Morality Subjective / Objective?

[Theland]

What underpins your personal morality?
Is it objective or subjective?

[Atheist]

I would say it is subjective. It's broadly based on the golden rule of 'do unto others as you would wish they do unto you.' I certainly wouldn't go against my innate sense of right and wrong behaviour because of some claimed authority written in a book. There are many books written and they often disagree. The only way to choose is to follow my instincts.

[woofgang]

not sure what you mean by that

[pixie374]

Same as atheist, really. Morals are always subjective, aren't they? Would you go along with some you disagreed with?

[Atheist]

Woof, I'm not sure what more I can say. What doesn't make sense to you?
Taking the bible as an example, it is full of contradictory advice (or commands) about what god wants us to do and how we should behave. They can't all be taken literally, so we have to choose which of them we will accept; in order to choose we exercise our own sense of right and wrong. So our sense of morality seems to be innate and subjective, rather than resulting from acceptance of authority.

[elliemay1]

woofgang, this might help
//https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-objective-morality-and-subjective-morality//

[elliemay1]

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-objective-morality-and-subjective-morality

[Mamyalynne]

Subjective, has to be.

[elliemay1]

Atheist, I think Woof was referring to original post

[Peter Pedant]

oh god it is that man again
asking Hard Questions

no it cant be subjective because that lets Man butcher kill or shoot 22 little children listening to Arianna
and saying
I felt it was the right thing to do

( end of for me - but someone will find an exception)

[pixie374]

I'm not sure I really agree with the link, ellie.
//For example, if it was objectively true that lying is always immoral, and telling the truth is always moral, then all the people who sought to hide Jews from the Germans during WWII acted immorally whenever they lied to German authorities as to the whereabouts of any Jews the Germans sought. Clearly, however, we would understand it to have been immoral for people to give up the locations of Jewish families in hiding if those people were, in fact, trying to hide and protect those Jewish families. So it cannot be true that it is objectively immoral to lie.//
That is a subjective view in itself, and also assumes German soldiers were behaving morally.

[Atheist]

Peter, the so-called terrorists are obeying what they believe to be objective morals set out in their holy book. If they were not brought up to believe old written authority they would probably be content with killing only those who directly challenge their food/water/women supplies. I'm afraid that being free from belief in a personal boss god I find it obvious that all the written authority comes from men and is therefore not something to be obeyed without question. Many people kill, but only some kind of religion makes people kill while feeling virtuous at the same time.

[jackthehat]

Nothing Biblical. I have formulated my own, which is why I am often to be found stealing, robbing, fornicating and being an all-round bad-egg......or something like that. Isn't that how it goes....?

How many times have you posted this question, now, Theland?

[Atheist]

The implication of TL's presumed view is that he has no sense of personal morality and without the guidance of his favourite writings he would behave really badly. I suspect that he does have personal morals but he is too modest to accept that. Mind you, some of his views and recommendations on people who don't agree with him are a bit worrying.

[pixie374]

Well, how about you, theland? What are your views?

[Prudie]

I don't do these deep discussions but how can anyone determine if what underpins their thoughts is objective or subjective? Even if you think they're objective you're not aware of what subjective events have subconsciously influenced you?
My morality has been underpinned by a mix of upbringing, experiences and the psyche I was born with.

[naomi24]

Not what. Who. Me.

[Theland]

“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”


― Friedrich Nietzsche

[Theland]

Some societies love each other.
Some societies eat each other.

[Atheist]

TL. Could you please explain what Nietzsche was saying?

[Atheist]

TL. And could you please explain what you are trying to say? We aren't all as clever as you.