There is a moral responsibility to provide for the unfortunate

[M14 Shooter]

Think so?

-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

 

[saveliberty]

Yes, according to my beliefs, the Bible and who said anything about me forcing someone else to give charity?

 

[Wiseacre]

Think so?

-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

Depends on how one defines unfortunate, how one decides how much support should be given and in what form, and who gets it and for how long. And also the best way to provide aid, through the gov't or private means.

Here's another question: is it moral to borrow money for this purpose that future generations will have to pay for? How will support for future unfortunates be funded, or does anyone think this can go on forever?

 

[M14 Shooter]

Think so?
-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

Depends on how one defines unfortunate, how one decides how much support should be given and in what form, and who gets it and for how long. And also the best way to provide aid, through the gov't or private means.

Please feel free to expound on the particulars, keeping in mind the questions I asked.

 

[eflatminor]

Think so?

Sure, but that does not supersede the moral responsibility to not take what doesn't belong to you. If I rob the grocery store of its till and give some of that money to a homeless guy, I've not done the moral thing.

Theft is theft and forcing some to labor on the behalf of others, that's slavery. Both immoral.

 

[Bill Angel]

Think so?

-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

Consider the public health issue. People without access to health care can contract communicable diseases which when left untreated they can help to spread to the entire population. So what may look to be charity (society providing health care to the poor ) is really a form of enlightened self interest.

 

[M14 Shooter]

Think so?

-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

Consider the public health issue. People without access to health care can contract communicable diseases which when left untreated they can help to spread to the entire population. So what may look to be charity (society providing health care to the poor ) is really a form of enlightened self interest.

Not sure how this addresses the questions.
Please revise your response, kepping in mind all of the questions asked.

 

[there4eyeM]

It is innate in humans.

It is universal in religions.

It is common sense.

 

[M14 Shooter]

It is innate in humans.
It is universal in religions.
It is common sense.

Just so I understand:

-How so?

It is innate in humans.

-According to whom?

It is universal in religions.

-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

It is common sense.

Doesn't the Constitution prevent the state from institutionalizing religious dortrine?

 

[there4eyeM]

The poster is so eager to argue that the content is not thoroughly examined or understood.

Innate according to looking around at all cultures throughout time, as anyone with eyes can see.

Religious universality is rare and remarkable. It witnesses to the fundamental humanity of the instinct. No one said anything about forcing anything.

Perhaps the last aspect perplexes the most. One has it or not.

 

[M14 Shooter]

The poster is so eager to argue that the content is not thoroughly examined or understood.

Edited

So... According to religion, morality is inante among people?

 

[there4eyeM]

"So... According to religion, morality is inante among people?"

I think most religions would say morality is implicit in the existence of God.

It is in their interest to maintain the position of arbiter between the faithful and God (as if God could be extracted from a creation). This necessitates standardizing 'objective' codes that they and the powers that represent them can enforce.

Without such a faith, the pure subjectivity is revealed.

It was always there.

 

[M14 Shooter]

"So... According to religion, morality is inante among people?"
I think most religions would say morality is implicit in the existence of God.

Ah. Well then: prove God.

Without such a faith, the pure subjectivity is revealed.

If morality is subjective, what argument is there that it even exists?

 

[Foxfyre]

Think so?

-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

Yes, according to me, in questions 1 and 2. I don't force anybody to act according to my version of morality, except as legally required to do so as necessary to respect the rights of others, so that question is pretty well moot for me.

But the problem comes in the definition of 'what is less fortunate' and what is to be provided.

To suffer from alcoholism is definitely bad fortune, but I have no moral imperative to provide alcohol to the alcoholic.

The guy who squanders all his money at the casino is certainly unfortunate, but I have no moral imperative to restore his losses. (I might feel a personal moral imperative to buy him a hotdog if he was really hungry.)

So many things are relative and depend on the extenuating circumstances.

 

[Jackson]

Think so?

-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

The question should go further. Is it a moral responsibility to provide for the most unfortunate by the community or by the government? I say by the community.

 

[there4eyeM]

"If morality is subjective, what argument is there that it even exists?"

The answer is in your question.

 

[M14 Shooter]

Think so?

-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

The question should go further. Is it a moral responsibility to provide for the most unfortunate by the community or by the government? I say by the community.

The 3rd question touches on this.

 

[M14 Shooter]

"If morality is subjective, what argument is there that it even exists?"

The answer is in your question.

Edit. I shall look elsewhere.

 

[Againsheila]

Think so?

-How so?
-According to whom?
-Who are you to force everyone to act according to your version of morality?

The golden rule, the basic tenant of almost all religions on this planet. If you are down and out, do you want people to step on you? To treat you like garbage? No, you want them to help you get out of a bad situation. They really need to start teaching the golden rule in schools again.

 

[there4eyeM]

"I shall look elsewhere."

You are mistaken. It was a genuine and gentle response.

The answer is in you question because your understanding of the word, in using it, is a reflection of its existence. You understand it, thus, it is.