Moralities

[Corey]

More of an academic topic...

How does morality develop? How many different moral codes can you conceive of? I'll start off...

1)Individualistic. Primary motive-the good of the person.

2)Collectivist. Primary motive-the good of the group

 

[WatersMoon110]

I think that moral theories develop when a given group of people has a difficult problem among its members. They find a solution to the problem, and all of them believe it to be the only solution to that problem. So, when they hear about another group with the same issue, they tell their solution. Eventually, everyone in the area just begins to believe that the problem is solved with their solution - and in enough generations everyone starts to believe that that solution is the only "moral" way to solve that problem.

Did that make sense? *wink*

 

[billwald]

I'm a 'social contract' person. Moralities go back to tribal history and experience.

 

[Verv]

(3) Religious moral code: the notion of not necessarily following morals that come to you from individual being prioritized and not even the group, but following a moral code simply because you think it is the most virtuous and Holy way to do it.

 

[sago]

How about a libertarian basis: a morality which mandates the minimum neccessary to allow each person to freely exercise their desires?

I wouldn't subscribe to it, but it would be somewhat consistent.

 

[TeddyKGB]

(3) Religious moral code: the notion of not necessarily following morals that come to you from individual being prioritized and not even the group, but following a moral code simply because you think it is the most virtuous and Holy way to do it.

What about the part where God commands it?

 

[CCGirl]

I'm a 'social contract' person. Moralities go back to tribal history and experience.

Bingo!

 

[Deadbolt]

How about a libertarian basis: a morality which mandates the minimum neccessary to allow each person to freely exercise their desires?

I wouldn't subscribe to it, but it would be somewhat consistent.

It would be a good norm. Certainly people could be more benevolent should they desire but no one should think less of them for not doing so. And so long as nobody brings harm to another, there should be no basis for stigmatization or societal constraint.

 

[jayem]

How many different moral codes can you conceive of? I

One of my favorite topics. Not sure if this is what you mean. The traditional classification of how we judge the morality of an action is as follows:

1) Consequentialism. The rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by its consequences. The best known type of consequentialist ethic is utilitarianism. Which states that a morally right action produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. This is what you refer to as a collectivist ethic. The obvious problem is that what is best for the greatest number may not be good at all for an individual or a smaller group.

2) Deontology. Morality is determined by rules. The principle of reciprocity would be one of these rules. Following the social contract is another subtype. Religious ethics usually are deontologic, because morality is determined by obeying divine commands. The problem with rule-based ethics is that there is usually little guidance on what to do when rules conflict with one another.

3) Natural law ethic. There is a set of ethical principles that is an intrinsic part of the natural world, and is universally valid. All actions are judged based on their conformity with this natural law. This was greatly developed by Thomas Aquinas and is a major part of Catholic ethical doctrine.

4) Casuistry. The morality of actions must be judged on a case-by-case basis. Has gotten a bad rap as being relativistic or situational. But in the real world, with human affairs being as convoluted as they can be, it's the only practical approach.

 

[cantata]

More of an academic topic...

How does morality develop? How many different moral codes can you conceive of? I'll start off...

1)Individualistic. Primary motive-the good of the person.

2)Collectivist. Primary motive-the good of the group

Egoistic moral code. Primary motive: The good of the agent.
Divine moral code. Primary motive: The service of a divine being.

Delicious moral code. Primary motive: The accumulation and liberal application of high-quality jam.