The following are questions that I had in relation to this other recent thread. I didn't want to hijack it.



I have a question: Isn't a moral a general truth and therefore widely accepted as right or wrong? If this is the case, does it imply that morality is an "absolute" of sorts?

For instance, wouldn't someone who is a murderer be "anti-moral"?

Or, since it is still generally agreed upon in a legal sense, wouldn't someone who sodomizes another be "anti-moral"?

Or is morality just preferrence and personal subjectivity?

I am pretty sure this lady, in her ranting, could have come up with something better than anti-moral. But, that doesn't necessarily mean it is impossible does it?

I am curious about the view on this by obners.

I think I'll let the religious freaks of the board asnwer that.

But what is your definition of morality?

I can't really answer this question to the extent that I want to here, but a murderer would not necessarily be anti-moral, they would most likely be immoral or one who lacks morals. A killer can know he is committing a sin and breaking a moral code, yet still commit the crime. They can also feel remorse, which would make one believe they are not anti-moral

I'd also add that this lady stated this because she is homophobic, thus she is just as "anti-moral" for lacking tolerance as is the homosexual who is supposedly violating morality. In regards to homosexuality and something like euthanasia, it is hard to determine what is truly the moral side, immoral side and if there is an "anti-moral" side.

Kindness, Tolerance, Forgiveness

Those are examples of morals. I think Hegel wants to know why you think you should hold to them.

as bentham would say - the good is whatever maximizes pleasure and minimizes pain. of course not everyone is a utilitarian as this can lead to abuses by the government and can be used ot justify all sorts of horrible shit.

for Kant, the fundamental moral requirement is that we must always treat others in a manner that respects the fact that they are individual rational creatures with free will. some, such as Marx, would argue that this type of individualistic mind set will lead to us viewing each other as separate from each other instead of the community we really are

Rawls would say that equal citizens have different and indeed irreconcilable conceptions of the good – w/o a shared conception of the good it is hard for a society to reach a consensus. however, it is the job of the government to harmonize these beliefs and the goal of any social arrangement has to be one in which the society can thrive - even those at the bottom.

and then civic republicans like Aristotle think that only a small slice of people at the top of society really matter and that there is an objective list of what is "good." This is a view often called “moral perfectionism” – humans can through effort make themselves better and we can basically agree on the characteristics that make a good human and then individually and collectively we can strive to achieve these. Problem is that his list (courage, temperance, truthfulness, liberality, good temper, wit, friendliness, justice, wisdom, useful life in community) can lead to government paternalism - trying to force us to be become moral citizens in this exact model and may trampel our individual life projects.

stupid finals.

So when you pick your own you get to violate them?

I suppose you can say that because of the way I act on here.

My silly point was that you can be immoral or amoral but to be anti-moral you'd have to have a system of morals that governs your adversion to the morals you're against. Therefore you're not anti-moral.

You can't be "against morals" because that would be a moral stand, as defined by you. You can be against someone else's morals, though.

I guess that's my point. What is the difference between anti-moral and immoral? Not being able to recognize right and wrong or refusing to do so and the absence of a conscience is typically considered anti-social, but is that what you are equating "anti-moral" to be?

Plus, would tolerance be more of an issue of character rather than morality? Is it immoral to not be tolerant? For instance, if a parent is intolerant of their child throwing their food all over the kitchen and thus disciplines the child, is that immoral? Or is it simply intolerance of race, gender, and sexual preferrence that is immoral?

I enjoy that people hold the idea of Internet Personality/Real World Personality dualism so dear. It's just so darn cute.

I wasn't picking on you. Thanks for clarifying. It just started me thinking about this.

not sure about dualism - but most people on here are surely charactitures of their real self. i dont feel i really know anyone here.

but which would be justified by the fact that these are objectives and being moral (well actually 'just') individuals is the goal of the individual (and functioning as a just memeber of society). So it all follows from his assumptions.

Anyhow, the question posed seems to ask if one can be anti-moral. And I would venture to say perhaps one who did not recognize the ideas of good or bad could possibly be held to be 'anti-moral' - but not one who simply espouses an idea of good and bad (morality) that differs from yours.

I like that explanation.

Actually, I pretty much act the same in person. What I meant was that somehow I'm seen as an asshole or jerk on here as opposed to real life where people think of me as caring. My dry humor / sarcasm doesn't translate as well online I suppose.

I havent ever heard the term anti-moral before. Im not sure what it would refer to except perhaps complete subjectivity or nihilism. And in this case, Im pretty sure she meant immoral.

Frosted basically added in what I wanted to say in addition to this, but couldn't word it in a proper way.

Nearly everything that spews out of my keyboard while I'm at work is fair game. Most of it's ridiculous.

Nor does pissing in cabs, Id imagine.

But I met Chris.. he isnt nearly as obnoxious in real life.. but then again, the music was pretty loud so I didnt have to hear him talk much.

haha.

Yuck! Revision!

Well that I meant. I hope you rot in hell.

Please. I noticed you giving me the looks all night long.