Ethics: Whats the point?

2ndRateMind · Post by **2ndRateMind** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 6:17 am

So, what is the point of ethics? Why shouldn't we all live greedy, selfish lives and let the devil take the hindmost?

I would argue there are three main reasons to be ethical:

1) An ethical society is a better society to live in.
2) An ethical person is a happier, more fulfilled person.
3) An ethical person is 'saved', in the religious sense of salvation.

It does strike me though, that we need to sort out amongst ourselves the point of being ethical, even before we attempt to discuss what ethical behaviour might be. Though each informs the other, I think one needs to start out with a transparent agenda.

Any comments, welcome.

Best wishes, 2RM.

2ndRateMind · Post by **2ndRateMind** » Sat May 18, 2019 3:12 am

mgb wrote: [quote="2ndRateMind"
What's the point of ethics? To live a good life, well. Or so it seems to me.

Best wishes, 2RM.

mgb wrote:What if your moral character is tested? To the limit?

As it happens, I've been there, done that, got that T shirt. I ended up in the mental ward of hospital. The truth is that God is testing all our moral characters, all the time. It's a significant component of what life is all about. We may pass or fail such testing. If we pass, we face a more difficult test, next time. If we fail, we get another chance to take the same test, later, when we are perhaps, a little older, wiser, and stronger in our characters.

Best wishes, 2RM.

2ndRateMind · Post by **2ndRateMind** » Sat May 18, 2019 5:05 am

mgb · Post by **mgb** » Sat May 18, 2019 5:57 am

2ndRateMind wrote:
mgb wrote: [quote="2ndRateMind"
What's the point of ethics? To live a good life, well. Or so it seems to me.

Best wishes, 2RM.

mgb wrote:What if your moral character is tested? To the limit?
As it happens, I've been there, done that, got that T shirt. I ended up in the mental ward of hospital. The truth is that God is testing all our moral characters, all the time. It's a significant component of what life is all about. We may pass or fail such testing. If we pass, we face a more difficult test, next time. If we fail, we get another chance to take the same test, later, when we are perhaps, a little older, wiser, and stronger in our characters.

Best wishes, 2RM.

I'm glad you are doing well now. Like Hemmingway said 'Courage is grace under pressure.'

2ndRateMind · Post by **2ndRateMind** » Sat May 18, 2019 11:58 am

[Replying to post 53 by mgb]

Thank you for that kind remark.

Best wishes, 2RM.