Where do our ethics come from? Society, Religion, our self, or a mixture?

Question

Are they just dictated from society? Does religion play more of a role? They may stem from a time when religion and society where far more intertwined, which would explain alot of the crossover. Does our self-centered, individualistic society demand self-gratification over the sanctity of the rights of others? Why do eastern cultures seem to act with so much more ethical concerns that western ones? Does religon stem from a need for a moral code, dating back to early man? What were ethics like prior to religon? Any help with these would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

or ethics come from our culture and our enviroment

Answer 2

"Where do our ethics come from? Society, Religion, our self, or a mixture?"

Our philosophy (implicit or explicit) which comes from what we have learned and accepted. Sometimes religion, sometimes a friend, sometimes our parents, sometimes a movie, sometimes professor, etc, etc, or mix of any/all of this. We are not born with a code of ethics.

"Are they just dictated from society?"

Society may try but ultimately you choose your own ethics. Society can be and often is wrong. Society is often in conflict about moral issues. If a society thinks slavery is moral, is it moral?

"Does religion play more of a role? "

Yes, for people that are religious.

"They may stem from a time when religion and society where far more intertwined, which would explain alot of the crossover."

I agree.

"Does our self-centered, individualistic society demand self-gratification over the sanctity of the rights of others?"

lol, you need to read our Constitution and Bill of Rights. We supposedly have individual rights here, although out political leaders are doing their best to change that. And, last I heard, we were the most generous nation on earth.

"Why do eastern cultures seem to act with so much more ethical concerns that western ones?"

You'll need to prove that assertion.

" Does religon stem from a need for a moral code, dating back to early man?"

I think so.

" What were ethics like prior to religon?"

I don't know, but religion was pretty savage. Still is.

Answer 3

Our ethics come from....
Before we answer we have to look into something. There are a few theories of where it came from, for example the Devine theory where it states it came from God, or the Form theory brought up by Plato where it states it has to come from outside of God.

First we have to look at what is truth. What is truth? Is there such thing as absolute truth?
Well to state that there is no truth, is that an absolute truth statement? Meaning is that statement true? How do you know? It is a self defeating statement because it calms to be true the fact that there is no truth! If we say everyone has some truth, or there are different kind of truths, are those statements of truth? In other words, is that true? Is that a true statement? Well it is also a self defeating statement because one of the first principles of truth is that it cannot contradict itself. To self everyone has some truth cannon be true because our truths may contradict! So somebody may be false. So we can logically conclude that there is such thing as truth and truth has to be absolute, because to say that there is no truth is already false because it contradicts itself.
Why does truth matter? If you go to the doctor, you will want to know the "truth" about your symptoms and your problem.

Can truths about morality be known? Can truths about God be known? Yes, through evidence and logic. For more on this read Frank Turek and Norman Geisler s piece of work "I don t have enough faith to be an atheist".

If we can prove God is real, then we can conclude that He created ethics and morals. He is the standard of morality. Romans 2:11-16 claims that we have been created with these "laws" in our hearts since the beginning of time and with that we have a more clear response.

Answer 4

I am not sure that Eastern cultures act with more ethical concerns. Religion is the other side of who we are, somewhat like looking in a mirror. Of course, religion dates back to early man (and woman).

Answer 5

Eastern cultures more ethical? As in torturing people, especially their women?
Where does it come from? It depends upon the individual; most people are incapable of thinking or using logic.
We do not have an indivualistic society; we have a "group" society that has always put individuals down (much as you have).
Employers always seek out "team players" even though every invention is the fruit of an individual.

Answer 6

Short answer is yes a mixture.

However: Society tends to generate laws and rules that shape our ethics. However if a persons moves from one society to another of course the laws and rules are interpreted differently.

Religion sets ethic guidelines and again it differs from region to region for the same religion and more so for variation of the same type of religion.

Self and family impose a higher level of ethics that the family gleans from their understanding of Society laws and rules and their interpretation of religion.

Answer 7

Read "Men in White Apparel," Ann Ree Colton, "The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce?", Free and Wilcock, http://www.divinecosmos.com "Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, "Man, Master of His Destiny," O. M. Aivanhov, "Life before Life," Jim Tucker, M.D., "Expecting Adam," Martha Beck, and "Extraordinary Knowing," Dr. Elizabeth Mayer, for clues.

Our values ultimately come from Above and are realized as Light of the I Am Presence in our Soul-realization process. Htp://www.yogananda-srf.org and http://www.easwaran.org also helpful in this regard. Clues as to how the biofield and soulfield import such are found in e.g. Dr. William Tiller's "Psychoenergetic Science," http://www.tiller.org Lynne McTaggart's "The Field," and Dr. Elizabeth Mayer's "Extraordinary Knowing."

"A Philosophy of Universality" by O. M. Aivanhov is also helpful. The Kingdom is within, and championing one's inner sense, innocence, inner child joy, love, kindness, strength, helps greatly.

regards,

j.

Answer 8

of their e book, The Soul of technology,authors Nancy Pearcey and Charles Thaxton make a case for the mandatory function Christianity performed interior the type of technology. Christianity presented important presuppositions of technology. The Bible teaches that nature is real, no longer an phantasm. It teaches that it has fee and that that's good to artwork with nature. traditionally this changed into an improve over pagan superstitions because the latter observed nature as something to be worshipped or as something packed with spirits which weren't to be angered. Christianity "performed a function in regulating medical technique." previously, the international changed into concept to artwork in completely rational ideas that may be prevalent often by ability of logical deduction. yet this mind-set to technology did not artwork. Healthcare is yet another section the position Christianity has made a impressive impression on society. Christians have not in difficulty-free words been curious about healthcare; they have commonly been on the forefront in serving the actual wellbeing of human beings. Christians performed an important function interior the institution of hospitals. In 325 A.D., the Council of Nicea "decreed that hospices were to be duly regularly happening anyplace the Church changed into regularly happening." A key element in making lengthy-time period remedy achieveable changed into the "professionalization of nursing" because of better criteria of sanitation. previously the sixteenth century, non secular motivations were key in providing nursing for the ill. between the widespread criticisms of Christianity is that it inhibits freedom. at the same time as Christians oppose funding pornography masquerading as paintings, as an instance, we are reported to be unfairly proscribing freedom of expression. the mission is that individuals now see freedom no longer as self- decision, yet as self-decision unhindered by ability of any outdoors accepted of morality. some flow so some distance of their zeal for self- expression that they anticipate others to assist them interior the technique, including pornographic artists who anticipate authorities funding. Radical feminists ***** that Christianity has been an oppressive stress over women individuals. notwithstanding it type of feels to have escaped their observe that Christianity made important steps in raising women individuals above the position they held previously Christ got here.

Answer 9

I think it's ingrained within us. I think it comes from a variety of sources, all that you mentioned here.

Some people are so tied to their beliefs that they just cannot see anyone else's point of view.