Moral Absolutes

[And-U-Say]

Many is the time I have heard the term "Moral Absolutes". In all cases by Christians seeking the moral high ground or the justification for certain beliefs or actions. My impression is that this is some set of rules which are absolute and come from God. Yet... I have never seen any such list of rules. Is there such a list? Is the claim of "moral absolutes" bogus or real?

 

[Soul_Searcher]

Hi AUS,

I think you'd have to start with the 10 Commandments and the commandments of Jesus for anything resembling 'moral absolutes.' But since we really don't know the mind of God, let alone what the heck God is, we cannot be sure of anything in absolutes.

 

[And-U-Say]

So I guess your answer to my question (bogus or real) would be "bogus"?

 

[Rae]

They get the moral absolutes from the absolute moral authority, the Wheel of Morality! http://www.imhulse.com/wakkarotti/morality.htm

 

[WaZoO]

I think that morality is an intrinsic part of being a human being. I think it was probably an evolutionary advantage to have the moral fiber that people are born with, so it was probably God's will.

 

[smog]

Morality is local and global rather than universal or absolute. For example, let's say you have a group of robots that are programmed to hurt each other - in that case, for the robots, causing harm would be the moral thing to do. Even if you created them, you wouldn't be justified to say that what they are doing is immoral, because you aren't a robot and you don't directly interact with them. They're independant.

Each person has morals, each group of people have morals, and eventually, all of humanity has morals. The morals of a system only guide the interactions between its different parts. It doesn't make much sense to say they come from God, because God just isn't part of humanity. It's "out there", but we have our own independant identity ("he" gave us "free will"), and therefore, we have our own independant morals. An entity can have moral authority over humans, and vice versa, if and only if if it directly interacts with other humans.

 

[Ananel]

Many is the time I have heard the term "Moral Absolutes". In all cases by Christians seeking the moral high ground or the justification for certain beliefs or actions. My impression is that this is some set of rules which are absolute and come from God. Yet... I have never seen any such list of rules. Is there such a list? Is the claim of "moral absolutes" bogus or real?

Usually, when spoken of in this context, they are referring to the ten commandments and teachings clearly derived from these.

Edit: As to it being bogus or real, I would say that I don't know the specific things these people have claimed are moral absolutes, so I am not inclined to respond at this time. I am a deontologist, but I would prefer not to go flying off the hilt and saying a moral absolute is involved just because a Christian said it.

 

[Dragar]

I don't even know what 'morality' is.

Dragar

 

[roker]

Morality is local and global rather than universal or absolute. For example, let's say you have a group of robots that are programmed to hurt each other - in that case, for the robots, causing harm would be the moral thing to do. Even if you created them, you wouldn't be justified to say that what they are doing is immoral, because you aren't a robot and you don't directly interact with them. They're independant.

Each person has morals, each group of people have morals, and eventually, all of humanity has morals. The morals of a system only guide the interactions between its different parts. It doesn't make much sense to say they come from God, because God just isn't part of humanity. It's "out there", but we have our own independant identity ("he" gave us "free will"), and therefore, we have our own independant morals. An entity can have moral authority over humans, and vice versa, if and only if if it directly interacts with other humans.

morality is not relative. Is genocide, racism, or exploitation moral anywhere? at any time past to present? NO. we have a duty to criticize our own culture as well as others.

 

[Prince Lucianus]

Hi AUS,

I think you'd have to start with the 10 Commandments and the commandments of Jesus for anything resembling 'moral absolutes.' But since we really don't know the mind of God, let alone what the heck God is, we cannot be sure of anything in absolutes.

It's 11 commandments.
Do not defraud is the 11th.
'You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' (Mark 10:19)

Strangely, this sentence is copied in Matthew and Luke, but they don't mention defraud.
So, Maybe they thought Mark made a mistake

Lucy

 

[an7222]

I do believe in moral absolutes, since subjective morality means no morality at all. But at the same time, I think mankind do not know all the moral absolutes of this universe. We are improving with the passing time, but we didn't get there yet.

 

[Sycophant]

morality is not relative. Is genocide, racism, or exploitation moral anywhere? at any time past to present? NO. we have a duty to criticize our own culture as well as others.

Genocide is not moral not because it is immoral in itself, but because it is immoral to kill, however we are always willing to make exceptions to our moral beliefs in the right circumstances. I'm sure there is some circumstance that could make us all think that killing another person might not be absolutely wrong.

I think moral absolutes are bogus.

In fact, I think absolutes of any sort are bogus. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is relative and shaped by perceptions.

 

[FadingWhispers3]

Is the existence of pervasive relativity itself relative?

 

[Carico]

The simple truth is that the world was set up to work in a certain way, PERIOD. We can fight it, kick and scream about it but it won't change a thing. The sooner one realizes that, the easier his life will be, not to mention his eternal life.

 

[Brimshack]

I think rather than asking if there are moral absolutes one ought to ask what it means to say that a moral is absolute. How does the term actually modify any judgement one makes? Does it really add anything to say that a moral judgement is absolute? Does it really compromise a moral judgement to say that it is relative? Honestly, I think the whole popular debate over the difference between moral absolutism and relativism is pretty meaningless in the final analysis. It has little bearing on any judgements that anyone actually makes.

 

[Mϋzikdϋde]

Moral absolutes are as real to one as their perceptions.
One person's reality may very well be another's nonsense. So yes, moral absolutes are real philosophically speaking.
But that doesn't answer the question as to whether or not they are real on a societal level. Since our perceptions are our own and our morals are defined by our conscience there is no way to pin a cookie cutter picture of morality on a society. Our laws are a reperesentation of a majority rule in most, but not all, cases. So the question in the OP begs speculation and opinion but nothing that can be backed by solid evidence. Of course, even this post is purely my opinion, but that's my perception and thus, my truth.

BTW, this isn't a reply to you Brimmy...just happened to be the position I landed in.

 

[Brimshack]

And Why NOT!?!

 

[Mϋzikdϋde]

Because you scare me. <insert meek and mousey smiley here>

 

[Brimshack]

Hey that's what she said when I showed up for my date last night...

 

[Mϋzikdϋde]

I see a thread hijacking about to happen here...You know I can't just walk away from a comment like that without saying something like "Leave my Sister alone" Then we end up talking about Nuns and things like that...what a mess.