Thursday, December 26, 2013
Universal Ethics
While it’s a loaded question, I definitely believe in universal ethics. There are things that exist in every culture that are unacceptable. They are things that violate others and reach beyond one’s self. They are universal because they are intrinsic in the human psyche. They are things that we know are wrong, that we know hurt others. They are most likely evident in all forms of life, whether here on Earth or not. In the animal world, the same universal ethics apply-- don’t kill my cubs, steal my food, or try to cheat me. They exist for the good of all life and if they did not exist the world would be a terrifying place.
There are similarities between universal ethics of different cultures because all beings are born with the same basic set of beliefs. They spring from things being done to us and those around us. We notice unconsciously that we do not like it when someone steals our crayon and in the future we should avoid making others feel that way. We know that it is bad enough when a family member or close friend dies, the situation does not need to be made worse by learning that they were murdered. We all hold these beliefs inside us, and those who do not are mentally unstable.
The moral/ethical principles that are currently universal are very basic:
1. Don't kill.
2. Don't steal.
3. Don't cheat.
4. Don't lie.
5. Treat those who cannot properly take care of themselves with respect (children, the elderly, the disabled, etc.)
I think in the future with the advent of technology these principles will start to tweak slightly, as privacy becomes a precious commodity-- but the basic principles will stay the same.
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I really liked your post and agreed with a good amount of it. As humans we definitely learn from experiences and do not want to be treated badly, which is why we try to not treat others badly as well. I'm not sure if these things are in the human psyche but instead learned over time from society or if lying, cheating, and treating everyone with respect are universal. I wish they were but I don't think every culture values or notices these ethics. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the universal ethics are don't kills, don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie. I liked how you used real world examples to explain your opinions. It was very easy for me to understand what you were trying to say. However, I wish you shared some ethics that aren't universal. Other than that, your post was very well written.
ReplyDeleteEmily, I like how you extended your thoughts on what is universal to a world beyond humanity and into that of animals. It showed some deeper thought and helped enforce the idea that a world exists beyond our own species. I found what you said about how we develop ethics as a way of bring some justice and happiness into an uncaring universe interesting and it reminded me (kind of) of the conflict between naturalism and romanticism we talked about with Grizzly Man. Additionally, I like how one of your ethics was not a "don't" (which something people often encounter in ethics). Great post!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your views on universal ethics. Though I don't believe in the use of universal ethics myself, your view on universal ethics in terms of animals really got me thinking. I may have to disagree with you when you said that everyone is born with the same set of believes though. I can agree that ethics could come from things being done around us and to us, but I really can't say I agree with you that ethics are a natural trait humans have. The feeling of unethical acts yes, but not ethics themselves. I do like your short little list of universal ethics, however, and I completely agree that the world would be a better place if we followed them. I was also really intrigued on your last sentence as well because it made me wonder if the standard universal ethics will ever change. Overall, this was a very compelling and thought out post. Fantastic work.
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