Supposed Evolution of Morals

[malachai]

Ive had similar threads and discussions on this before, for example:

ilovephilosophy.com/phpbb/vi … p?t=153911

and have been unable to find anyone to prove to me anything which is “morally” wrong. To use the same argument used here:

ilovephilosophy.com/phpbb/vi … p?t=156414

you can say that something is right or wrong but it is based entirely on social conditioning and upbringing. It is not applicable to all persons or cultures.

No, rapist and murderers desensitize themselves to the universal moral code. The code still stands and is still valid, but the criminal has convinced themselves the code is not worth pursuing or obeying. They still know it is wrong. The case of the braindamaged person though is another issue that I’ve been trying to explore, as it presents it’s own problems in regards to the origins of morals, which is why I started this thread. I think it’s important to examine the development of morality from infant to adult, as this may help in discovering some aspect of the origins.

This entire statement is ludicrous.

First rapists, murderers, pedophiles, arsonists, criminals in general do not desensitize themselves from a universal moral code. They may in some cases be desensitized to their actions via too many possible means to go into here but they dont do it to themselves.

Secondly, what is the “universal moral code”? There is no action which is universally immoral, no not even murder. A study of sociology worldwide will show that anything considered by you to be wrong or immoral is accepted somewhere as “normal”.

To say that one lacks a moral conviction is based upon the accepted morality of the society in which he is in. In asmuch as “brain-damaged” persons do not reflect the accepted or expected morality is where the anwers to your question lie.

Through the study of psychopathic behavior it is discovered that they (the offender) is aware that society will consider their actions “wrong”, but they dont seem wrong to them. It isnt a matter of “desensitization” it is a matter of personal interpretation.

The development of morality from infant to adult is a situation dependant on the upbringing of the child. If you raise your child to believe something is ok they will grow up believing it and will pass those beliefs onto their children, however, having said that, there is always the chance they will disagree based on their own personal convictions (usually influenced by media, society or peers).

The truth as I see it, is that there is no true standard of morality. It is all dependant on what is right or wrong to you personally.

[Nazareth]

The development of morality from infant to adult is a situation dependant on the upbringing of the child. If you raise your child to believe something is ok they will grow up believing it and will pass those beliefs onto their children, however, having said that, there is always the chance they will disagree based on their own personal convictions (usually influenced by media, society or peers).

The thing that disproves this is the fact that whole tribes who grew up thinking/being ‘taught’ that immoral acts were alright, have confessed that they never felt right about the acts and knew there was a better way

First rapists, murderers, pedophiles, arsonists, criminals in general do not desensitize themselves from a universal moral code. They may in some cases be desensitized to their actions via too many possible means to go into here but they dont do it to themselves.

I dissagree- after viewing interviews by Jeffry Dahmer and David Berkowitz and other psychopathic individuals, it’s evident that the ones that take full responsibilkity for their actions instead of trying to blame it on others or circumstances, that they have confessed there was indeed a system of desensitization that they subjected themselves to- they confess about ignoring that inner voice that tells them somethign is bad, and confess that the more they did so, the easier it became to justify what they knew was morally wrong. Jeffry Dahmer implored folks to stay away from the line of no return, as does David Berkowitz- who incidently has an online webpage you can check out for yourself.

I worked in a prison ministry, and the testimonies that came from hardened criminals almost exclusively talked about the dangers of ignoring the ‘inner voice’ so to speak- these folks would go around to schools and talk with ‘at risk’ kids who were subjecting themselves to criminal activity and who risked prison if they didn’t change hteir ways- these criminals actually took responsibility instead of passing hte buck onto others, and in my opinion, this is the problem with folks today- they always try to blame someone else for their actions and give the impression that they are nothing but ‘victims’ of their circumstances. This is a complete cop-out

[d0rkyd00d]

The thing that disproves this is the fact that whole tribes who grew up thinking/being ‘taught’ that immoral acts were alright, have confessed that they never felt right about the acts and knew there was a better way

Please cite this study with sources.

they confess about ignoring that inner voice that tells them somethign is bad, and confess that the more they did so, the easier it became to justify what they knew was morally wrong. Jeffry Dahmer implored folks to stay away from the line of no return, as does David Berkowitz- who incidently has an online webpage you can check out for yourself.

What do you mean by inner voice? One would only need to watch television for a few hours to know that our society considers murder “wrong.” Society tells us what is bad. Our parents tell us what is bad. Media tells us what is “bad.” Politics tell us what is bad.

I worked in a prison ministry, and the testimonies that came from hardened criminals almost exclusively talked about the dangers of ignoring the ‘inner voice’ so to speak- these folks would go around to schools and talk with ‘at risk’ kids who were subjecting themselves to criminal activity and who risked prison if they didn’t change hteir ways- these criminals actually took responsibility instead of passing hte buck onto others, and in my opinion, this is the problem with folks today- they always try to blame someone else for their actions and give the impression that they are nothing but ‘victims’ of their circumstances. This is a complete cop-out

I’ll have to find the article about the man who’s inner voice told him to kill a doctor who performs abortions. I assure you he didn’t regret it. Who would, when one believes they are doing a greater good by murdering one person to save the lives of many…

[Nazareth]

Source? Yeah- Go to newtribes missions, and you’ll see many sources- though no study

Our parents tell us what is bad. Media tells us what is “bad.” Politics tell us what is bad.

My point is that yes, they do tell us it is bad because it is bad, and my point was that those natives that were brought up being told it wasn’t bad still knew deep in their heart that it was infact bad and nevewr felt right about it.

I’ll have to find the article about the man who’s inner voice told him to kill a doctor who performs abortions. I assure you he didn’t regret it.

I doubt that- The man crossed a moral line and he knew it no matter what he was able to convince himself of-