What Leads to Immoral Behavior?

[We Never Know]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

 

[an anarchist]

Government.

Try to understand my pov. I see government itself as inherently immoral. So, if an immoral system is the foundation of essentially any and all societies, its rather clear where the immorality could stem from.

 

[Heyo]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

:useful:

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

Well, one factor is the idea that there is an objective standard for moral behavior.
It works like this.
I am right with evidence/truth/proof/rationality/reason/logic and you are not.
Then we are off to the rat race.

 

[Heyo]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

Instincts.

Yes, I also said that about moral behavior. And I think that that is perfectly rational. When we have the potential for moral behavior in our genes, then the same source will lead to immoral behavior. As I also said our instincts only become morality when we reflect on them, so, not thinking about them, or thinking faulty about them, will lead to immoral behavior.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Instincts.

Yes, I also said that about moral behavior. And I think that that is perfectly rational. When we have the potential for moral behavior in our genes, then the same source will lead to immoral behavior. As I also said our instincts only become morality when we reflect on them, so, not thinking about them, or thinking faulty about them, will lead to immoral behavior.

As long as you don't go down the rabbit hole of "I am rational and you are not, because I can do morality objectively with rationality".

 

[Heyo]

As long as you don't go down the rabbit hole of "I am rational and you are not, because I can do morality objectively with rationality".

How can morality be objective when, at it's core, it is fed by irrational feelings? The only thing you can reach trough rationality is to be consistent in your morality, not impulsive as unreflected instincts are.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

How can morality be objective when, at it's core, it is fed by irrational feelings? The only thing you can reach trough rationality is to be consistent in your morality, not impulsive as unreflected instincts are.

The problem is that rationality is the objective standard both to some religious people and to some non-religious people.
The fact is that the battle over reason is not about religion or not religion. If you pay attention to the debates, you can spot that.

It is here:
"
Definitions
Atheism is the comprehensive world view of persons who are free from theism and have freed themselves of supernatural beliefs altogether. It is predicated on ancient Greek Materialism.

Atheism involves the mental attitude that unreservedly accepts the supremacy of reason and aims at establishing a life-style and ethical outlook verifiable by experience and the scientific method, independent of all arbitrary assumptions of authority and creeds.

Materialism declares that the cosmos is devoid of immanent conscious purpose; that it is governed by its own inherent, immutable, and impersonal laws; that there is no supernatural interference in human life; that humankind, finding the resources within themselves, can and must create their own destiny. It teaches that we must prize our life on earth and strive always to improve it. It holds that human beings are capable of creating a social system based on reason and justice. Materialism’s ‘faith’ is in humankind and their ability to transform the world culture by their own efforts. This is a commitment that is, in its very essence, life-asserting. It considers the struggle for progress as a moral obligation that is impossible without noble ideas that inspire us to bold, creative works. Materialism holds that our potential for good and more fulfilling cultural development is, for all practical purposes, unlimited.
Our Vision "

It is not about religion or not.

 

[blü 2]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

Goodness! At the risk of considerable overlap and repetition ─
Being born into an environment where immoral behavior towards others is standard.
Being born with poor impulse control, with inclinations to instant gratification, with other genetic disorders of the brain.
Having or developing sociopathic, megalomanic, narcissistic, and other tendencies.
Being born without the usual evolved moral tendencies that are normal in others.
Being born without a capacity for empathy.
Developing disorders of the brain such as paranoia.
Learning bad practices and attitudes from parents, teachers, coaches, peers, gurus.
Being young and bored. Being young and needing to show off. Being young and accepting dares.
Being under the moral sway of another person, or one's peer group.
Having feelings of inferiority, lacking a sense of self-worth.
Being addicted to particular substances that cost more than the subject has.

Then there are cultural elements that require certain kinds of foreigners, members of other religions, persons of certain sexual preferences, persons with certain physical or mental traits, to be hated, to be regarded as deserving of punishment, to be outside of the protection of the law, and so on.

And the rest.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Goodness! At the risk of considerable overlap and repetition ─
Being born into an environment where immoral behavior towards others is standard.
Being born with poor impulse control, with inclinations to instant gratification, with other genetic disorders of the brain.
Having or developing sociopathic, megalomanic, narcissistic, and other tendencies.
Being born without the usual evolved moral tendencies that are normal in others.
Being born without a capacity for empathy.
Developing disorders of the brain such as paranoia.
Learning bad practices and attitudes from parents, teachers, coaches, peers, gurus.
Being young and bored. Being young and needing to show off. Being young and accepting dares.
Being under the moral sway of another person, or one's peer group.
Having feelings of inferiority, lacking a sense of self-worth.
Being addicted to particular substances that cost more than the subject has.

And the rest.

The bold one is the hardest one in a sense.

 

[blü 2]

The bold one is the hardest one in a sense.

If we're talking about people otherwise reasonable, yes, it's certainly a strong contender.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

Aside from what blü 2 mentioned I think what leads to immoral behavior is death and birth. We always start from scratch, and we are savage without someone to teach us how to be sociable. We also have boundless, endless hunger. We want to see things including cruel things. We have some things in common with cats, such as cruelty as play. A person can also be ignorant of their own character. A mean person can think they are nice. A person who never smiles might think they are friendly. Social life is confusing.

And then there is neglect. It takes active effort to stave of poverty, to stay in physical shape, to stay mentally sharp. If we live in a world of plenty we become weak. We require stimulation, too. Without something to do or to think about we become bored!

 

[HonestJoe]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

Powerful individuals and organisations wanting to control people for whatever reason and so declaring the behaviours they want "moral" and the behaviours they don't "immoral".

The practical consequences, harms or benefits of the actual behaviours don't change in the slightest as a consequence. My lunchtime bacon sandwich will be totally unaffected by all the people who consider it immoral to eat pork, any meat or anything at all before sunset today.

 

[Soandso]

What is considered moral and immoral depends on the culture, imo. Why would someone break those rules? Lots of reasons - usually because it's beneficial to them in some way

 

[Revoltingest]

Immorality exists primarily because of different
beliefs & values. It's one person / society judging
another who believes they're moral.
Crime is similar, ie, an act is a crime because the
government in a place says so.

 

[Nakosis]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

A lack of empathy.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

A lack of empathy.

Too simple.

 

[Soandso]

Another thing to think about is to consider why we think certain things are moral or immoral in the first place. Some people base those things on their religion, others because they want to minimize what they percieve as unnecessary suffering. What was seen as moral and immoral immoral today was different 200 years ago

Is there a point where that perception stops changing and we can all finally agree on a perfect list of what is and is not moral? I suspect not

 

[Colt]

Instead of saying its atheism or religion, in your mind or opinion what leads to immoral behavior and why.

The instinctual self violates social taboo or even knowingly violates the will of God because the self wants to.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Another thing to think about is to consider why we think certain things are moral or immoral in the first place. Some people base those things on their religion, others because they want to minimize what they percieve as unnecessary suffering. What was seen as moral and immoral immoral today was different 200 years ago

Is there a point where that perception stops changing and we can all finally agree on a perfect list of what is and is not moral? I suspect not

That one requires that we can in effect "freeze" society.