Moral Absolutes Mk2 - the real question

[harrisey]

OK sorry my last thread on this was confusing,

For an essay at college, both my dh and I are looking at contemporary understandings of right and wrong.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what they think the moral absolutes are in our society? Are there any? If so, what are they and why?

I'm not looking for a debate on why we might have these moral values, but kind of a gut reaction as to what YOU think is unacceptable in our lives.

eg muder? paedophilia?, drunk driving? what else?

Thanks a lot!!

[Tortington]

paedophilia.

i'm struggling to find another absolute.

[harrisey]

bumping into active convis for the morning bunch - off to try to sleep myself!

[stinkletsmum]

I think paedophilia is about the only moral absolute 'society' holds.

I would add to this rape, domestic violence, murder, animal cruelty

[katelyle]

There's a difference between personal and societal absolutes. I'm not sure that you can have societal absolutes in a diverse and "advanced" society. I think morality is far too complex for absolutes. For example, personally,I think adultery (whether or not the people involved are married) is a moral wrong, but this isn't universlly held to be true.

I will drive after one glass of wine (I stress the one) but my best friend is horrified by this.

I think that taking life is abhorrent - but many people want to bring back the death penalty.

I think abortion is morally wrong, but I really believe that this is a personal moral absolute and I think it would be very wrong for that to become a societal absolute.

I think it's morally wrong for footballers/celebrities/chatshow hosts to earn more than nurses/dustbin men or, now I come th think of it, people who stack shelves in Tescos) but that's obviously not a univerally held view.

[harrisey]

Is it an absolute though if it isnt for everyone? If there are my absolutes and your absolutes, then surely they are relatives, not absolute?

[harrisey]

Bumping!
Doesnt anyone have any morals any more

[ahundredtimes]

These absolutes have got to have some practical function haven't they? Personally think we're fundamentally amoral, but in the interests of a well-run, genetically healthy society it'd be good if we all rose up in horror about:
incest
murder
and
erm. . . .
that's all I can think of. Everything else falls into shades of grey.

[sniff]

child abuse
animal abuse
old person abuse


I think these are absolute

[sniff]

necrophilia

by abuse ai mean all types
neglect
physical
sexual
emotional

[ahundredtimes]

Animal abuse? Are you absolutely sure? I don't think that's a moral absolute, and if i don't think it is and you do, then it's not am absolute is it? It's suddenly up for debate.
Do we think these absolutes are held in the law?

[harrisey]

posted this in chat and its gone nuts!!!

hoooray!!

all my threads die a death after 4 posts!!!