RightIsWrong
Diamond Member
- Apr 29, 2005
- 5,649
- 0
- 0
Originally posted by: Mursilis
Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
My wife and I are in a discussion lately where we have tried to define morality and we are having a very difficult time in doing so. We are battling whether situational ethics are ok.
One of the scenarios that has come up is stealing. Under "normal" circumstances we both believe it to be wrong. Then, we add in that a mother is stealing food to feed her family and we both kinda think that it is morally justified for the woman to do it.
I guess we both view right and wrong as something more dynamic than static. I guess it's very easy to see how I was able to come up with my handle now.
"More dynamic than static"? Talk about your slippery slopes! The problem with situational ethics is that once a rule has exceptions (especially those exceptions defined by someone seeking to bypass the rule), it ceases being all that effective as a rule. Taking your example of a mother stealing to feed her family, why is that "kinda" morally justified? What if that theft meant another mother couldn't feed her family, because her food was stolen by the first mother? Still justified? What if the first mother could earn the food, but chose not to - then what? You're just opening a Pandora's box at this point.
That's some pretty slippery slope you are clinging to there.
If the second mother is able to get to a store and purchase the food and realizes that it isn't there, she will more than likely have the means to get to another store.
Have you ever been homeless? What about have a criminal conviction? Spend anytime in a mental facility? Of course we all know that businesses are to follow the anti discrimination laws of the land. And of course they all do....right?
These are all things that will and have kept people from getting jobs. I have no problem stating that if I were in those circumstances and was unable to find work and I had a hungry child....you can bet everything that you own on my stealing to feed him/her. Somehow I think that you would too.
It's always easy to judge what is right and wrong when you are in a position that affords you a choice in the matter.