Let's face it, the world isn't perfect. It never was, never will. but how can we roll around on this huge mudball and still come out staying clean, facing liars, cheaters, and frauds? And even so, do we still have the right to have moral indignation even though we have no morals ourselves?
2006-12-10 04:01:53 · 17 answers · asked by Dr. Psychosis 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
jennyann 4: You do know I'm a guy, right?
2006-12-10 04:11:36 · update #1
Palmerpath: It's great to know someone got the allusion, but you know as well as I do that a real Roark is as real as the Fountainhead, fiction.
2006-12-10 06:31:55 · update #2
Right now I can't decide between Kevin N and Chris T's answers. I applaud everyone else for answering, but a lot of the answers are just variations of the same "dare to be different" message over and over again, and I seriously can't take them seriously (especially from someone who misspells "doofus".
2006-12-10 06:39:26 · update #3
Great, now I have to decide between my original choices of Chris, Kevin, and Nathan! This is going to be so hard.
But since so many people ask, my morals are basically the ten commandments, libertarian, "don't be ruled by others or rule over them," anti-materialism, anti-hypocracy, and anti-corruption. A person's soul, mind, and body can't change every way the wind blows. They should be pure and respectable, and have a soul that is the same. If one's soul and morals are timeless, then they will also be timeless.
2006-12-11 14:05:31 · update #4
I don't think it's always about "daring to be different".
I'm actually living the way I am because I want to. Why on earth would I not want to have sex everynight and drink until the sun goes down? Because it's not healthy. I might not live to the age of 50 living that kind of crazy lifestyle. Sex, drugs, guns may have their benefits, but in the end there are serious consequences that can wreak havoc or even end a persons life. Why would I want to take my chances? I'm going to do a little ad antiquitatem but, look at history of America; the tradtional family was one man and one woman who did their best to be faithful to each other and raise their children to do the same. Obviously there were those who rebelled against their parents, but for the most part they grew up to be law abiding parents themselves.
I'm not sure just where we strayed from that, but I know we did. And now we just have to work harder to stay moral. We actually have to make a choice, most people were forced to be that way when they were kids; and now we have to choose to be moral. We can live the way we want, we're free; but we also have the chance to live a moral life.
Now technically, it's hard to say; because you haven't defined moral and immoral. But I'm looking at from a Judeo-Christian perspective, so that's a little background for you.
2006-12-10 11:42:20 · answer #1 · answered by Nathan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is possible to stay moral in an immoral world
1. As these are relative terms, they cannot be mutually exclusive.
2. Even so - Assuming that each individual contributes to the total morality (or the lack of it) in the world, wouldn't you want to tip the scales to yr own side?
3. Facing the liars cheaters & frauds, while staying clean yrself would make you stronger rather than tainted.
4. Moral indignation at an outrage would make sense if it also can set off a series of actions aimed at upping the total wellness scale - but indignation while having no morals of yr own would be hypocrisy won't it?
2006-12-12 09:30:43 · answer #2 · answered by Vaakshri 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Morality is taught and therefore can quite individual so what may be moral to you may be immoral to the next person. Perhaps some of the corruption you see is perpetrated by someone who’s moral compass is different than your own, therefore you see the acts as immoral. In reality the only thing we can do is determine our own morality and follow it. If someone confronts you about something you’re doing, consider their position and perhaps change your morals accordingly if it fits for you. We’re all here to learn and to grow. We couldn’t do that if the world was perfect. As for moral indignation……. Isn’t that just another way of saying "holier than thou"?
2006-12-10 12:43:15 · answer #3 · answered by Chris T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure it would be morals, but integrity .Morals can be
differant for each individual .I think you may possibly mean .How many people have the integrity to do what they feel is morally correct .In spite of what every one else does that they feel is wrong morally. Personally ,what other people do I feel is wrong .Makes me try that much harder to do what I feel is morally right .Two wrongs, don't make a right,and maybe they will learn from the example you set .If not you can still feel good about yourself .Knowing you did what you feel is right .
2006-12-10 13:27:17 · answer #4 · answered by dollars2burn4u 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Howard, I am not giving you a response to your question of staying moral in an immoral world, I went to it because it is a very good and interesting question. I have read through all your responses and saw your dilemma of which to choose. I am glad you are going to choose one, because so many ask but don't pick a best answer and that just feels like no respect being paid to those who answered one of their questions.
Anyway as an unbiased participant, I just wanted to add that I really enjoyed Kevin N's answer. There are many good ones here but his would be my first choice.
Good luck solving your dilemma.
2006-12-13 01:21:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps one individual person can stay moral but in the absolute long run, society will turn totally immoral as it almost is in today's world particulary in the U.S. There is no way in hell that a society can stay totally moral in an immoral world.. Yes, it is possible for some individuals to stay away from temptation(if that is what you call it) but I am talking about the LONG RUN.
2006-12-10 12:26:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a cop out?????If every one was killing themselves WOULD YOU? If everyone was jumping off the highest mountain WOULD YOU??? See what I mean Yes, granted you must be sure of yourself and a strong person and this usually comes from the family unit so hope yours is a strong value packed family that are close,,,Good Luck and dare to be different is can be quite a turn on to guys and they get so much they now have the headache,,,Smiles
2006-12-10 12:07:20 · answer #7 · answered by Gypsy Gal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My immediate answer is that logically it is possible, however essentially it is not, if you refer to perfect moral goodness. We must strive for it, but we will never be perfect. And we MUST NOT give in to moral relativism, declaring that it's up to the individual to decide what is good and bad. Our morals differ, this is true. But do they differ such that one is black to the other's white? No- every culture on earth shares a basic foundation of ethics, as it said by the apostle Paul "it is written on their hearts."
2006-12-10 13:02:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Everything on earth depends on the choices we make. Instinctively we know what is right and wrong. DO we follow the crowd downstream into a destructive waterfall or do we choose to move upstream against the currents of life. Its all a matter of choice. Choose what is right. Choose what is positive to reap the positive. CHoose negative and reap the negative! ITS ALL YOUR CHOICE. YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE!!!! That is a fact!
2006-12-10 13:48:33 · answer #9 · answered by uniquechild 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES!! It is up to the individual to conduct himself / herself with high morals. Do not follow the crowd. The herd instinct is ignorant.
2006-12-10 12:12:48 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋