Reply #25: But I think the original point [View All]

[tkmorris]

The original point is that people all too often do NOT act out what they profess to believe. Further, that different, and sometimes diametrically opposed beliefs can lead to equally moral actions. It was interesting to me that a later poster pointed out the lack of any real a priori "morally correct" action, and I think that is an important distinction from the original post. It is possible for different individuals or groups of people to behave in ways that are at odds with one another while each is being true to the belief system they have developed and feel to be morally correct.

Again, an important point is made there. Since there is not any universal "correct" answer to what constitutes moral behavior, a moral absolute which exists prior to and exclusive of the individual, the judgement must be left to the individual.

Again though, belief does NOT always translate into appropriate action. If I believed that it did I would be forced to admit that there are far more people in this world who believe as say Ayn Rand does than I believe there are. I find that "enlightened self-interest" view of the world to be absolutely repugnant. I believe rather that many if not most of the people who in my view are acting in immoral ways do so not because they are true to their belief but instead are examples of human beings ability to self delude, and thus betray their own professed beliefs by acting in ways that are inconsistent with them.