'The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy'

[Kuruharan]

Just a smattering of ideas here.

Saucepan

I can perceive three general bases for immoral behaviour. First, there are those who (whether through their upbringing or by reason of biological abnormality, or perhaps both) simply do not respect moral boundaries.

If immorality is the result of biological abnormality would that make morality something more than just a societal norm? Saying that it is something to do with biology seems to imply that there is something ingrained in people to perceive moral behavior. Could you clarify?

A drug baron is happy and fulfilled because he has enriched himself beyond measure

Does money really bring that sort of happiness? It seems to me to be an insatiable desire. You constantly have to have more and more of it. To say that this ravenous appetite brings fulfillment is to say that there is fulfillment in being unfulfilled. A similar thing could be said about power. Ultimately, the lust for power is about subjugating everything to yourself. This is very difficult and has not been done in the world (yet). So, here is another example of finding fulfillment in being unfulfilled.

Even if such total domination were to occur I think this problem would almost instantly arise, "Now What?" The next obvious step is to make everything into Yourself. If that is accomplished you are suddenly presented with, "Now What?" and this time you have little else to work with.

That got abstract.