"Inter Deum et Diabolum." Things of the day, and HellBlazer

[wolven7]

Veruca Salt - [25]--- I like watching people try to suss out Normative Moral Relativism. Their heads look like they're about to explode, when they realise that Genocide and the unmittigated slaughter of innocents is protected, by not being able to judge a culture other than your own. And when they get to the part that says that the culture to which they belong can't be questioned, because it is the source of Normative Morals, they start thinking that maybe it's not such a Good Idea.

Morals work like this: Your society places restrictions and limitations on your behaviour, and those are then your ethical rules. These restrictions and limitations often seem arbitrary, but are usually for the betterment of the majority of the society, such that utility and happiness are maximised. This is not always "fair." Now, when the cultural moral values of some other group impinge upon our own, or those of someone else, close to us, almost every culture finds it within our rights to try to put a stop to it. (Jack Off Jill - [When I Am Queen]). Hence we have wars. Because, when we're honest, we see as a matter of basic fact that those around us hold different things to be important. They simply do, and if we wanted them all to be like us, then we have some very hypocritical notions of freedom, to work out.

So, now that we see that moral rules, as a whole, tend to get people into things like holy wars, and skirmishes of that nature, we must distinguish them from Ethics.

Flogging Molly - [Whistles the Wind]--- In ethics, we find the set of personal preferences and codes of conduct which will allow us to get by, most easily, in the world, with the least harm done, in the areas where we don't want to see harm. Done. We abide by that code, and do the harm that needs to be done, while minimising what damage we can.

Ethics, in short, are more honest, than Morals.

You will never, in the entire world, find a moral code that fits you perfectly. Not ever. Unless you live in a society of your own clones. (Björk& Current 93 - [You Only Live Twice]). Which could be fun. Anyway my point is that your ethics are Your Ethics. If you don't like them, you change them, until they suit you. Simple. They're still yours. But we have a bit of a problem here, don't we? What could possibly be wrong with the Perfect system i've laid out for you, you may ask?

You live in a world with other people.

Ethics will get your agenda but so far, if you and the people around you don't start building some sort of contracts, some kind of agreed-upon set of rules, and modes of behaviour. You see where this is heading. So! The Solution is obivious. Never allow the moral codes of a people to be static. They are not carved in stone, because they all are. They're too rigid to allow any progress (Moral Relativism doesn't allow for that, either; only change), so we have to make them more flexible. (Loreena McKennitt - [Prospero's Speech]). Kind of like making Titanium alloy.

Anywho, i'm done ranting about Ethics, for now.

Today, after spending a few hours with mech_angel and jenniebreeden, in the latter's place of business, I picked up the newest HellBlazer trade paperback. It's so fucking awesome. Mike Carey is a writing God. I'm sorry to see him gone, now... Pick up the HellBlazer trades, when you've got a little extra cash, about; you'll be glad of it.

Does anyone else smell french toast?

Comments

[unknownbinaries.livejournal.com]

Huh...It may be the beer talking, but.......

Ethics build Morals, Morals build Law, and the differences in them all allow the breathing room so most can get along fine, day-to-day. It's all about scale.

Neeeat.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but they don't do it naturally. They have the ability to do so, but they have to be worked at. People tend to think morals can be left alone, written down, and always the same. Not true.