There are generalities . For example, I believe that it is generally good to tell the truth. Yet, I can come up with specific examples in which it may be best to lie. Imagine this:
A long-time female friend and neighbor comes running and crying to your door begging and pleading for help. You let her in and she runs and hides in the closet as she explains that her husband had become very violent and is out looking for her. Just a few minutes later you hear a loud bang at your door. You see a strong and enraged man holding a high-power shotgun and axe in his hands. He knows that you are in the house and he demands to know if you know the location of his wife. What would you say to him? Would you be totally honest and forthright? In my opinion, there are very few, if any, absolutes.
Yet, I also believe that morality exists. After one knows all relevant circumstances and details in a given situation, there is the correct action and there is the incorrect action. There is practical good and bad decision out there somewhere. Yet, sometimes even when all necessary information is known, people have different opinions on how to arrive at the correct course of action and what decision to make. Each person has his own opinion. Some people try to rely exclusively on the Bible (or a different religious book) as their guide. Some people try to rely on absolute libertarianism, utilitarianism, Kantian absolutism, etc. Some people rely on something called “intuition”. Some people create their own value system and some people use a mixture of the above paths. Honestly, I don’t know if there is an ideal term for my value system. I think that it is more pragmatic utilitarianism than anything else.
