Truthfully, I believe that there are no such things as universal ethics. I am someone who
thinks that there are no rules in life, just consequences. If we wanted to steal something, nothing is holding us back, therefore we can steal as much as we please. However, if someone wanted us to be stopped and become arrested, nothing is holding them back either. I guess, in a way, there are certain taboos all cultures share. Usually this could include crimes like murder, theft, adultery, and lying. Yet, though there are many similar ethics shared throughout cultures, it is hard for me to call them universal ethics. For example, whereas we look at suicide as a terrible act, the Norse see it as a straightaway passage into Asgard, or their version of heaven. Also, whereas we see eating another person's flesh is seen as vile and unholy, the Maori tribes in New Zealand believed that eating a fallen enemy's flesh helps build manna, or spiritual power and prestige. Furthermore, as we view murder as sinful, the Aztecs frequently murdered people because they believe that human sacrifice pleases their gods. As one can easily tell, there are plenty of examples that prove that ethics are not really universal. If anything, they are national for it is very uncommon for two different cultures to posses the same exact moral principles. A civilization would primarily base their ethics on what they view as bad and unholy acts and what are good, just, and enlightening acts. Religion, too, can have its own ethical code that can be copied from other, newly created religions (i.e. Christian motifs in Islam).
Now I ask myself, should there be universal ethics? I honestly think that it is best to say no. Sure it would be quite beneficial in everyone's favor if everyone believed that killing is wrong, doing good acts is a necessity, it is best to see the good in people, everything must be fair, treat others the way you want to be treated, stealing is bad, cheating is bad, lying is bad, and eating meat is appalling. Though that is what my ideal world would be like, it actually sounds dull and boring to me. Where would be the conflict in everyday life? Where's all the excitement that life today holds? Where would be the balance between good and evil? Life would be bland for all we taste is goodness, not one hint of pleasure satisfying sins. That is not how life should be. Though sinful acts are bad, it makes us unique and best defines our inner wants. Also, civilizations would lose all of their unique individuality. Just imagine if the cannibals were vegetarian, the Romans didn't expand their empire, or the Aztecs didn't preform human sacrifice. Would they promote the same awe and wonder we give to them now? Would the world be the same? I think the world should remain in its non ethical, sinful ways in order for our world to retain its distinct balance between good and evil and to keep the ancient cultural mindsets intact by remembering what it is that made them different from us.
I like a lot of the points you are making, and I was thoroughly impressed with your knowlegde of other cultures to back up your statements, but I think you could be more concise in your writing. I feel as though there is a lot that you could cut out and still have an on topic, thorough response. This applies especially to the beginning of the second paragraph, you got a bit listy, which felt unnessecary especially since you had already touched on a couple of those topics in the previous statement. As for what you had to say, I think you made a good argument for your opinion.
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