So, I’ve been chatting with my buddies lately, and it’s turned into a bunch of debates about right and wrong. I think I have a pretty solid moral compass, I’m not bragging haha, but most people I know can’t really explain why something’s right or wrong without getting all circular or contradicting themselves.

So, how do you figure out what to do? No judgment, just curious. I’ll share my thoughts below.

Thanks!

Edit: Oh, all you lil’ philosophers have brought me a cornicopia of thoughts and ideas. I’m going to take my time responding, I’m like Treebeard, never wanna be hasty.

  • Opinionhaver@feddit.ukEnglish
    82·
    1 day ago

    Honesty, fairness, integrity.

    I don’t lie - ever. Not even white lies. I might not always say what I think, but I never say something I know to be untrue.

    I treat others the way I’d want to be treated myself. Even when it comes to decisions where no one else is directly involved, I ask myself: Would the world be better or worse if everyone acted like this? If the answer is worse, I don’t do it.

    Don’t be a hypocrite. I won’t criticize others for something I’m guilty of myself - which is probably why you rarely hear me criticizing anyone at all.

    Also, I don’t believe in free will - as in the ability to have done otherwise. That’s the other reason I don’t blame people for their actions. This is something that just overall plays a huge factor in how I approach life. There are many things I see completely differently than most other people - including myself.

    A related quote: “It’s not a principle if it’s not costing you anything.”

    • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      1 day ago

      don’t lie - ever

      That can be dangerous advice in some contexts. Like if you’re an immigrant being confronted by an ICE agent, say whatever you need to say to get the fuck out of there.

      Basically if a Nazi asks if you’re a Jew, the answer is ALWAYS ‘no’ regardless of whether or not that’s true.

      I won’t criticize others for something I’m guilty of myself

      Often it takes seeing other people engaging in a habit that you share to realize or accept it’s a bad one: criticism can still be warranted and constructive, but in that case I’d own the complicity openly and direct the criticism to ‘we’. Introspection is good!

      • Opinionhaver@feddit.ukEnglish
        1·
        23 hours ago

        That can be dangerous advice in some contexts.

        There are exceptions. I don’t kill ever either, except when my life is in danger. If I can avoid physical violence by lying then it’s the lesser of two evils.

        I’d say it’s also justified when refusing to answer would reveal the truth. If you’re asked about homosexuality in a country that prohobits it for example.