Moral Authority.

[Theland]

We all consider ourselves to be, "moral beings," who live according to a set of rules and standards.
So how do you determine what rules to follow?
Do you expect everybody to follow the same rules as you?
Is your thinking on the subject of morality influenced by religion, philosophy, or societal norms, whatever they are at the moment?

[maggiebee]

I think you should lie down and have a wee rest Theland - your brain's working overtime tonight.

[Mamyalynne]

So how do you determine what rules to follow?

Knowing right from wrong and deciding the best course of action in the given situation.
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Do you expect everybody to follow the same rules as you?

No.
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Is your thinking on the subject of morality influenced by religion, philosophy, or societal norms.

All of the above.

[TonyV]

Agree with a woman lol, but take a break my friend.

[Calicogirl]

I like to think I was brought up to be generally respectful and tolerant, so I try to be respectful and tolerant. I don't expect everyone else to think like me or have the same moral code.
I'm not generally influenced by religion directly but since society and philosophy is, then I have to own that my borrowing from those things is directly linked to religion at least marginally.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't expect anything reasonable from the human race; but I'd advise them to use me and my moral rules and standards as a good example to follow.

[Atheist]

OG, how come you look like God? Flowing beard, mad eyeballs, presumption that your moral rules are right?

[Atheist]

Sorry, Theland, I forgot the OP. My moral 'rules' are set by what feels right for me. I don't care what old books tell me,; if it feels bad for me then I go with my instincts. What do you go by?

[beso]

I certainly wouldn't follow the bigoted, arbitrary notions of morality dreamed up by ancient, ignorant, arrogant misogynists who presumed their every thought to have been given to them by a supreme being.

[Old_Geezer]

Because it's no assumption.

[spathiphyllum]

"So how do you determine what rules to follow? "
What feel right, and what feel wrong. It's all about feels, which is why some peoples moral boundries differ.

"So how do you determine what rules to follow? "

I don't. Life has no rules, only law. I don't even essentially obey the law but i know not to let my life affect anyone elses in a negative way. This can be done by feels. What feels right or wrong. Trying to put myself in other peoples positions.

"Do you expect everybody to follow the same rules as you? "

Not to the exact letter, but in essence yes, they should follow the same principle if they are to be good humans.

"Is your thinking on the subject of morality influenced by religion, philosophy, or societal norms, whatever they are at the moment?"

No matter what i think, of course it is. These things have shaped society and culture, so regardless of thoughts and opinions, yes my thinking has some how been influenced by philosophy.

[jno]

pretty much what parents and teachers taught me, I think. Has anyone deviated much from what they learnt as a child?

[nailit]

//So how do you determine what rules to follow?//
I don't follow rules, I follow my conscience. How can you be considered 'moral' just because you follow a rule?

[retrocop]

//I don't follow rules, I follow my conscience. How can you be considered 'moral' just because you follow a rule?//

I follow rules that's how I have never done Prison time.
Forgive me if I am wrong and I will readily apologise but were you not posting a few years back how you did not pay a TV licence and are allegedly aware of the rules to bar access to your premises for investigators and bragged about it?

[Tilly2]

My moral authorities were my parents, grandparents and my teachers. So far, they have done a good job, I believe.

[Peter Pedant]

Agree with a woman lol, but take a break my friend.//
my AB alter ego says

foo - dey long sentences Theland!
I had to take a rest on morality, philos....
and den I gave up ....

why is there pressure on AB to use only sentences of three words ? I blame Mrs May and Brexit

My parents moral rules - er one came from South Africa and supported george wallace in the 1968 election
( 1968 presidential election that is !)

[Peter Pedant]

// How can you be considered 'moral' just because you follow a rule?..//

yeah foo as Jim might say
what about - "my only rule is not to follow rules?"

with thx to the divine oscar - the only thing I cant resist is - temptation. and Bertrand Russell who said - - [no sorry to hard for AB]

[nailit]

You are not wrong Retro but I was not 'bragging' as such. I viewed the tv license fee as an extortion. Of course if you disagree then that's your prerogative and I respect that. Sometimes the law of the land isn't moral in any way shape or form and needs to be opposed (at one time been homosexual was an offence, at one time children were hanged in Briton)
//I follow rules that's how I have never done Prison time//
Then thank yourself lucky that you arnt a Christian in Pakistan or you would have been jailed for not following the rules of THAT country.
I think there is a vast difference between 'rules' and morals.
(As far as me doing prison time, that's because I have...for one reason or another...gone against my conscience)

[Cloverjo]

Like Tilly, parents and grandparents brought me up to be nice to people.
Do as you would be done by, but not necessarily in a religious sense. I'm not religious.
Let's just get on with sharing this little rock as best we can.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//why is there pressure on AB to use only sentences of three words ?//


Brevity wit's soul.

[nailit]

//My moral authorities were my parents, grandparents and my teachers//
But why do we think that parents, grandparents or teachers are moral authorities? (sorry Tills, you've obviously had excellent role models, just using your quote to widen the debate)
I was (at times) physically abused by my father, sexually abused by one teacher and emotionally abused by other teachers because I was a little 'different' from other pupils.
I don't get this idea that our 'superiors' are our guide to morality?