Moral foundations - Objective, Subjective & etc: The forever topic

[Relates (Roger A. Sawtelle)]

@T_aquaticus

The OT seemed to be focused more on the day to day practicalities of culture than some overarching metaphysical moral judgment on the practice of slavery.

You are right. The Bible is not about metaphysics and much of our problem comes from confusing Christianity with metaphysics.

[BoltzmannBrain]

@T_aquaticus

In the OT, slavery didn’t seem to be that wrong. Some have even argued that the OT didn’t speak out against slavery because it was just part of society at that time. What it spoke to was being a moral slave owner. We could also look at the idea of majority opinion and the ability to consent to the rules within society. Even now, the minority opinion within a democracy still has to live by the laws passed by the majority.

There is where moral progress comes in play. Democracy is the wil of the majority to a certain degree, some basic humans rights are granted by the constitution of the country and cannot be violated even if the majority choses to.

[T_aquaticus]

@BoltzmannBrain

There is where moral progress comes in play. Democracy is the wil of the majority to a certain degree, some basic humans rights are granted by the constitution of the country and cannot be violated even if the majority choses to.

Yes and no. At least for the US Constitution, all of it can be rewritten through the amendment process. In fact, one could call a constitutional congress and chuck the entire constitution out the window. We keep those protections in place because we don’t trust ourselves, in a sense. We recognize that the majority can trample on the rights of the minority, and that any majority can become a minority at any time. Therefore, we set out rules ahead of time that we adhere to even if it is inconvenient to the majority. It’s a bit like not allowing the rules of a sport to be changed by the leading team during a match.

[BoltzmannBrain]

@T_aquaticus

We recognize that the majority can trample on the rights of the minority, and that any majority can become a minority at any time. Therefore, we set out rules ahead of time that we adhere to even if it is inconvenient to the majority. It’s a bit like not allowing the rules of a sport to be changed by the leading team during a match.

Yeah, but we do recognize these things as morally valuable, which is a point in favor of mankind’s morals.

[Reggie_O_Donoghue (RiderOnTheClouds)]

Currently I am an ethical intuitionist, since I see it as the only way to find morality with my current religious worldview. I argue through our intuition the following principles can be derived: (since they seem to be universal moral principles)

1. Don’t kill humans.
2. Don’t steal.
3. Don’t cause wanton pain. (I argue it includes any being that can feel pain, so animals too, even though Western culture has not recognised this until recently)
4. Worship God/The gods.
5. Not to lie.