What motivates one to live "morally"?

[KK]

Hope

KK

 

[Schadenfreude]

The word "morality" is too ambiguous - what's moral for you may not be moral for me. So in effect, through everyone's eyes, everybody lives a moral life. Plato stated that "no man willingly does evil" and I believe him (partially because I paid oodles and oodles of money to learn this stuff).

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: Gr1mL0cK
We live morally because it is the best for us as a whole.

This is so simplistic that I'm just going to take it and use it for everything. Let me see:

We **** because it is the best for us as a whole.

Pee.
Burp.
Watch tv.
engage in cellular mitosis.

Yep, works for me!

 

[Spagina]

Some people live morally because they apply the golden rule to their life. If you wish to be treated resonably, you would treat others reasonably. From my experience in my life, what goes around does come around, if not in 5 minutes, then in 5 years. It doesn't matter, everything will catch up to you eventually.

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: Spagina
Some people live morally because they apply the golden rule to their life. If you wish to be treated resonably, you would treat others reasonably. From my experience in my life, what goes around does come around, if not in 5 minutes, then in 5 years. It doesn't matter, everything will catch up to you eventually.

I used to think that then I saw OJ Simpson.

 

[AvesPKS]

Fear? That's why anyone does anything.

 

[syberscott]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Interesting that there were no replies to this point that suggest that people believe morality is derivative of Christianity and the Bible. Usually there's at least one in the bunch. Morality, I believe, has nothing directly to do with religion, and is achieved through cultural concensus and to some extent through application of the Golden Rule, that you treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.

I find this pretty funny. Where do you think that the Golden Rule came from? Matthew 7:12

 

[0roo0roo]

sharia law is "moral"

 

[VBboy]

Wanting to live more intelligently than a monkey that is only controlled by its primitive instincts..

We are Teh Humens!
Let's live up to our name and not harm each other, treat everyone with respect, and so forth.

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Interesting that there were no replies to this point that suggest that people believe morality is derivative of Christianity and the Bible. Usually there's at least one in the bunch. Morality, I believe, has nothing directly to do with religion, and is achieved through cultural concensus and to some extent through application of the Golden Rule, that you treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.

Yep. It's all social pressure.

(And a large amount of that social pressure comes from those using the Bible as a tool to impose that pressure.)

 

[Isla]

Originally posted by: syberscott

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Interesting that there were no replies to this point that suggest that people believe morality is derivative of Christianity and the Bible. Usually there's at least one in the bunch. Morality, I believe, has nothing directly to do with religion, and is achieved through cultural concensus and to some extent through application of the Golden Rule, that you treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.

I find this pretty funny. Where do you think that the Golden Rule came from? Matthew 7:12

With all due respect, The Golden Rule has been around in one form or another since the beginning of time. Almost every major religion/philosophy has it. Which is why it is so important, IMHO... it is the underlying theme of basic goodness. As for religion... to me, it is like the blind men and the elephant. They are standing around the elephant, trying to figure out what it is through the sense of touch. One has his ears and thinks it is a fan, one has his trunk and thinks it is a rope, etc etc. They are all feeling the same thing, but from their own limited perspectives. And again, that's just my HO.



The Universality of the Golden Rule in the World Religions


Christianity All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:1

Confucianism Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state.
Analects 12:2

Buddhism Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
Udana-Varga 5,1

Hinduism This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you.
Mahabharata 5,1517

Islam No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.
Sunnah

Judaism What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.
Talmud, Shabbat 3id

Taoism Regard your neighbor?s gain as your gain, and your neighbor?s loss as your own loss.
Tai Shang Kan Yin P?ien

Zoroastrianism That nature alone is good which refrains from doing another whatsoever is not good for itself.
Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5

 

[purepolly]

What motivates one to live "morally".

I believe it is the ability to listen to, and work in accordance to our inner conscience.

 

[Alphazero]

I strive to live according to (my) morals so that I can look back and say that I've been true to my ideals.

 

[syberscott]

Hey Isla, great find on all the references. I was simply pointing out that the Golden Rule was deeply rooted in religion. It would be interesting to see the date on when those different passages were written and see which came first.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: syberscott

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Interesting that there were no replies to this point that suggest that people believe morality is derivative of Christianity and the Bible. Usually there's at least one in the bunch. Morality, I believe, has nothing directly to do with religion, and is achieved through cultural concensus and to some extent through application of the Golden Rule, that you treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.

I find this pretty funny. Where do you think that the Golden Rule came from? Matthew 7:12

where do you think the bible got the golden rule? all these morals and stuff were present in society somewhere, religions simply codified them. i mean, every major religion has rules like the golden rule, don't kill, don't do this or that, do you think it's a coincedence that they are so similar?

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: Syringer
Do you think it's a naturally instinctual thing, or just the way we are raised?

Morals are cultural.

1mor?al \"mor-el, "mar-\ adjective [ME, fr. MF, fr. L moralis, fr. mor-, mos custom] (14c)
1 a : of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ethical <moral judgments>
b : expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior <a moral poem>
c : conforming to a standard of right behavior
d : sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment <a moral obligation>
e : capable of right and wrong action <a moral agent>
2 : probable though not proved : virtual <a moral certainty>
3 : having the effects of such on the mind, confidence, or will <a moral victory> <moral support>
mor?al?ly \-e-le\ adverb

Synonyms
moral, ethical, virtuous, righteous, noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong <the basic moral values of a community>. ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity <committed to the highest ethical principles>. virtuous implies the possession or manifestation of moral excellence in character <not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless>. righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious <wished to be righteous before God and the world>. noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character <had the noblest of reasons for seeking office>.

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