genetically moral

[nonny]

I went to get my child from an afternoon visit with Grandma. We were yapping about what a good kid I have. I had made a comment about how she was nominated for peer counselling because everybody who meets her, finds her to be of high moral values. My mil, who is a devout Christian, stated that she really believes that there are certain ppl who are genetically moral. I relayed that I nor my husband have ever had to tell her right from wrong. When I asked her how it was that she knows what the right thing to do is, her response was, "my brain tells me."

So, what are some objections to this and why?

 

[MoonlessNight]

Actually, I don't have much of an objection to it. The only problem I see is the suggetion that only some people inherently know morality. If morality is objective, and we know it, it seems that either mankind has been told what morality is or it is within the nature of mankind to know morality. I tend to stick with the latter, which seems to be what you're talking about here.

Of course, you also have to consider that it could all be cultural condition, etc, etc, but I don't see any reason why we can't naturally have the potential to know right from wrong.

 

[nonny]

You have stated it much more eloquently than I.... I do think it is with in our nature to know right from wrong. We do exercises with her now, 'what's right in this situation, what's not right in this situation'. I guess it's kids who just continually stump adults.

 

[BInC]

Hmmmm... The force is strong with this one...

But seriously, it does sound like the holy spirit is strong in this girl, or else she is just better at listening to it. I have met several people that just seem to be better than most people at seeing what is right or wrong.

 

[onajourney87]

Everyone is 'genetically moral', though I think that is better phrased as everyone has a conscience.

osm

 

[nonny]

BInC: She's an atheist. She's intimidatingly LOGICAL...(think Spock with a pre teen flare)

 

[feral]

I don't know about genetically moral, but kids learn what they see. If you and your husband and other adults she learns from behave well and try to do the right thing in most cases, she will pick that up and emulate you.

Also, some kids do have more of a respect for others, empathy, whatever...and she probably does, so she tries to do the right thing by others, which usually means making the correct moral choice. As an atheist especially she knows she has to make the correct choice because if she does something wrong there is no one to blame or to pray to to fix it. I happen to think that atheism makes one more responsible for their actions, as they get the credit for both bad moves and good ones. If you can blame your mistakes on temptation and satan, that doesn't give you an incentive to be good.

 

[tcampen]

I have seen no evidence that people of any particular religious persuasion tend to be more moral than any other group of people. And even those who decalare there to be an absolute morality against which all acts can be judged, there anything but absolute agreement on what those absolute morals are.

However, genetics do play a heavy role in behavior, and we recognize certain behaviors to be good and others bad. Whether one's genetic makeup conforms more towards one or the other is probably something that is really going on. However, I seriously doubt there is any supernatural force involved in who gets the "moral genes" and who doesn't.

And as a side note, one could argue that those with the genetic disposition to conform with universal and enduring concepts of morality have a better chance at spreading their genetics through the population, thus moral behavior ultimately carries with it an evolutionary advantage. Just a thought.

 

[BInC]

BInC: She's an atheist. She's intimidatingly LOGICAL...(think Spock with a pre teen flare)

Interesting. I am a logic guy myself. This past summer I figured it out. Logic, I believe, will point to God. Mine certainly did. I will be praying for her.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

It makes perfect sense that her morality is what her brain tells her. We as humans, I believe, have an innate faculty for acquiring morals. Just like we acquire language as children that conforms to those around us, we absorb their morals. I am an objectivist and believe that there is a certain set of morals that is "right," but I don't see how this conflicts with people having slightly different morals. Language is used for a certain end and everyone, despite the language they speak, achieves this end: communication. In the same way, we all have our idiosyncasies in our morals, yet our moralities all aim toward the same thing: the preservation and flourishing of life.....that'a all I have to say.

 

[tetelestai]

The topic of temperment hasn't been approached directly, and i think it plays a big part in this "genetic morality" and of course the nature/nurture debate enters in as well. the parents you grow up with have a huge part on your moral compass (if you will) but i dont think they have complete control. you are born with a specific type of mind. and it also has some control over your lifestyle. and each of the temperment "types" presents a different difficulty. for some people is morality, for some its humility, and for others its sympathy. and the one/one's you are lacking are the things that you rely on God for.

take me as an instance. i am naturally very logical and i am super compassionate. so i dont struggle with sympathy. but with those two things combined, i find that i have the HARDEST time with humility. infact you can probably even see that in this post so i rely on God to teach me humility. while some one else, born with a different temperment, would need the Lord for something else.
sorry if this is slightly off topic.

 

[First Echelon]

It has been scientifically proven that it is chemicals in your brain along with the learning process that teaches you right from wrong.

 

[tetelestai]

thats really interesting. can you elaborate?

 

[ZaraDurden]

And as a side note, one could argue that those with the genetic disposition to conform with universal and enduring concepts of morality have a better chance at spreading their genetics through the population, thus moral behavior ultimately carries with it an evolutionary advantage. Just a thought.

This is actually an very popular perspective on morality in psychology right now, and there is lots of evidence for it. I will give you a good example.

Many societies throughout the world consider it moral for a woman to be faithful to her mate. But we need to look only as far as gorillas and lions to see the same thing. One of an animal's primary drives is to pass on his genes, and part of this is ensuring the survival of your offspring. So, adult males will protect their young. But, if the young aint yours, whats the point in protecting them? Thats why when the female is in heat, the dominate male protects them from all other males. Also, its common that if a male thinks the offspring are not his, he will kill them. From this the case is made that faithfulness to one's mate as a current moral stems from evolutionary development.