420rolex t1_iujfn0s wrote on October 31, 2022 at 7:58 PM

It’s conceptual, subjective, and largely relative. Morality is nothing without the human mind, it’s a concept, it does not exist in nature or universally. We think it up and have our own opinions, thus it is relative and purely conceptual. The concept of morality would/will die with the end of mankind.

Laura0202334 t1_iujicdw wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:16 PM

This is the best explanation

NicNoletree t1_iujogqa wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:58 PM

Fairness is a product of moral judgement - we determine what is morally right, and what is morally wrong.

With that in mind, consider this: Scientists have discovered, through an inequity aversion task, that animals are able to detect unfairness and wrongful actions: https://www.oipa.org/international/animals-sense-of-fairness

Lama_adventuures t1_iujjdhe wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:23 PM

I'm curious if morality exists apart from mankind inventing it; for example, would murder potentially be considered acceptable? I mean, there's something innate in humans that instantly perceives certain things or actions as immoral when they hear about them.

That cannot be merely humanly conceived, religion or no religion.

raz0rflea t1_iujl4ir wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:35 PM

Murder is definitely acceptable to some people in some circumstances - I would have no moral issue killing a stranger if it's the only way to stop them from killing someone I love.

I understand not everyone has that same viewpoint, but these are decisions we make as people, it's not like there's a quantifiable objective truth when it comes to morality.

SteamboatMcGee t1_iujm6v8 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:42 PM

But we do often consider murder acceptable already. A lot of soldiers in wartime are religious, for instance, and the death penalty is not the sole work of athiests.

Top-Royal6249 t1_iujkn8v wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:32 PM

It's not that mankind "invents" it, as if everyone gathers around a table and talks out what is moral and what isn't, it's that we evolved as social/tribal animals, whereby empathy was evolutionarily advantageous, which is why most of us have an aversion to things like murdering people, hurting others, etc. We see senses of empathy/"morality" even in lab mice.

Yes, it is conceivable/possible that humanity could continue to evolve, and somehow lose our social/tribal instincts, thus no longer naturally find murder to be wrong to do, but I would highly doubt that would ever happen.