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fearmeforiampink) wrote2012-11-09 04:04 am
fearmeforiampink) wrote2012-11-09 04:04 am
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NaBloPoMo Day 8 - Morality.
[Poll #1877682]
Inspired partly by a suggestion from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
omniscient_fool, today's post is on morality.
I don't believe in morality, at least insofar as an absolute thing - I don't believe in there being 'true' right and wrong. I believe that there are actions that are harmful to others, and indeed, harmful to the larger communities that we live in, and that cultures have over times developed extensive and detailed moral systems to (amongst other aims) promote the survival, prosperity, and happiness of the communities within it.
For people that have a belief in a god or gods, I can certainly see why they would believe in absolute morality. But for people who don't? I really don't see it, I don't see where it arises, what could back up its existence. I'm not saying that I think being nasty doesn't matter, that it's fine to do things that would be described as evil or wrong. Just that 'evil' and 'wrong' are terms we have created for a group of actions, most of which are harmful to us, and/or others, and/or to the overall community (but some of which aren't).
To develop the thought a bit further, I don't actually consider myself a good or moral person. I'd say I mostly act in a way that'd be considered fairly reasonable compared to baseline morals of the population. But I don't do so from thoughts of good or evil, or because I feel that I should. I do so due to a combination of factors; because a general look at most actively nasty actions done for gain suggests that the gain is rather outweighed by the risks and results of getting caught/fucking up, as a sub-reason of the previous, because I care about my friends and wouldn't want to hurt them or bring problems down upon them, and (the most directly moral I get) I don't like to cause pain without a good reason.
In terms of 'good' things I do, a lot of it I think comes from an idea of efficiency. If I'm walking down the street, and I see someone looking lost, then if I'm in the Kings Cross/Tottenham Court Road/Soho/Picadilly Circus area, or other areas I know pretty well, I'll probably actively approach and offer directions, because I know these areas pretty well, thus can fairly quickly and easily point them in the right direction. But if I'm in any kind of rush? Nope, probably even if asked for directions. I think my interest in electoral reform might also flow from this, as the current system is inacurate/inefficient at getting a democratic and effective government, thus should be reformed, ditto stuff like the effects of Lobbying on government.
So, there's my thoughts on morality. Does my lack of any feeling of what is right or wrong make my a psycho/sociopath? No idea; possibly one of the 'light' ones that fill many board rooms. And hey, it works for me.
Inspired partly by a suggestion from
omniscient_fool, today's post is on morality.I don't believe in morality, at least insofar as an absolute thing - I don't believe in there being 'true' right and wrong. I believe that there are actions that are harmful to others, and indeed, harmful to the larger communities that we live in, and that cultures have over times developed extensive and detailed moral systems to (amongst other aims) promote the survival, prosperity, and happiness of the communities within it.
For people that have a belief in a god or gods, I can certainly see why they would believe in absolute morality. But for people who don't? I really don't see it, I don't see where it arises, what could back up its existence. I'm not saying that I think being nasty doesn't matter, that it's fine to do things that would be described as evil or wrong. Just that 'evil' and 'wrong' are terms we have created for a group of actions, most of which are harmful to us, and/or others, and/or to the overall community (but some of which aren't).
To develop the thought a bit further, I don't actually consider myself a good or moral person. I'd say I mostly act in a way that'd be considered fairly reasonable compared to baseline morals of the population. But I don't do so from thoughts of good or evil, or because I feel that I should. I do so due to a combination of factors; because a general look at most actively nasty actions done for gain suggests that the gain is rather outweighed by the risks and results of getting caught/fucking up, as a sub-reason of the previous, because I care about my friends and wouldn't want to hurt them or bring problems down upon them, and (the most directly moral I get) I don't like to cause pain without a good reason.
In terms of 'good' things I do, a lot of it I think comes from an idea of efficiency. If I'm walking down the street, and I see someone looking lost, then if I'm in the Kings Cross/Tottenham Court Road/Soho/Picadilly Circus area, or other areas I know pretty well, I'll probably actively approach and offer directions, because I know these areas pretty well, thus can fairly quickly and easily point them in the right direction. But if I'm in any kind of rush? Nope, probably even if asked for directions. I think my interest in electoral reform might also flow from this, as the current system is inacurate/inefficient at getting a democratic and effective government, thus should be reformed, ditto stuff like the effects of Lobbying on government.
So, there's my thoughts on morality. Does my lack of any feeling of what is right or wrong make my a psycho/sociopath? No idea; possibly one of the 'light' ones that fill many board rooms. And hey, it works for me.