[net.religion] Answers to Charlie's rephrased questions

rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (12/12/84)

> (1)  What is it that makes you follow whatever moral system you follow?
>      (In other words, why not some other system? or why follow any?)

Rationality, common sense, fear.  Rationality and common sense in that society
needs at least some minimal moral code in order to facilitate productive
interaction between people (as opposed to violent destruction).  A moral code
that allows or encourages murder at will will be lucky to have three people
left in the society.  A society that encourages cooperation and non-
interference in other people's lives will undoubtedly be much more prosperous.
Thus, to gain the benefits of such a society, I agree to the restrictions that
the society places.  In a supposedly democratic society, one has the right to
lobby for changes to those restrictions.  A rational goal of such a morality
would be to allow the maximum amount of individual freedom with the minimum
amount of restrictions.  I add fear to the list because, society is given the
right to enforce its moral code, and if I choose to go around it, I might have
consequences to face.

> (2)  Do you grant it and external authority?  For instance, does it permit
>      judging someone like Adolf Hitler as morally corrupt?

I assume your meant "an external authority".  Since what Hitler advocated
(and implemented) goes far beyond any boundaries of simply "interfering in
other people's lives" (though he found that to be a good place to start...),
I would venture that he could be so judged.

> (3)  (Parents only) By authority do you teach a moral system to your
>      children?

Again, I assume you mean "By what authority".  I'd have to say the same
authority as described above.  Parents are given the responsibility of
raising their children to be able to function within the society, and they
should teach them not just the content of the moral code but the reasons for
having it, so that it will be well understood.  If you can only think of
arbitrary reasons, you may have quite a hard time convincing them.

> No flames please.  By the way, the "moral authority assumption" arises
> from the realization that if moral systems are entirely produced internally,
> than why should there be a sense of guilt in not following it?

I take the last 12 words to be a question in and of itself.
-- 
Anything's possible, but only a few things actually happen.
					Rich Rosen    pyuxd!rlr