Re: A Critique on Objective Morality
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 10:25 am
Given the patchy and implausible claims of theism, the Golden Rule would seem the only simple and logical standard of morality. However, its limitations are made clear by human behaviours when there are serious conflicts of interest.
Basically we are selfish animals, like any other species, unless we manage to contrive a situation where we benefit from cooperation. The long and relatively stable climatic period that allowed humans to refine their sensibilities - making this topic possible - is coming to a close. As the stakes rise, questions about morality will become increasingly moot and distorted by propaganda. In the end, we look after ourselves and our own first, and if we feel we have sufficient resources, we might (or might not) extend that circle of concern to other humans and/or species.
In the aftermath of WWI and WWII came a determination to learn from our mistakes. The aftermath of whatever environmental and political disasters are heading our way this century will no doubt bring a similar moral resolve - "never again".
Of course the new moral codes will most likely be diluted by subsequent generations, as have all moral codes before it. It's a lottery, a work in progress (with the usual three steps forward, two back, staggered dynamic) and, when it's all too hard there's still the Golden Rule to provide at least some moral grounding.
Basically we are selfish animals, like any other species, unless we manage to contrive a situation where we benefit from cooperation. The long and relatively stable climatic period that allowed humans to refine their sensibilities - making this topic possible - is coming to a close. As the stakes rise, questions about morality will become increasingly moot and distorted by propaganda. In the end, we look after ourselves and our own first, and if we feel we have sufficient resources, we might (or might not) extend that circle of concern to other humans and/or species.
In the aftermath of WWI and WWII came a determination to learn from our mistakes. The aftermath of whatever environmental and political disasters are heading our way this century will no doubt bring a similar moral resolve - "never again".
Of course the new moral codes will most likely be diluted by subsequent generations, as have all moral codes before it. It's a lottery, a work in progress (with the usual three steps forward, two back, staggered dynamic) and, when it's all too hard there's still the Golden Rule to provide at least some moral grounding.