Seasons

If you want this to be a scientific discussion, first you'll have to argue that these so-called morals are not somehow already programmed into the genetic code. If they are, then humans are no different than animals. If they are not, then perhaps morality is a meaningful term.

Since 'morals' vary so greatly between cultures, I'm inclined to think they are not genetic. Perhaps the first step to making it a meaningful term is to identify those 'morals' that most or all societies share. The only one that comes to mind is The Golden Rule.

It is obvious that morality is not genetic, forif it was, only people with mutations would be able to be immoral, and everyone has done immoral things within their lifetimes. when people are capable of adhering to certain morals not because of fear of god or punishment, but because they think it's the right thing - that is meaningful.

But who decides what is right and what is wrong? Doing the right thing in one culture might violate the worst taboo of another.

One could make the argument that people only do 'the right thing' out of fear of repercussions from their own culture. There are obvious exceptions. The Civil Rights movement was 'doing the right thing' in violation of many of the established norms of the time. But for most people, doing 'the right thing' means obeying the norms of society because to do otherwise would involve repercussions.

I'd comment, but I was asked not to at the beginning of the discussion.

What repercussions do you fear if you do not acquiesce to this request?

None, I suppose. But I think if I wait long enough all restrictions will be lifted. Already it appears that morality can enter into the discussion -- just not religion.

colonel, I think it's possible to have both liberty and morals. Other people's morals may not be the same as yours, but it's oversimplifying things to say that they have no morals.

As for the tone of your questioning: you make it sound as if anyone having sex outside of marriage is incapable of having a meaningful relationship. Is that the idea you were trying to convey?

As for our purpose: shall we all go get married as quickly as possible and start popping out as many babies as we can? I don't think that is the meaning of MY life.

*shrugs* I think colonel is assuming a moral position implies there is a definite 'right' or 'wrong' that applies to everyone, regardless of culture or circumstance. Though first he attacks the idea as being against liberty, then embraces it as producing more meaningful relationships.

both, actually. I cannot be saying that if someone has sex outside of marriage is incapable of having a meaninful relationship - what if the two people loved eachother but just weren't married? what I was talking about is the tendency for people to be promiscuous. And no, it doesn't mean at all that these people have no morals - i doubt these poeple would kill, for instance. In any society, to an extent, sluttiness is wrong. Now, people are justifying it as "art", or "freedom". That was my point. I am not attacking anyone.

And frankly, if it continues on the course its on now, we'll be seeing pornography on the streets in 10 years time.

I didn't take it as an attack, colonel. It just sounded really odd to me.

In any society, to an extent, sluttiness is wrong? To me, some of the men in the Bible seem slutty for having many wives and concubines. Then again, this sort of thing happens (though on a much smaller scale) in Western nations, in modern times, but usually with the men and women on equal footing.

There are tribes in South America that believe a pregnant woman must have sex with lots of men in order to build her baby.

As for pornography: I'm sure you know about Japanese businessmen 'reading' it openly on the trains. I'm not calling their way superior, just pointing out that it exists.

I am more concerned with the way people treat each other, face to face as human beings, than who they sleep with or what they look at.

you are aware that many a killing has ocurred as a result of slutiness, and you can't deny, that there is such a thing as a society being misled. Of course, if you ask the society, they will not believe they are being misled, but they are doing what they believe is right. But for the sake of humanity, please tell me that you don't support promiscuity.