On what do we base our ethical standards?

Question

On what do we base our ethical standards?

Answer 1

Essentially we derive our ethical standards from the Bible.

Answer 2

Our ethical standards are most certainly Not based on the Bible or any other religion. Do a bit of study on anthropology and sociobiology and it becomes clear that ethics are simply adaptations in biological evolution allowing individuals to not destroy each other to the point that the human race ceases to exist. I know this may seem more in question in today's world but confilct and strife has been around far longer than recorded history.

If ethics really were based in religion then I ask you to get serious and realize that there has been more blood spilled in the name of one religion or another than for any other reason in the history of this planet.

Religion does not give rise to ethics, it only gives those in power a way to influence and maintain control over their religious followers

Ethical behavior was around LONG before the organized religions of today. Ethical behavior was around long before the bible was even thought of.

Ethical behavior is the sociobiological nature of human beings. Those ethics have invariably been mangled by most every religion on the Earth.

Heck, even chimpanzees have a more consistent ethical behavior than man. I think it because a chimpanzee doesn't know what religion is!

Answer 3

Most of the time it starts with our family, but as we grow up and start thinking more for ourselves we start to get our own opinions on what is ethical and what is not. Friends have a big influence as do people that we associate with everyday, the news our political parties there are so many. Religious beliefs probably have the most impact, but in the end it is all on our plate as to what we think is ethical and what isn't.

Answer 4

Good point. Unless it's based on God's standards then all else fails to meet the standard.

Answer 5

If you mean "we" as in Americans, our standards are based on the bible because America is a traditionally christian country. All of the laws still stem from the bible, even though there is supposedly a separation between church and state. We still swear on the bible when we go to court, and under God is still in the pledge of allegiance.

Answer 6

Well, there is the bible...and education. But, after 5000 of human existance, I think it just came down to collective experience. I'm pretty sure after 5000 years we (as a whole entity of people) have experienced all the worst possible things we could do to eachother, and from that experience we say "No, that's bad. Don't do it again"
eg. Nuclear Weapons, Slavery...etc

Answer 7

"moral criteria" are frequently replaced my ideal norms as time progresses; hence if making use of "moral criteria" as a level is used for expertise heritage, that expertise of heritage (that diverse experience, time, incidence, and so on) ought to in all probability be altered or replaced all at the same time. that's the position it is needed for historians and scholars of heritage to totally settle for and understand moreso the particular "time-body" of historic activities and what replaced into easily a perfect "moral popular" of the day. as an party and in taking my own us of a the u . s .. even as the yankee Revolution replaced into fought against the British and then "gained" it replaced right into a time body the position the "moral popular" of the day common the very undeniable actuality that particular farmers owned slaves - so a word like "All men are Created equivalent" truly did not stick with to "all" those who were interior u . s . on the time the yankee progressive conflict ended and massive Britain had lost. Does this make the yankee Revolution "a lot less" significant? No - easily no longer, and it must be yet another 4 generations beforehand the yankee Civil conflict replaced into fought with a view to free all indentured human beings from forced servitude. the yankee Revolution replaced right into a maximum significant conflict against the most well known us of a on earth on the time, this does no longer change our expertise of heritage - freeing slaves by yet another conflict later is both significant because the "moral popular" had replaced, and shall we face it, the shape replaced into mandatory and required.

Answer 8

Background, education, religion and experience. Combine them and your foundation is built. For me (and I believe like many) they grow more strict the older I get.

Answer 9

On the respect, or lack thereof, we have for those who are affected by the choices we make.

Answer 10

mine are based on my upbring and the Christian bible.basic do unto as you would have others do unto you