More on the topic of morals. My question is: Do morals change and if so why?
Take for example the topic of phsyically punishing a child. In earlier times or even in some of our parents' childhoods, physical punishment was not considered immoral. In fact, especially in early history, a man who ruled his household with a heavy hand was considered stronger than a man who was gentle with his family. (I'm referring to literature I have read here such as All Things Fall Apart or Candide.) Now, we would consider beating children as rather immoral -- at least, the word beating or spanking has a very negative context. Thus, have humanity's morals changed? Or is this topic even a moral topic? Obviously, our thoughts on the big moral issues (murder, adultery, read the ten commandments...) haven't changed all that much. So are morals confined to our biblical commandments? If so, why do other peoples of other religions and non-religion still exhibit the same basic morals? Any other examples of "changing morals?"
All these question are kind of pointing towards the idea of social contracts, but I don't quite think that that idea explains morals fully -- at least, it doesn't satisfy me. Do the other theories account for this? Well, that's a ton of questions...I think I'll stop there.
Take for example the topic of phsyically punishing a child. In earlier times or even in some of our parents' childhoods, physical punishment was not considered immoral. In fact, especially in early history, a man who ruled his household with a heavy hand was considered stronger than a man who was gentle with his family. (I'm referring to literature I have read here such as All Things Fall Apart or Candide.) Now, we would consider beating children as rather immoral -- at least, the word beating or spanking has a very negative context. Thus, have humanity's morals changed? Or is this topic even a moral topic? Obviously, our thoughts on the big moral issues (murder, adultery, read the ten commandments...) haven't changed all that much. So are morals confined to our biblical commandments? If so, why do other peoples of other religions and non-religion still exhibit the same basic morals? Any other examples of "changing morals?"
All these question are kind of pointing towards the idea of social contracts, but I don't quite think that that idea explains morals fully -- at least, it doesn't satisfy me. Do the other theories account for this? Well, that's a ton of questions...I think I'll stop there.
posted by Ruth at 6:47 PM
1 Comments:
I think that we can look at this from a different point of view. My parents spanked me and because of it I turned out to be a better person than if they hadn't. Other parents institute quiet time or taking away privileges. I know that some people may look at spanking as a negative but I believe that the bigger issue at hand is that parents discipline to teach their kids what is right and wrong so that they can function in society. The real moral question for me is that your parents must work to make you a person with with values, that you understand that you can't have free reign. Everything else is just the means through which they approach this goal. I'm not saying that beating our children is advisable, but I think that you have to find a way to discipline your kids that works for them and you. If you do nothing you fail in your moral responsibility to your kids.
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