What is your fundamental moral compass?

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

Your recognition of this suggests that u shoud respect Quantum Mechanics.

Oh I do. I just see the usefullness of particle physics as having run out.

0 Replies

@Chumly,

Chumly wrote:

To maximize the potential for Mankind's long term survival

Ignoring for now the "why" I'd like to know how this guides you through all moral dilemmas.

For example, I want to punch person X. I would not choose to punch person X in the genitals so I will not get in the way of your goal. According to your moral code is this an acceptable action or not?

1 Reply

@Robert Gentel,

You really didn't ought to want to punch anybody Bob.

0 Replies

I'm hoping some of the Philforum folk decide to weigh in on this topic.

0 Replies

I invent the type of man I want to become (the virtues such a man would encompass). I think of the things that that man would do. I do those things.

Examples and explication from a virtue of "Compassion":

I think that a compassionate man discusses, with interest, to his friends, even if un-interested in some topic. I discuss things that my friends wish to discuss.

I think a compassionate man donates time and money to those who seem to need it. I do so, when I feel I have the time/money.

If a compassionate man is only compassionate because he needs to be treated well by others to survive, then his compassion is more a necessity than a virtue. As such, I strive to set myself in a position that my survival is taken care of such that my compassion is greater than necessity, but is instead a virtue.

1 Reply

@Huxley,

That is an interesting process, however I'm curious about the ratiocination that establishes his virtues, could you expound?

1 Reply

@Robert Gentel,

I can try, though I think, in the end, our moral axioms are primarily emotional though I certainly think placing them into a logical context is a necessary part of the process.

I think a great many of our moral codes are cultural ones. In general, I think these are good to follow, so choosing virtues from this bag of cultural values is probably a good first step (A man wants to become a lawyer because it satisfies his culture's values of "Provide for your family, and if you can, spoil them" -- something along those lines)

I find that values are well explored and modeled by answering ethical hypotheticals from a variety of meta-ethical stances, engaging yourself in religious practices and discussions, and the digestion and personal practice of art. From these value games, usually people formulate rules that they think are right, and we can assimilate these rules into "virtues" (basically just ethical categories) which we profess to follow. Any theme that seems dominant in a virtue can derive further actions. By acting out a virtue, you test the virtue outside of the model-game-world and see how it behaves in actual moral-space. By reflecting and discussing your rules, actions, and motivations, you come to a finer appreciation of what is good. From this process, you can reformulate what you think is good, and act accordingly. Rinse, repeat.

I also tend to think that any proposed virtue ought to pass Kant's Categorical Imperative. I disagree with Kant that our motivation must be for pure duty and pure duty only, as if our respect for duty were somehow not an emotion, but I do like deontology quite a bit. I just find it hard to implement in a practical sense so I rely more heavily upon virtue theory.

0 Replies

All of my moral philosophies, if I had to generalize them so much (which I dislike to do) would essentially evolve around the golden rule, Do not do unto others that which you would not have done unto yourself. I know there's some difference between peoples and cultures, so I tend to use it in the loosest of terms. Do not hurt, deny freedom, humiliate, etc. However, if you must act immorally to prevent an act of greater immorality, it becomes a moral act.

What defines a moral person, rather then act, would be a person that does what their moral compass points them towards. If you do what you think is right, regardless of whether it is objectively, you are a good person.

1 Reply

Simply put, "do no harm". If everyone could go through life and just make sure that they do no harm to themselves or others, this world would be a much better place. And if you're not sure about whether or not you're doing harm, you need to think about it some more...

1 Reply

I happen to watch a movie called the 'rice people', just yesterday.......... a farmer who was tilling and ploughing a patch of land, gets injured by a thorn, and we see men and women coming from all directions, and helping the agonised worker lift himself from the place to a shaded area and attend to the injury. They all stopped their work and seemed to be concerned about the extent of the injury, as was the case with his wife.

this scene is typical of how human beings react with fellow humans when a distress or helplessness occurs in the course of an act. This is normal. Which would also mean it is natural.

So the moral compass that one entertains is rooted in some emotions which was pregnated and fertilised by the process of socialisation, or more often is based upon basic instincts which humans and other animals have.

Minimising sufferring is a normal reactionary tendency leading to survival of species effect. Keeping a golden rule or the virtue of generosity is the luxury of an affluent man.

1 Reply

@Jackofalltrades phil,

But movies cannot be trusted Jack. The choreography of the actors is arranged.

Even if real peasants are involved and the guy just happened to get injured when the cameras were rolling the behaviour of his companions is conditioned to some extent, probably a large extent, by the presence of those cameras.

I once saw a greyhound race in which one of the dogs broke its leg on the first bend. The other five dogs instantly forgot the hare and attacked the injured dog. There were no cameras.

How do you explain bullying? We seem to put enough effort into inhibiting bullying to suggest it is natural.

Your final conclusion is probably right. The display of virtue by those who can afford it which is actually a type of bullying.

1 Reply

@Pangloss,

Quote:

Simply put, "do no harm".

Do babies being born harm their mother ? Does watching people starve do harm ? Does a surgeon do harm ?

How does "do no harm" promote survival of the fittest ?

1 Reply

@Ionus,

Ionus wrote:

Do babies being born harm their mother ?

Do they have a choice?

Quote:

Does watching people starve do harm ?

How could it?

Quote:

How does "do no harm" promote survival of the fittest ?

Who said that it does?

Seriously, think before you post buddy...

1 Reply

@spendius,

spendius wrote:

But movies cannot be trusted Jack. The choreography of the actors is arranged.

Even if real peasants are involved and the guy just happened to get injured when the cameras were rolling the behaviour of his companions is conditioned to some extent, probably a large extent, by the presence of those cameras.

I once saw a greyhound race in which one of the dogs broke its leg on the first bend. The other five dogs instantly forgot the hare and attacked the injured dog. There were no cameras.

How do you explain bullying? We seem to put enough effort into inhibiting bullying to suggest it is natural.

Your final conclusion is probably right. The display of virtue by those who can afford it which is actually a type of bullying.

I am not sure which social and economic background you come from. I find a lot of naivity and depravity in your statements. Even if i presume you are a 14 year old, - an age you are allowed to be a member here - it is a loss for you if you have not yet encounterred a situation similar to what was described, at the age of 14. If this is true, than you are not at fault your society is.

Do a reboot. You need it. I will try and help a bit.
1) When the word-concept 'cinema or film' is used it means everything in it is doctored. So you doevel not have to labour to explain that.
2) Your analogy of greyhounds was not only inept but revealed your ignorance of the issue being discussed.
3) Generosity has nothing to do with bullying.
4) I get a feeling you are raking up points where none exists.

1 Reply

@Pangloss,

Quote:

Quote:
Do babies being born harm their mother ?

Do they have a choice?

So harm is OK, it is just that you need to be in a position of saying "well its not my fault".

Quote:

Quote:
Does watching people starve do harm ?

How could it?

You dont have a problem with the problems of the world, just so long as others cause them.

Quote:

Quote:
How does "do no harm" promote survival of the fittest ?

Who said that it does?

So you are happy if your policy allows the extinction or slow deterioration of the human race.

What you have said is that anything is OK so long as you dont have responsibility...this is the sort of person who is capable of watching all sorts of evil in the world because they are happy that they are morally superior. The sort of person who watches immoral and illegal behaviour with a shrug....not your fault is it ? Seriously, think before you post buddy...

2 Replies

@Sentience,

Quote:

If you do what you think is right, regardless of whether it is objectively, you are a good person.

So the Nazis were good people.

1 Reply

@Ionus,

Ionus wrote:

What you have said is that anything is OK so long as you dont have responsibility...this is the sort of person who is capable of watching all sorts of evil in the world because they are happy that they are morally superior. The sort of person who watches immoral and illegal behaviour with a shrug....not your fault is it ? Seriously, think before you post buddy...

Not exactly. Just that it's my "fundamental moral compass". Meaning the minimum moral standard that one should adhere to. If you are in a position to help others, then that is great. As for the rest of your post, you've just convoluted a pretty straightforward proposition of refraining from causing harm to another person, and it's not worth addressing.

1 Reply

@Ionus,

Ionus wrote:

Quote:
If you do what you think is right, regardless of whether it is objectively, you are a good person.
So the Nazis were good people.

Two of my grandparents were Nazis. They also were reasonably good people. It's perfectly possible for good people to do evil things. All it takes is that they do what they think is right, when what they think is right is horribly wrong. The road to hell is paved with good intentions---by good people.

2 Replies

@Thomas,

Ionus wrote:

Quote:
If you do what you think is right, regardless of whether it is objectively, you are a good person.
So the Nazis were good people.

Thomas wrote:

Two of my grandparents were Nazis. They also were reasonably good people.
It's perfectly possible for good people to do evil things.
All it takes is that they do what they think is right, when what they think is right is horribly wrong.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions---by good people.

I must agree with your analysis, Thomas; the good logic of a physicist.
I had an uncle who was caught by the FBI with a flag borne swastika in his underwear drawer, during WWII.
He was German born. Most of the rest of the family were naturalized American citizens of English origin,
except for another uncle of mine and myself both born in NYC.
At the beginning of the war, while listening to the radio, he taunted us:
"thay 're really GIVING IT to them, aren't thay?" qua the German bombing of England.
Toward the end of the war, he was less vocal.
As a libertarian Individualist, I enjoyed debating with him
and enjoyed his company, in his home and mine. He stood up for
the principles of socialism and called himself "a socialist."

I defended the principles of laissez faire free enterprize and (domestically) feeble government.

David

0 Replies

@Pangloss,

Quote:

If you are in a position to help others, then that is great.

But people, and you, dont help others do they....

Quote:

you've just convoluted a pretty straightforward proposition of refraining from causing harm to another person

Welcome to the real world, full of magnetic anomalies for your compass.

Quote:

it's not worth addressing

I suspect there is a lot about your moral compass you prefer is not addressed.

1 Reply

What is your fundamental moral compass?

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know