scameter
20th June 2006, 03:26 PM
It is quite odd, but as I have discussed with many people, and read many things, it seems to me that people in general have a keen sense of awareness as to ethics, even without any real study in the philosophy of ethics, spiritual beliefs or any other ethics-focused system. They simply know that murder, jealousy, hatred, anger, etc., are wrong, and that compassion, consideration, love, acceptance and other things are correct; as well as that some things are ethically neutral, such as ambition, sex, science and other disupted topics. But, even with the neutrality of some things, how can it be possible that we simply know some things to be good and some bad, beyond doubt? As well as that some can knowingly commit things they know are wrong? To us, a lion killing a zebra is wrong, even when we know they are simply doing it because they must; we may objectively say the latter, but we still think it is wrong for lions to murder. But, why? A lion doesn't see a zebra, much less it's usual prey of the older and weaker ones, and desiring to eat it, and saying that such desire is wrong. It simply kills what it must to survive. How can we be capable of such ethical fortitude, but also capable of such horrible things as well as good things as mass murder and the life dedication to compassion?