Quote:
|
the majority of people (albeit to varying degrees) derive contentment from adhering to those moral norms and guilt and remorse from immoral action... only a minority (those towards the bottom of my sliding scale) are able to derive contentment from immoral action
|
Even if this is completely true, what about that "minority" that does derive contentment from immorality? What reason do they have to act morally?
Also, if someone is acting morally just for the contentment it brings to them, does it make them moral or self-centered? If contentment is their goal, wouldn't they act immorally in some situations if they could see that it would yield more contentment than the moral path? (sort of an ends justify the means situation)
Quote:
|
virtuous behaviour is generally beneficial to society as a whole, rather than just the individual
|
And why should society matter to someone? Why should they try to help others at their expense? If someone at the bottom of the "sliding scale" is not naturally very concerned with others, why should he not act selfishly?
If his existence is over when he dies then the universe is basically over at his death (from his point of view), so why should he care what effect he has?
What I'm getting at is there doesn't appear to be an all encompassing logical or explainable reason for
everyone to behave morally.
And Kuruharan, I love your scenario of a person hanging over a cliff. It really inspires thought.
What would I do? Well, I suppose it would mostly depend on who was hanging over the cliff. I would make some attempt at saving almost anyone, but I wouldn't put myself at the same risk for everyone. If it were my little cousin Daniel I would swing over the edge of the cliff myself to help him. On the other hand if it was some serial killer guy who had just killed my baby cousin and fell over the cliff while attempting to kill me- well, I might just step on his fingers.
And since the slaying of a serial killer would likely benefit society does this make my emotional reaction moral?
(and this is not directed just at SPMan, I'm curious what the rest of you guys think too)