren't made to force morality on the average man, laws and rules were made to protect the average man from those with no morals or sense of rightness.
I would never consider killing an innocent person in cold blood, or committing robbery. This has nothing to do with RULES. It's just how I feel inside. I wouldn't have any problem killing someone who threatened me, or molested my daughter, which IS against the "rules". Does that make me immoral or amoral? Morals are simply the ability to do the right thing. Honesty, kindness, loyalty, etc shouldn't have to need rules to make them standard behavior. The rules are there for people who have no concept that it is wrong to be a serial killer, a rapist, a thief. There are people who are born with asocial personalities, who truly believe that it is okay to do whatever they want at any cost to others. Without "rules" they would assume that any behavior was permissible.
For example, most children will lash out and hit if they get frustrated and angry. Most of these toddlers will discover that this isn't very nice the first time they get hit back and discover how it feels. The don't need rules to tell them that hitting hurts others. An asocial child will hit, and decide that the pain of getting hit back is worth having the ability to strike anyone at any time. Without a parent to tell them "don't hit other people", they see nothing wrong with continuing that behavior. It doesn't bother THEM to be hit, so why would it bother anyone else? Basically, morals can be condensed into "the ability to know what type of negative effect your behavior will have on others, and the UNDERSTANDING of how it makes them feel, with a desire not to make others feel bad".
Pam
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