Do Morals Come From God?

[mohammed_beiruti]

Exactly what I mean, It doesn't matter wich consequences you get, the ones in real life or the ones religion made for you, but all morals are based upon consequences.

so, as well as there are [bad] consequences we may consider an action is against morality . (or vice versa)

who decide whether the consequences is bad or good ?

 

[BucephalusBB]

so, as well as there are [bad] consequences we may consider an action is against morality . (or vice versa)

who decide whether the consequences is bad or good ?

We do..
consequences influence our lives. Mostly it's either an improvement or the opposite. Like allready given in loads of examples. Once it is an improvement, we start calling it either morals or law.

Note that most morals and laws are not based upon one person, but in general/groups/society etc.

EDIT: see where you use "good" or "bad" , I use improvement or not? That's not for nothing

 

[little_monkey]

That may be true of some people, but not most of the people I have known. I think some people don't like the idea of hurting another directly or indirectly by stealing from them, sleeping with their spouse, and so on. I don't refrain from committing crimes because of fear of punishment, but because I don't like the idea of harming someone (if one of my children were in danger I would do anything to stop that person but that is a parent's instinct).

It's also part of, do unto others what others will do unto you. We recognize that being kind to others will pay in the long run, as this sets an example for others to emulate (role-modelling); and when others are kind to us, it's like collecting dividends.

 

[ChristineES]

It's also part of, do unto others what others will do unto you. We recognize that being kind to others will pay in the long run, as this sets an example for others to emulate (role-modeling); and when others are kind to us, it's like collecting dividends.

Don't forget the saying "nice guys finish last".

 

[little_monkey]

Don't forget the saying "nice guys finish last".

Yes morality is concerned with, do unto others what others will do to you, but with the other saying, MIGHT IS RIGHT, we are no longer talking about morality, but have entered the dreadful field of politics...

 

[Mr Spinkles]

Bouncing Ball,

Great posts. I agree, but I'd like to suggest two additional things to consider about our ethics:

1) Cooperating, helping, and giving to others makes us feel good. It makes us feel good even if our actions are not in our "self-interest", narrowly defined. We don't need to justify this feeling because we don't have a choice in the matter: the feeling comes from how our social mammalian brains are wired. The irresistible feeling of satisfaction that we get when we feed/nurture/entertain a small child is sufficient to motivate these actions and call them "good" without having to justify how they further our personal, narrow self-interest.

2) At the same time, it is possible, through education and practice, to train oneself to automatically feel good when one does certain (good) actions and to feel bad when one does certain (bad) actions (or when one has good/bad thoughts). We could use this power to raise children who love nothing more than to murder and steal from each other. Or, we could use the malleability of our brains to raise children who are appalled by murder and stealing, and who derive great joy from helping and cooperating. Clearly, the latter option will lead to greater happiness and less suffering for both the individual AND the group.

 

[BucephalusBB]

Bouncing Ball,

Great posts. I agree, but I'd like to suggest two additional things to consider about our ethics:

1) Cooperating, helping, and giving to others makes us feel good. It makes us feel good even if our actions are not in our "self-interest", narrowly defined. We don't need to justify this feeling because we don't have a choice in the matter: the feeling comes from how our social mammalian brains are wired. The irresistible feeling of satisfaction that we get when we feed/nurture/entertain a small child is sufficient to motivate these actions and call them "good" without having to justify how they further our personal, narrow self-interest.

2) At the same time, it is possible, through education and practice, to train oneself to automatically feel good when one does certain (good) actions and to feel bad when one does certain (bad) actions (or when one has good/bad thoughts). We could use this power to raise children who love nothing more than to murder and steal from each other. Or, we could use the malleability of our brains to raise children who are appalled by murder and stealing, and who derive great joy from helping and cooperating. Clearly, the latter option will lead to greater happiness and less suffering for both the individual AND the group.

Agreed. I make difference in what morals are now and what they "were". I think morals 'evolved' just as hard as our body did. My examples are based a little upon "the start" and yours apply on the now.