What ought I to do? What is the moral absoulte? What is the moral law grounded in?

Answer 1

You should try to do what is right. A moral absolute holds that certain things are right and certain things are wrong. As with all absolute, they aren't, entirely, but many (check out the Ten Commandments for a pretty good list) are close. Moral law is grounded in the moral teachings we have received through (in the west at, least,) a few thousand years of western civilization and Judeo-Christan ethics.

Answer 2

"If there is no God, then everything is permissible."
Your questions are in the wrong order. You should ask the last question first and the first question last. It is with the understanding that there is a moral law that exist that cause us to crave towards the answer. We cannot say we love apple but there are no apple in the world. Similarly, there is a craving for many people to seek for the moral law, but we say there is no such law or knowledge of it.

The moral absolute cannot be defined by anyone human. How can we expect humans with a life span of average 0f 70 to 80 years to define for human the moral absolute for the whole history of man.
I think we can look at examples though. Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King. These people reflect the absolute the moral absolute which is why history cannot do away with such people and they are honoured because they reflect what kind of people we can be.
When you asked what I ought to do, I assume you feel that as a human being, we have obligations. But how can anyone tell you what to do? No one has authority over us which is not given by us. This already implies all are equal, we are all looking for answers. None of us has the complete answer to what we ought to do. But what are the guidelines? You have realised the impossiblity of establishing morality without the belief of an absolute God.

Answer 3

great questions. The foundations for any respectable moral law must, I think, be grounded in the actual consequences of one's actions. Giving morality a metaphysical basis (such as the will of god, categorical imperatives, or "rights") does nothing but cause confusion, since these entities cannot be detected by us and so can be a subject of constant debate with nothing ever being accomplished. I think we can see this in our own culture in the constant debates of the "rights" of the wealthy to their property vs. the "rights" of the poor to equal opportunity; in the debates over interpretations of the bible. By framing morality around a metaphysic, I think we make it more difficult to be moral. A great example is the question of animal rights: nobody seriously claims that animals do not suffer for our food, and nobody can seriously claim that it is ok to cause such suffering simply because we like the taste of meat, and so simply going on that, we should stop eating meat. But then the question of rights gets introduced, animals having rights, the rights of people to eat what they choose, etc. and a very simple and straightforward issue has become muddled by positing fantastical properties which we cannot test.

The moral absolute, I would say, is do nothing which would cause unnecessary suffering. I am a utilitarian, and so I understand that there will be times when causing some suffering is justified by the good which results from it, but I think that if one wants a moral absolute, it is that "unnecessary" suffering is wrong. I think that this principle must form the basis of any respectable morality.

So what ought you to do? Do that which helps to reduce suffering.

Answer 4

Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once wrote about obscenity:
something like, "I may not be able to define it, but I know it when I see it."
Unless you belong to an organized religion, one which specifies "moral absolutes" for you, you have no choice but to work out your own code.
You could do worse than begin with that injunction which the Hippocratic Oath implies:
First, do no harm
Of course, in the real world, there are times when doing harm seems unavoidable; in those cases, you must determine whether the harm done is outweighed by the benefits realized.
Some wise words from Kurt Vonnegut:

"Pretend to be good always,and even God will be fooled."
"God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater"

Live by the foma [harmless untruths] that make you brave, and kind, and healthy, and happy.
"Cat's Cradle"

Answer 5

Here's one answer: You ought to follow the Golden Rule - Do unto others...etc.

The moral law is grounded in a rational process of analogy:

The Analogy to the Golden Rule

Premise 1 (explicit): I am a person.

Premise 2 (implicit): As a person I am (i) an end in myself - not merely a means to the ends of others, (ii) a moral agent, (iii) a moral patient. [Note: moral agents can act morally, moral patients can be acted upon morally.]

Premise 3 (explicit): I ought to be treated the way a person ought to be treated.

Premise 4 (explicit): She is a person.

Conclusion (explicit): So she ought to be treated the way a person ought to be treated.

Conclusion (implicit): And so I ought to treat her the way a person ought to be treated.

Conclusion (implicit): And so she ought to treat me the way a person ought to be treated.

There is also a "Deduction of the Virtues" and an "Induction to the Greatest Good of the Greatest Number".

Answer 6

Just saw a great program - where Bill Moyers is interviewing Salman Rushdie. Rushdie feels that religions spring from a need to codify an innate moral law - not the other way-around. Recommend you watch!

Answer 7

Moral law is grounded in cultural mores.

Answer 8

Nothing is absolute except being a kid. Moral laws of children are true moral laws, anything beyond that looses its essence.

Answer 9

Just do the right moral grounded thing that is absolute

Answer 10

i'm a fan of utilitarianism. sounds like i don't need to explain what this is to you. If there's no reason or profit for me then why bother. No reason to take unneccessary risks and it's usually good to fit in with your society but these both have a use. Do what will provide you with the greatest overall happiness. Hard to know what but just gotta try your best.

people dig a noble righteous dude, but don't let em know it's just for your benefit.