How do we explain the Natural Moral Law ? Where did it come from ?
Humankind's inherent sense of right and wrong cannot be biologically explained.
There arises in all of us, of any culture, universal feelings of right and wrong. Even a thief gets upset and feels wronged when someone steals from him. If someone violently grabs a child from a family and rapes that child, there is an anger and revulsion and a rage to confront that act as evil, regardless of the culture. Where did we get this sense of wrongness? How do we explain a universal law in the conscience of all people that says murder for fun is wrong?
And in areas like courage, love, dignity, duty and compassion, where did these come from? If people are merely products of physical evolution, survival of the fittest, why do we sacrifice for each other?
Where did we get this inner sense of right and wrong?
Any thoughts ?
Originally posted by ivanhoeOriginally posted by ivanhoe
Humankind's inherent sense of right and wrong cannot be biologically explained.
There arises in all of us, of any culture, universal feelings of right and wrong. Even a thief gets upset and feels wronged when someone steals from him. If someone violently grabs a child from a family and rapes that child, there is an anger and revulsion and a rage to confro ...[text shortened]... or each other?
Where did we get this inner sense of right and wrong?
Any thoughts ?
Humankind's inherent sense of right and wrong cannot be biologically explained.
This contains a few assumptions.
1) I don't think there is much that is inherent about different people's sense of right and wrong. There are many different cultures today that have values that differ greatly from typical Western values. Even in Western countries, values differ greatly. Also, I'm sure values differed even more as you go back in time. For example, I believe there are many people here in America who think it is fine to kill people who are very different from them (due to race, religion, etc.).
2) I think much can be biologically explained, especially in the context of raising young. You can look at other species and see much behavior that is similar to our own. Avoidance of incest is an example of one such behavior. The desire to protect our offspring is a general idea that can give rise to all sorts of values.
3) I also find it impossible to believe that humans are the only species with a sense of right and wrong. [You did not say this, but it might be implied.] There is a famous gorilla near where I live named Koko. Please see: http://www.koko.org/
I think the rest must be explained through evolution of belief and value systems. How else could there be so many different values regarding things such as murder, sex, theft, etc. Also, just because there is great commonality of values between some cultures does not mean that the values are inherent.
There are many books that discuss such issues.
Originally posted by ivanhoeHow about an evolutionary explanation?
How do we explain the Natural Moral Law ? Where did it come from ?
Humankind's inherent sense of right and wrong cannot be biologically explained.
There arises in all of us, of any culture, universal feelings of right and wrong. Even a thief gets upset and feels wronged when someone steals from him. If someone violently grabs a child from a family an ...[text shortened]... or each other?
Where did we get this inner sense of right and wrong?
Any thoughts ?
Consider a tribe with no concept of right or wrong. Stealing what someone else has gathered, killing a child - all have no social consequences for the person doing them but harm others. Is it farfetched to regard this tribe as a whole as being less likely to be successful than the neighbouring tribe who can work together?
So - a group benefits from protecting itself fron the selfishness of a few.
Originally posted by ivanhoeI don't think it is natural, did you look at the peta video in prads post?
How do we explain the Natural Moral Law ? Where did it come from ?
Humankind's inherent sense of right and wrong cannot be biologically explained.
There arises in all of us, of any culture, universal feelings of right and wrong. Even a thief gets upset and feels wronged when someone steals from him. If someone violently grabs a child from a family an ...[text shortened]... or each other?
Where did we get this inner sense of right and wrong?
Any thoughts ?
I think that the majority of people are good because for the most part people around them are.
I am a good person, I think. There are those out there that would look at me in horror. I am a hunter, and that I learned. I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "If its a hootin I'm a shootin".
Look a war.... it is murder with consent and reason, no two ways about it. If you can sway a population; humans are capable of anything.....anything.
The only instincts we have are to live and reproduce once you take away the un-necessary things.
Originally posted by rapalla7Is it possible that people look at you with horror not because you are a hunter but becasue your bumper sticker (If its a hootin I'm a shootin) seem to imply you are some sort of owl hunter? 😉
I am a good person, I think. There are those out there that would look at me in horror. I am a hunter, and that I learned. I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "If its a hootin I'm a shootin".
Look a war.... it is murder with consent and reason, no two ways about it. If you can sway a population; humans are capable of anything.....anythin ...[text shortened]... only instincts we have are to live and reproduce once you take away the un-necessary things.
Sorry, I could not resist.
TheSkipper
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Originally posted by rapalla7Well - if two tribes are neighbours, a tribe can treat each other with respect because it benefits the tribe -and still slaughter the neighbours because that makes you even more succesful as you take over their space.
I am a good person, I think. There are those out there that would look at me in horror. I am a hunter, and that I learned. I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "If its a hootin I'm a shootin".
Look a war.... it is murder ...[text shortened]... live and reproduce once you take away the un-necessary things.
So the natural moral law - treat those around you well as they are your family. This could mean sacrificing yourself or the greater good -specifially, it is worth dying to save two of your children. Treat those not related to you badly - and a good way of fiinding out how close they are is how they look and sound. Xenophobia and racism could be evolutionary advantges and warfare is not inconsistant with the natural moral law.
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Originally posted by ivanhoeThe only "Natural Moral" law states...
How do we explain the Natural Moral Law ? Where did it come from ?
Humankind's inherent sense of right and wrong cannot be biologically explained.
There arises in all of us, of any culture, universal feelings of right and wrong. Eve ...[text shortened]... e get this inner sense of right and wrong?
Any thoughts ?
"If you can't win the fight... suck up and get along."
The reasoning is that "someday" you will have better odds and will be able to win. It may take generations, but your day will come.
From the "SVW Book Of True Chimp Behavior And Survival"
Our inate moral sense is about 1 percent intellect and 99 percent weighing the odds.
So if you are in the top 1 percent intellectually... God help you. You are not playing by the same rules as everyone else. May you discover this before you die of old age. Few do.