Things that are now considered immoral acts.

[PMB917]

This stems from Ronnie proclaiming that our forefathers were committing immoral acts by owning slaves. I'm not even so sure I agree with that because I think immoral acts are objective and that was just what you did back then, and even the church didn't consider it an immoral act. Not that I condone slavery, I certainly don't. All that being said, what are other things in the past would be considered immoral acts now? And what do you think we all do now that would be considered an immoral act 100 years from now?

[midwestjeff]

Burning witches.
I mean, it's ok now but in 100 years I'm sure they'll frown on it.
Thank god I'll be dead by the time the witches take over.

[Furtherman]

And what do you think we all do now that would be considered an immoral act 100 years from now?

Worshiping gods.

[MightyWill]

Smoking is practically considered an immoral act at this point, I think it will be even more so in the future. I think it will grow to any non-healthy activity...being fat, eating poorly, not sleeping enough, ect.

[K.C.]

I would imagine a lot of future immorality lectures will revolve around the environment, and our excessive wastefulness of resources.


And, even though I'm pro-choice, it wouldn't shock me to see people look back on abortion hundreds of years from now and denounce it as immoral (about half in this country do already)...and for that matter the death penalty.


But it's a difficult hypothetical, because it's impossible to predict where society is going. Most people assume human beings will become increasingly progressive in their views. It's quite possible at some point along the line we revert back to an uber-'strongest survive' mentality, especially if resources becomes scarce in the future.

[ahhdurr]

This stems from Ronnie proclaiming that our forefathers were committing immoral acts by owning slaves. I'm not even so sure I agree with that because I think immoral acts are objective and that was just what you did back then, and even the church didn't consider it an immoral act. Not that I condone slavery, I certainly don't. All that being said, what are other things in the past would be considered immoral acts now? And what do you think we all do now that would be considered an immoral act 100 years from now?

When you say "objective" it really means "from all points of view" that is - from the point of view of timeless principal - "subjective" would refer to "one's own point of view" or in this case the point of view of all slave owners at that time - which was a subjective rationalization that 'owning' humans is ok.

This is an interesting point for me as I've recently become aware of the growing number of moral relativists - or those that believe that morality is almost arbitrary and can only be defined in time within given population. Soul Asylum puts it best by saying "the right thing changes from state to state" - now they're talking about laws that are supposedly based on a higher timeless morality but anyone who's been fucked by the law (or studied law) quickly learns that there's an element of relative justice which infers a relative morality.

I'm still a stickler for there being a basic ethic that guides humanity. I could never justify doing something I know is wrong because there might be some good comes from it or becuase I don't know the overall picture of the universe and reality and therefore cannot accurately define right/wrong. We are like gods in our consciences and fools in our intellect.

[Gvac]

I've long maintained that 100 years from now our descendants will look back at our prison systems as we view medieval torture devices.

[Furtherman]

And, even though I'm pro-choice, it wouldn't shock me to see people look back on abortion hundreds of years from now and denounce it as immoral (about half in this country do already)...

Hundreds of years from now, if we haven't perfected birth control, abortion will become a necessity because of over population. Good or evil will have nothing to do with it. Weather or not we'll be able to feed another mouth will.

Look at the history of the pacific islanders. For centuries they had controlled populations with gave them peace and prosperity. Then the catholic missionaries came, outlawed abortion, and in a generations time they were fighting for food and many island nation societies collapsed.

If logic were to prevail, hundreds of years from now people will look back on pro-life as immoral.

[Furtherman]

I've long maintained that 100 years from now our descendants will look back at our prison systems as we view medieval torture devices.

They've improved in the last 100 years, so we've got that going for us.

You can still see how we incarcerated people over 100 years ago at the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. You were put in a tiny cell with just a small opening overhead. You had a bed and bible. That's it. You were in there 23 hours a day with one hour outside, put with a hood on so you wouldn't be distracted by other prisoners. It was thought that learning god would cure what ails you. Needless to say, that didn't last very long.

[PMB917]

When you say "objective" it really means "from all points of view" that is - from the point of view of timeless principal - "subjective" would refer to "one's own point of view" or in this case the point of view of all slave owners at that time - which was a subjective rationalization that 'owning' humans is ok. .

You're absolutely right, I fucked up I meant subjective.

[Ritalin]

I've long maintained that 100 years from now our descendants will look back at our prison systems as we view medieval torture devices.

Why? What did you do?

[smiler grogan]

Those wacky Greeks and there banging young boys isn't a practice that is looked highly upon nowadays.

[PanterA]

Damn those child labor laws.

I think Dino-Baby could have made some fine sneakers.

[Bay Ridge Tim]

This stems from Ronnie proclaiming that our forefathers were committing immoral acts by owning slaves. I'm not even so sure I agree with that because I think immoral acts are objective and that was just what you did back then, and even the church didn't consider it an immoral act.

What about people who did consider slavery immoral? What do we make of them? Ben Franklin eventually renounced slavery and was even president of an abolitionist organization. Did he have super-morals? How do those opposed to slavery in 1785 fit in?

[jauble]

What about people who did consider slavery immoral? What do we make of them? Ben Franklin eventually renounced slavery and was even president of an abolitionist organization. Did he have super-morals? How do those opposed to slavery in 1785 fit in?

Wait are you suggesting that we raise super kids?

[PapaBear]

Wife beating. Kid beating, too.

[watson]

posting on a message board

[Sheeplovr]

I wish boring posts was considered a immoral act

[Reephdweller]

In the year 2000 the American Bald Eagle will be taken off the protected species list, not that is is no longer endangered but because it is a douchebag.

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[A.J.]

Those wacky Greeks and there banging young boys isn't a practice that is looked highly upon nowadays.

In the Arab world it's an open secret.

[PMB917]

What about people who did consider slavery immoral? What do we make of them? Ben Franklin eventually renounced slavery and was even president of an abolitionist organization. Did he have super-morals? How do those opposed to slavery in 1785 fit in?

That was half my point that morality tends to be subjective, where the majority or the powerful dictate it. The opposition didn't have super morals, they just thought differently and eventually had the power to change the way other peoples thought, thus changing what people thought to be moral.

[GvacMobile]

It wasn't that long ago in our history that girls were expected to be married by age 16.

[Reephdweller]

In the future the actions of people who lose their hats and complain on messageboards will be considered immoral and they will be forced to never be able to hear the word "panties" again.

[Earlshog]

I've long maintained that 100 years from now our descendants will look back at our prison systems as we view medieval torture devices.

QFT

[EliSnow]

I wish boring posts was considered a immoral act

Just be glad that society doesn't feel the same way about poor spelling.

[sailor]

Just be glad that society doesn't feel the same way about poor spelling.

sswa

[EliSnow]

sswa

You're getting the award for my favorite poster of the day.