Moral obligation?

Question

To those that think we have a moral obligation to take care of others, no matter if we want to or not, why do we have this obligation? (I am not talking about your own family, but 'others' in general.)

I'm not looking for a 'god' answer, but a well considered, non-mystical, fundamental answer addressing why we have this moral obligation. When I say fundamental, if I am able to ask 'why' to your answer, you haven't given me a fundamental answer.

(So, I am in essence asking why altruism is a moral obligation.)

Update: Vin, I am asking for your thoughts based in your own moral values. Why is helping your neighbor the right thing to do? What is your reason?

kj. your answer is exactly what I said I did not want. Sorry.

Erods, that is not really an answer to my question. Sorry. As you said, "My parents said so" doesn't apply to adults and is not a thoughtful answer at any rate. I'm looking for a reason for a moral obligation that is not mystical. Possible future regret ('I may need help in the future') does not answer why there is a moral obligation.

Thanks to those that have replied so far!!!

This is getting fun.

grey, why does empathy create a moral obligation for people to help others? We might want to help others, especially if we know and care about the others, but I am looking for a reason supports a moral OBLIGATION.

"They are as basic as anger and happiness. "

You are equating a moral obligation with the capacity for emotion. I don't think you can do that. We aren't born with morality intact.

"but I think that there are some altruistic quality in us."

That's another topic. :) Inate altruism...

susie, I like this..."A big word in your question: Obligation. When you are "obligated" to do something, it is because of a formal contract, a promise, or the demands of conscience or custom. So this part is entirely dependent upon a set of values."

But you didn't answer my question other than you hope someone will help if you need help. In a code of values, how would someone justify the way of a moral obligation to help others?

"A civilized society cannot be achieved unless folks accept their obligations to that society."

Why does one have to be morally obligated to help others for a society to work? I am not talking about voluntary help, or goodwill, or trade. I am trying to get to the root of the justification of the moral obligation to help others.

"That being said, altruistic actions, in most people's eyes, will come right back at them!"

BTW, I don't think a selfish desire for future help is altruism. Altruism is selfless.

Answer 1

...im glad you feel obligated, you must be up 24/7.

i do enjoy helping others, and have no expectations of compensation...and/ or obligation from those i help.

...why i do it? its because i want to.

Answer 2

What an excellent question! Finally something more that pseudophilosophical ****.

Unless we bring some sort of moral maxim (usually, it's God) into the picture, there is no moral obligation.
Whether we like it or not, we would have to accept that morality in reality is relative and is a social construct. So in this sense, I don't think that we have any reason for being altruistic in a genuine sense.
However, this isn't to say that I am for what objectivists pursue. I think we do have certain intrinsically altruistic quality in us. It probably have developed to survive better in a group, but that doesn't degrade what altruism is.
So in conclusion, we don't have any moral obligation to be altruistic, but I think that there are some altruistic quality in us.

Answer 3

I don't consider it to be a moral obligation to take care of others because (like vinster said "every ones morals are different"). I think our morals have a lot to do with our influences and experiences as we age.

Concerning altruism, I consider altruism to be an instinctive trait; because it is prevalent in most cultures (with the exception of urban culture) and also animals.

I think that it is the right thing to help others for many reasons.

1.) If you don't help a person who is struggling, it may become your problem in the long run because, people need necessities and if they can't get it, they will take it (passably from you).

2.) What comes around goes around. I know you said you don't want any mystical answers but, Carma is real. If you project an attitude, people subconsciously return it to you.

Hence, if you are a greedy person, people will be greedy with regard to you.

3.) It makes you feel good to help others! Try it!

In a code of values, you justify the way of a moral obligation to help others when the little voice in your head tells you (although some of us dont pay attention to that).

Answer 4

I have all the "God" reasons in place, but will not answer your question that way, as instructed. Do I think we have a Moral Obligation outside of god-reasons? No. Aside from that:

It makes us feel good when we do. Why? It makes me feel good about me (at the very least). Why? Because then I know I am the source of good things.

A big word in your question: Obligation. When you are "obligated" to do something, it is because of a formal contract, a promise, or the demands of conscience or custom. So this part is entirely dependent upon a set of values.

Most people believe in a concept of Karma, or reaping-what-you-sow, or do unto others like you want them to do unto you, irregardless of a god-belief. That being said, altruistic actions, in most people's eyes, will come right back at them!

Answer 5

It is only a moral obligation if you intend to live in a society with certain standards. A civilized society cannot be achieved unless folks accept their obligations to that society. Paying taxes and obeying laws are part of the obligation. It's really a matter of survival. Humans (and other mammals) have evolved in such a way that we cannot survive, much less prosper, without the support of society. No man is an island. In fact, it is impossible in any real sense, to live outside the bounds of society. You are obligated to society for your own survival. Altruism, in this sense, is just a manner of helping society to survive, which in turn provides for the survival of the individual.

Answer 6

saying not to bring God into this is simply rediculous. Look around at the world is there anything you can explain with just facts? No! The only way to approach morals or anything is with some kind of belief. You can't know everything it is impossible. It is also rediculous! Even you say you don't understand why we have to be nice to others.
There is no proven reason why.
So if you are going to go by that you should not have any morals at all.
there is not fact that says it is better to be nice to people.
The only way i know helping people is good is because i actually want to make other people feel better. No, i do not have any selfish motives in doing so. Why are my motives non selfish? Because i have God. He is the reason we feel we need to do things. He shows us how wonderful it really is to make someone else feel better. If I was not a Christian I would not have morals. Why? There would really be no point since everything would require factual base.
Sometimes you really do just have to believe without having facts to support you.
It is the base for everything really.

Answer 7

The fundamental basis of our altruism is to feel good. Not just my opinion but the findings of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Maryland.

"The results were reported in this week’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.” … “the researchers were able to examine what went on inside each person’s head as they made decisions based on moral beliefs. They found that the part of the brain that was active when a person donated happened to be the brain’s reward centre—the mesolimbic pathway, to give it its proper name—responsible for doling out the dopamine-mediated euphoria associated with sex, money, food and drugs. Thus the warm glow that accompanies charitable giving has a physiological basis.”

What moral obligation do we owe to a "dopamine-mediated euphoria"?

So altruism is "feel-goodism". But knowing that it's just some drug addiction doesn't make us feel good about ourselves so we invent some BS about altruism and selflessness. It makes us feel good to think that we're inherently good but it's all self deception.

The bottom line: We have no moral obligation but it makes us feel good to think that we do.

Answer 8

Why universal morality would need to be an absolute altruism to simply be is a mystery to me. Independent thinkers act on their own Judgment, whatever form it may take and the general good is all there is that opposes the general bad. Therefor to work for the general good, while contingent is obligation to its universalization and is only of good reason. The contrary could only be insanity such as not knowing right from wrong, and wrong from crime.

The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/sp/osabstra.htm#OS493


http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/pr/prwrong.htm#PR82

First Part: Abstract Right
iii Wrong
A: Non-Malicious Wrong - B: Fraud - C: Crime


A. Non-malicious Wrong
§ 84

Taking possession (see § 54) and contract-both in themselves and in their particular species-are in the first, instance different expressions and consequences of my willing pure and simple; but since the will is the inherently universal, they are, through their recognition by others, grounds of title. Such grounds are external to one another and multiple, and this implies that different persons may have them in relation to one and the same thing. Each person may look upon the thing as his property on the strength of the particular ground on which he bases his title. It is in this way that one man’s right may clash with another’s.

Answer 9

Hmm.. difficult question.

Altruism is required for social animals in general, so as humans, our brains are built around the concept of being nice to others. We experience other people's emotions directly, as are actors in the play of our minds, and so being surrounded by happy people actually creates a happier existence for us.

This isn't just limited to actual physical beings, it also applies to abstract concepts of people's emotional states, I can imagine a crowd of happy or sad people without imagining each person as an individual. In this way, I get a personal experience of emotion by just supporting an idea that increases overall happiness.

So yes, I have an obligation to promote enjoyable emotions so that my own internal, personal world is a better place to live in. Supporting the idea that everyone should be cared for makes my internal world a nicer place.

Answer 10

A tough question!

We have this moral obligation because our minds is guided by righteousness and this said obligation is imposed by the society we live in. Is is the constraining power of conscience that pushed us and are rooted in our character and behavior from the point of view of right and wrong and obligation of duty.

Thanks to your great question. Have a great day!

Answer 11

People do what they do because they're taught to. We were once children who were put in a household where we were loved and cared. So, we were automatically influenced by out parents that we must take care of others. However, as an obligation, we can withdraw it, get free from it as we certainly do with other obligations. But, will we regret it??