Morality – part 1
Theologians, philosophers, medicine men and women; all thoughtful people have, since the beginning of time, attempted to discern how we determine what is moral. What is meant by the term moral is concerned with our behavior as humans. Being the self-centered creatures, we are we humans do not think of other living creatures or beings as making moral decisions. We know, however, that many other creatures or beings, make decision which affect the lives of others in the pack, group, herd or family. Yet the thinking of us humans is that their behavior is governed by what we usually label as instinct. There are not exploring their decisions with the likes of the philosophical treatises of Immanuel Kant, Plato, Bertram Russell or wordy bloggers such as myself.
Religious people and institutions have historically constructed elaborate systems explaining and justifying behavioral rules. Often these rules are attributed to the intervention of a divine being speaking through a human who may be labeled a prophet. The role of the prophet is to convey these rules to a larger group of people. Not only are there rules but the consequences of obeying or breaking these rules are also detailed. There may or may not be an assumption of the underlying goodness or evilness of us humans. These rules are called moral or some similar term. Morality then refers to the behavior which is consider right or wrong; good or bad. The rules of morality carry a different weight than the mores of a particular family or group. Mores can also be codified into laws and may, in some cases, carry the weight of moral rules and or laws. For example, same gender sexual relationships may be against the mores and considered immoral and illegal by some and not by others.
Moral rules, with or without a base of a state sanctioned religion, may then be codified into laws which become the foundation of the body political. In most countries or communities, the ultimate punishment for violating a moral rule is temporary or permanent banishment or disconnection from the community. In some systems there is a formal ritual for disowning a person who has violated a sacred rule. In the United States we banish by imprisonment for long periods or even life without the possibility of parole. In some cases, we keep people in detention indefinitely. In other cases, we kill by execution.
There is often a different set of rules or moral codes for “us and them”. Us is our country, tribe, family or group. Them is whoever is determined to be the enemy or unworthy - outside this tribe, country, family or group. Today in the United States political party or political ideology can determine who is us and who is them as can race, gender, vaccination status or a host of other social constructs.
For those who are “them” moral rules are different. One may, for example, not be permitted to kill other humans but one may kill one enemy or perceived enemy. Thus, one can, for example, be a Christian following the teachings of Jesus and be able to articulate why Jesus (who is God) would condone an exception to “loving one’s enemy”. One can even articulate an argument for “banishing” those whose do not recognize the evil in the political beliefs of others.
Moral rules can dictate behavior in all areas of life. Public urination, for example may be perceived as a health issues or an indecency issue. Stealing from someone’s person may be immoral or unlawful while stealing a country, blackmailing by charging high prices for a survival drug or other product is not stealing or immoral. Making a profit from the pandemic may be good business or it may be immoral. Forming shell companies may be the sign of a smart businessperson or may be immoral. An adult having sex with a child if ritualized to teach a child about sex may be a moral behavior or it may be so immoral as to be disdained by even the mass murderer.
Perhaps more than ever, our evolving communication abilities ensure that most people are aware of various moral and legal codes or rules. This results in all of us having to discern what is moral and what is immoral. The answers to these questions are closely connected to the privilege and burden of determining the legacy we will leave in this brief life journey.
How then do we determine our base of morality? In my next blog I will attempt to explore this question.
Written January 13, 2022
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Theologians, philosophers, medicine men and women; all thoughtful people have, since the beginning of time, attempted to discern how we determine what is moral. What is meant by the term moral is concerned with our behavior as humans. Being the self-centered creatures, we are we humans do not think of other living creatures or beings as making moral decisions. We know, however, that many other creatures or beings, make decision which affect the lives of others in the pack, group, herd or family. Yet the thinking of us humans is that their behavior is governed by what we usually label as instinct. There are not exploring their decisions with the likes of the philosophical treatises of Immanuel Kant, Plato, Bertram Russell or wordy bloggers such as myself.
Religious people and institutions have historically constructed elaborate systems explaining and justifying behavioral rules. Often these rules are attributed to the intervention of a divine being speaking through a human who may be labeled a prophet. The role of the prophet is to convey these rules to a larger group of people. Not only are there rules but the consequences of obeying or breaking these rules are also detailed. There may or may not be an assumption of the underlying goodness or evilness of us humans. These rules are called moral or some similar term. Morality then refers to the behavior which is consider right or wrong; good or bad. The rules of morality carry a different weight than the mores of a particular family or group. Mores can also be codified into laws and may, in some cases, carry the weight of moral rules and or laws. For example, same gender sexual relationships may be against the mores and considered immoral and illegal by some and not by others.
Moral rules, with or without a base of a state sanctioned religion, may then be codified into laws which become the foundation of the body political. In most countries or communities, the ultimate punishment for violating a moral rule is temporary or permanent banishment or disconnection from the community. In some systems there is a formal ritual for disowning a person who has violated a sacred rule. In the United States we banish by imprisonment for long periods or even life without the possibility of parole. In some cases, we keep people in detention indefinitely. In other cases, we kill by execution.
There is often a different set of rules or moral codes for “us and them”. Us is our country, tribe, family or group. Them is whoever is determined to be the enemy or unworthy - outside this tribe, country, family or group. Today in the United States political party or political ideology can determine who is us and who is them as can race, gender, vaccination status or a host of other social constructs.
For those who are “them” moral rules are different. One may, for example, not be permitted to kill other humans but one may kill one enemy or perceived enemy. Thus, one can, for example, be a Christian following the teachings of Jesus and be able to articulate why Jesus (who is God) would condone an exception to “loving one’s enemy”. One can even articulate an argument for “banishing” those whose do not recognize the evil in the political beliefs of others.
Moral rules can dictate behavior in all areas of life. Public urination, for example may be perceived as a health issues or an indecency issue. Stealing from someone’s person may be immoral or unlawful while stealing a country, blackmailing by charging high prices for a survival drug or other product is not stealing or immoral. Making a profit from the pandemic may be good business or it may be immoral. Forming shell companies may be the sign of a smart businessperson or may be immoral. An adult having sex with a child if ritualized to teach a child about sex may be a moral behavior or it may be so immoral as to be disdained by even the mass murderer.
Perhaps more than ever, our evolving communication abilities ensure that most people are aware of various moral and legal codes or rules. This results in all of us having to discern what is moral and what is immoral. The answers to these questions are closely connected to the privilege and burden of determining the legacy we will leave in this brief life journey.
How then do we determine our base of morality? In my next blog I will attempt to explore this question.
Written January 13, 2022
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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