Who decides what is good and bad?

[Autash]

I say it is wrong, because it is sin to end another human's life.

Says who?

[Mushet]

If me and Hathradic States agree to something it is irrefutable fact

[Furious Grandmothers]

If me and Hathradic States agree to something it is irrefutable fact

*Cue awkward moment when he comes in and disagrees with you about this*

[Octabrinaland]

I say it is wrong, because it is sin to end another human's life.

Says who?

Dr. Evilpants and his army of violent Irish-American Republicans.

Any way back to discussion, sin is usually based on religion, isn't it?
If so, that would mean that it is routed from religious sources - which aren't really... 100% credible.

[Sporae]

Well, it is bad and wrong, and immoral, when you harm another human being without just cause. If I shoot you because you were going to shoot me first, or at least, I believed you would, then my killing you was just. If I shoot you because you took my candy bar, or I didn't like your face, I murdered you, and that is wrong. If I steal from you out of envy, that is wrong. Period. Everything else can build from that simple principal.

I don't buy the whole idea that "morality is relative". I believe in an ultimate right and an ultimate wrong, a black and white viewpoint, if you will. Even when I used to be agnostic, I believed that, and now that I'm a devout Christian, I believe in it even more.

[Land of Germany]

Well, it is bad and wrong, and immoral, when you harm another human being without just cause. If I shoot you because you were going to shoot me first, or at least, I believed you would, then my killing you was just. If I shoot you because you took my candy bar, or I didn't like your face, I murdered you, and that is wrong. If I steal from you out of envy, that is wrong. Period. Everything else can build from that simple principal.

I don't buy the whole idea that "morality is relative". I believe in an ultimate right and an ultimate wrong, a black and white viewpoint, if you will. Even when I used to be agnostic, I believed that, and now that I'm a devout Christian, I believe in it even more.

When you use words like "bad" and "wrong" and "immoral" and "just," you have to say where you got the meaning for such words. Can't build a house on air, just like you can't say stuff without defining. Not all words must be defined, but the words that have absolute relevance to the discussion must.

[7ARC]

The hijacking of morality by religion; a shame.

[Coccygia]

Strawman. Math =/= Blatantly idiotic question. And if you can't figure out why it's stupid, you look like an idiot yourself. Don't worry, though, you should have plenty of company in this thread.

I guess I'm an idiot, just like every single philosopher and thinker.

Yes, you may well be an idiot, but you said it, not me. I only said you looked like an idiot. BTW, perhaps you could point out to me where I said "every philosopher and thinker" is an idiot?...

(I don't claim to be a philosopher.)

...especially as you admit that, in addition to being an idiot, you are no philosopher?

If you would take a second to not flame, and explain yourself, I might be able to understand why it is stupid, you know, we idiots need to be talked down too.

No, I don't think you would understand, actually, since you are only interested in pointless argumentation, and, besides, as you pointed out (on this point we can perhaps agree) you are an idiot. As for explaining the obvious: to paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, I am not employed by NationStates to remedy your deficiencies. As for talking down to you, that's exactly what I'm doing.

kant rap are heds arund the hole thing, ya now?

Don't bring Kant into this.

[Conserative Morality]

Scenario:
A man kills a man for one reason: he felt like killing. The only reason the man killed the man is because he just felt like it. Period.


Question: was the man wrong or right for killing the man?

If you answer "he is wrong for killing," why?
If you answer "he is not wrong/right for killing," why?
How did you obtain the authority to deem an act either right or wrong?

(Answer from a 'big-picture' perspective, if that makes sense.)

He was wrong. Because I say so. Because I am God.

[Coccygia]

Anyway, to answer the OP:
Who decides what is good and bad? I do. Why? God appointed me to do so.

[Sporae]

Well, to more directly answer who decides what is good or bad... we all do. All people do. The reason I was able to give my definition of what is clearly bad, harming another human being without just cause, was because you all go along with it. Who here is willing to say murder is good? Nobody will. Who here will say that rape is good? Nobody will. Who here is willing to say that murder is bad? Everybody will. That's where the power to say so comes from.

[Nacional-Socialist Russia]

Well, to more directly answer who decides what is good or bad... we all do. All people do. The reason I was able to give my definition of what is clearly bad, harming another human being without just cause, was because you all go along with it. Who here is willing to say murder is good? Nobody will. Who here will say that rape is good? Nobody will. Who here is willing to say that murder is bad? Everybody will. That's where the power to say so comes from.

well,that depends of who you kill,like i said before,killing is all about the victim.

[Land of Germany]

Well, to more directly answer who decides what is good or bad... we all do. All people do. The reason I was able to give my definition of what is clearly bad, harming another human being without just cause, was because you all go along with it. Who here is willing to say murder is good? Nobody will. Who here will say that rape is good? Nobody will. Who here is willing to say that murder is bad? Everybody will. That's where the power to say so comes from.

Not everybody. Some of the serial killers and such think that their sentencing to life with no parole is just absurd and outlandish.

[Coccygia]

Well, to more directly answer who decides what is good or bad... we all do. All people do. The reason I was able to give my definition of what is clearly bad, harming another human being without just cause, was because you all go along with it. Who here is willing to say murder is good? Nobody will. Who here will say that rape is good? Nobody will. Who here is willing to say that murder is bad? Everybody will. That's where the power to say so comes from.

Not everybody. Some of the serial killers and such think that their sentencing to life with no parole is just absurd and outlandish.

Yeah. What'd they do?

[JJ Place]

Scenario:
A man kills a man for one reason: he felt like killing. The only reason the man killed the man is because he just felt like it. Period.


Question: was the man wrong or right for killing the man?

If you answer "he is wrong for killing," why?
If you answer "he is not wrong/right for killing," why?

No person is right to murder anyone else; to steal life from another person.

How did you obtain the authority to deem an act either right or wrong?

(Answer from a 'big-picture' perspective, if that makes sense.)

The Right Gnomes made these decisions long ago.

[Cameroi]

no ONE decides. the way it affects the kind of world you (and everyone) has to live in, does.

[Nacional-Socialist Russia]

ABSURD HORSESHIT ALERT!

well guys,let me do a exemple:a pedophile gang,with recourses (it mean weapons and stuff,in other words,the police dont fuck with it) start raping children,in public,forces their families to watch,and later,makes their own children kill their parents,and kill anyone who tries to help them doing that again,and them you meet one of them,alone and helpless,what you would do?

kill him,became a hero,but you are going to hell,because you killed a human being,and according to christianity-somethingnity humans are all equals and nothing that they do makes them diferent.

or

help him,help a pedo-rapist-criminal that do crimes,you could might get multi-pwned,but you are going to heaven,because you helped a human being after all.

[Grainne Ni Malley]

Take away everything you have been told, be it by society, religion, your parents, whatever. If you feel icky, or upset by the the thought of an action, it is probably bad. Unless you're a deranged psychopath who like chopping up little kiddies, then it's just bad.

Best yet, I've always used this indicator: Would my actions affect others, and if so, how would it affect me if someone else did this to me?

Doesn't mean I haven't done bad things, but at least I know they were bad and usually feel remorse.

[Khihaizi]

Define 'right' and 'wrong' before I answer this, the terms are kind of vague don't you think?

[The Murtunian Tribes]

Take away everything you have been told, be it by society, religion, your parents, whatever. If you feel icky, or upset by the the thought of an action, it is probably bad. Unless you're a deranged psychopath who like chopping up little kiddies, then it's just bad.

Best yet, I've always used this indicator: Would my actions affect others, and if so, how would it affect me if someone else did this to me?

Doesn't mean I haven't done bad things, but at least I know they were bad and usually feel remorse.

The problem with that is not everyone reacts to stimuli the same way. It's a good guideline though.

[Furious Grandmothers]

ABSURD HORSESHIT ALERT!

well guys,let me do a exemple:a pedophile gang,with recourses (it mean weapons and stuff,in other words,the police dont fuck with it) start raping children,in public,forces their families to watch,and later,makes their own children kill their parents,and kill anyone who tries to help them doing that again,and them you meet one of them,alone and helpless,what you would do?

kill him,became a hero,but you are going to hell,because you killed a human being,and according to christianity-somethingnity humans are all equals and nothing that they do makes them diferent.

or

help him,help a pedo-rapist-criminal that do crimes,you could might get multi-pwned,but you are going to heaven,because you helped a human being after all.

Does this question apply to non-Christians? I would just walk past without giving a damn unless I ascertained that they were a threat to that well-being from my own perspective as perceived by myself, whether indirectly or directly.

In that case, though, I'd introduce his face to the blade of my cleaver. Out of protecting my own interests, not for becoming a hero.

[Polruan]

Take away everything you have been told, be it by society, religion, your parents, whatever. If you feel icky, or upset by the the thought of an action, it is probably bad.

Can't do that. After all it's not like Jews are genetically programmed to find pork meat disgusting.

[Grainne Ni Malley]

Take away everything you have been told, be it by society, religion, your parents, whatever. If you feel icky, or upset by the the thought of an action, it is probably bad.

Can't do that. After all it's not like Jews are genetically programmed to find pork meat disgusting.

Well then, I would venture to say eating pork isn't a truly bad thing.

[Lessnt]

Scenario:
A man kills a man for one reason: he felt like killing. The only reason the man killed the man is because he just felt like it. Period.


Question: was the man wrong or right for killing the man?

If you answer "he is wrong for killing," why?
If you answer "he is not wrong/right for killing," why?
How did you obtain the authority to deem an act either right or wrong?

(Answer from a 'big-picture' perspective, if that makes sense.)

You decide.

[Communal Ecotopia]

Scenario:
A man kills a man for one reason: he felt like killing. The only reason the man killed the man is because he just felt like it. Period.


Question: was the man wrong or right for killing the man?

If you answer "he is wrong for killing," why?
If you answer "he is not wrong/right for killing," why?
How did you obtain the authority to deem an act either right or wrong?

(Answer from a 'big-picture' perspective, if that makes sense.)

'The social contract answer wasn't a bad one. But, going on the theme of human society, let's take a look at the eudaimonist answer. The murderous man was wrong, not entirely because his society said so and made a social compact with such a rule (for it just as easily could have said otherwise...though such a society would be rather Hobbesian), but because killing the innocent man deprived him of the ability to live a flourishing life. As social beings with goods we wish to achieve to the best of our abilities, we seek the fulfillment of human flourishing. The example proposed above is merely a reductio ad absurdum violation of this state of affairs.