05 Sep 22
@fmf saidI agree, so if your moral compass is always pointing to you, how would you know
Each person's moral compass ~ their unique conscience, character, self-governance system ~ is internal to each of them and it is theirs alone as are their opinions and their moral perceptions, their moral decisions and their accountability for their moral actions. Of course, it is "internal to you"! What else would you expect? An app on your phone?
about evil, its no different than a real compass if everyone were carrying one and
all of them were pointing in different directions, would we think there was an issue
with the direction north or something was wrong with the compasses, you cannot
have it both ways.
05 Sep 22
@divegeester saidAre you avoiding responding to my question KellyJay?
Earlier you asked FMF “how would you know [what’s right or wrong] if your moral compass only point to things you like?”
In light of that question to FMF I’m asking you again…
Does your moral compass point to anything you don’t like?
05 Sep 22
@kellyjay saidA moral compass is different from "a real compass". Both are instruments used for navigation, but a moral compass is oriented by nature and nurture, whereas a "real" compass is oriented by magnetic waves. "Moral compass" is a metaphor, KellyJay.
its no different than a real compass if everyone were carrying one and
all of them were pointing in different directions
05 Sep 22
@kellyjay saidhow would you know about evil
I agree, so if your moral compass is always pointing to you, how would you know
about evil, its no different than a real compass if everyone were carrying one and
all of them were pointing in different directions, would we think there was an issue
with the direction north or something was wrong with the compasses, you cannot
have it both ways.
How do I know about evil? Well, I am a sentient, educated and well-raised chap, KellyJay. Aren't you too?
Our perception of "evil" develops out of how our environment and experience interact with our character and our innate conscience/humanity.
For me, "evil" is egregious immorality (as already defined in numerous previous discussions: doing harm, deceiving and coercing) and gratuitous, sociopathic action that is gravely detrimental and/or damaging to others, and which stems from an abject lack or even absence of empathy and compassion.
05 Sep 22
@kellyjay saidI am not "having it both ways". The evaluation of the morality of someone else's actions is something each of us carries out with the aid of our unique moral compasses. We are not androids. We do not all have identical personality, character, and conscience programmes installed in us.
if everyone were carrying one and
all of them were pointing in different directions, would we think there was an issue
with the direction north or something was wrong with the compasses, you cannot
have it both ways.
@fmf saidIt's not on a fixed point, it is always what you find agreeable to you or do you have
My moral compass isn't "always pointing" to me.
But it does tell me what is "evil" through a process that is the same as how your moral compass tells you what is "evil".
a compass fixed point that is outside of you?
@fmf saidSo how would know evil, if everyone sees it differently?
I am not "having it both ways". The evaluation of the morality of someone else's actions is something each of us carries out with the aid of our unique moral compasses. We are not androids. We do not all have identical personality, character, and conscience programmes installed in us.
05 Sep 22
@kellyjay saidNo, you're right. We don't all have a "fixed point", although civil and criminal laws do amount to something like that. Morality isn't really about what we "find agreeable" once we get past the nappy-wearing stage, assuming we are socialized properly. Are you simply not reading/comprehending any of my posts?
It's not on a fixed point, it is always what you find agreeable to you or do you have
a compass fixed point that is outside of you?
@kellyjay saiddo you have a compass fixed point that is outside of you?
It's not on a fixed point, it is always what you find agreeable to you or do you have
a compass fixed point that is outside of you?
Well, our consciences/moral compasses are in our brains. So that's "internal".
Parents, spouses, families, neighbours, communities, churches, mosques, temples, schools, universities, workplaces, literature, history, scripture, and the laws and the courts ~ all create all manner of innumerable "fixed points" that are "outside" us which are then processed by the moral compasses that are inside each of us.