[MD] Is Morality innate in the cosmos?

[Ham Priday]

Greetings, Heather --

Welcome to the MD.  (You must have spotted our solicition for more females.)


> This discussion between Platt, Ham, David, and others
> revolves around a fixed universe verses a free,
> dynamic universe.  Yet, the idea of morality, whether
> it is fixed in the universe or only in the realm of
> human choice, human society, doesn't seem to fit.

Your characterization of our discussion is not quite correct.  Platt and I
are not contrasting a fixed universe against a dynamic universe.  We both
agree that the universe as experienced is dynamic and evolutionary.  Our
differences concern Morality (or Value) in the universe, and we are debating
whether moral values are "designed into" the universe, independently of
mankind, or whether they are the invention of man and his society.

Mr. Pirsig's Quality ethic would seem to suggest that Quality and Morality
are really the same thing, hence exist as the "essence" of reality, whether
or not they are experienced by human beings.  I maintain that morality is a
code of behavior established by social consensus in a given culture.  This
allows every individual the freedom to choose his own values, within the
limits of the social code, rather than being "progammed" in some way by a
universal or 'cosmic' value.

In the light of that analysis, how do you see morality working in your
personal life experience?

Nice to have you aboard, Heather.

Essentially yours,
Ham



> First of all human society is in this universe.  Human
> free choice is in this universe.  Morality, humanly
> made or not, is in this universe.  So the question of
> morality being innate in the cosmos or not apparently
> is a yes, because human beings skillfully or
> unskillfully use morality as a basis for behavior
> judged by societies, their God or gods, or ancestors,
> etc...  Whether morality is only a creation of human
> beings or not is a plausible question, but as soon as
> humans have it exist, with agreement, and thus
> culturally a norm, then it exists here.  Here- is the
> universe, which I am sure of now.
>
> Spiritual Adirondack
>
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