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alright, already | by zeitnot | 2005-08-04 05:23:24 |
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morality has nothing to do with "Truth" | by voxwoman | 2005-08-04 05:44:01 |
| One comment |
by MatthewDBA |
2005-08-04 08:40:23 |
Okay, this will probably be several related comments.
First off, as far as Truth goes, you're right that under our circumstances we will never be able to perceive "objective Truth". That doesn't mean that there isn't one, and it doesn't exclude the possibility of us determining in some fashion that "objective Truth" exists even though we do not (perhaps cannot) know exactly what it is.
If there is objective Truth, then that Truth *may* point inevitably to absolute moral standards. We don't know whether this is so, but we may be able to conclude at some point that it is so. (We may or may not be able to decide what some of those consequential moral standards are, independently of knowing what the Truth is.) Some people may already adhere to some of these moral standards; some people may adhere to all; perhaps no one actually adheres to any of them. Again, we don't know that this is so, but we cannot conclude that it isn't, or that we won't be able to tell at some point whether it is so.
You assume explicitly in your third paragraph (and implicitly in your second) that there is no difference between what is moral and what is considered moral (by an individual or a culture). If there is no objective Truth (as you seem to be implying), then you are correct. If, on the other hand, there is objective Truth (an objective Truth which points inevitably to absolute moral standards), then you are not necessarily correct. As I said, if some "objective Truth" inexorably produces moral standards, then those standards may agree with what is considered moral, or they may disagree. In this case that which is considered moral is potentially distinguishable from what is (inevitably) moral.
You are correct in what you say about cultural mores, as well as about an individual's ability to decide what they consider to be moral; and, as you point out, both legislation and exhortation (whether by preachers or by others) are inherently behavioral regulators. Whether or not moral absolutes exist, adherence to them cannot be forced by external means.
If there are moral absolutes, then you can't "instill" them in anyone; they exist independent of humans, and thus (again, *if* they exist - if they are necessary consequences of some absolute, objective Truth) morality is not "a personal thing". |
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[ Reply ] |
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I guess this is where I differ in a lot of my | by voxwoman | 2005-08-04 09:14:53 |
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yes, but | by zeitnot | 2005-08-04 09:27:26 |
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Not necessarily | by MatthewDBA | 2005-08-04 09:37:45 |
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well, | by zeitnot | 2005-08-04 09:54:41 |
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I'm not sure that it will | by MatthewDBA | 2005-08-04 09:27:33 |
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