Freethought & Rationalism Archive

BapFlap · 06-24-2002, 03:55 PM

Are human rights a form of secular morality, that is akin to the ten commandments?

pug846 · 06-24-2002, 04:02 PM

No.

Mageth · 06-24-2002, 04:04 PM

Nein, Herr BapFlap.

BapFlap · 06-24-2002, 05:48 PM

But why?

Christopher Lord · 06-24-2002, 06:09 PM

Because moral codes are always amoral in at least a few situations. Nothing is always wrong no matter what, till the end of the universe.

phaedrus · 06-24-2002, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BapFlap:
<strong>Are human rights a form of secular morality, that is akin to the ten commandments?</strong>

Are you asking whether human rights are carved in stone and are the all encompassing laws which ought to be follwed by all and sundry?

BapFlap · 07-09-2002, 12:10 PM

I want to know if it is written in stone, yeah, kind of like the ten commandments. The reason I ask that question is because you have a buch of republicans out there such as Rush that say that the constitution and the bill of rights are derived from morality and thus can never be changed, or violated.

Blake · 07-09-2002, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BapFlap:
I want to know if it is written in stone, yeah, kind of like the ten commandments. The reason I ask that question is because you have a buch of republicans out there such as Rush that say that the constitution and the bill of rights are derived from morality and thus can never be changed, or violated.

Thanks for posting this clarification; the initial question confused me.

To address the background first, Rush & the other republicans you're referring to are simply wrong. There's an amendment mechanism within the Constitution itself to change it, and the Constitution has been violated so many times over the years it's amazing anyone still believes in its lawgiving power. As for their being "derived from morality," well, that proposition confuses me too, but if they mean from some "natural" scheme of morality that everyone simply knows, they're wrong there too. The American constitution was derived from a very long, rich cultural tradition, as updated by the men who wrote it.

Blake

Viti · 07-09-2002, 02:51 PM

And since when is Rush and the boys above changing or re-interpreting ANYTHING>

Keith Russell · 07-10-2002, 07:16 AM

Greetings:

The same actions can be 'right' or 'wrong' depending on the situation, it's true.

Yet, the way to determine which action(s) is right or wrong in a given situation is not subjective or arbitrary.

There are moral principles which can be recognized, and applied consistently, objectively, and rationally, in all situations.

This is why one should use reason to discern the principle involved in a given situation, not dogma to memorize a set of intrinsic, inflexible, arbitrary 'rules'.

Keith.

06-24-2002, 03:55 PM	#1
BapFlap Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 9	Human rights, morality? Are human rights a form of secular morality, that is akin to the ten commandments?

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06-24-2002, 04:02 PM	#2
pug846 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1,587	No.

06-24-2002, 04:04 PM	#3
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Nein, Herr BapFlap.

06-24-2002, 05:48 PM	#4
BapFlap Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 9	But why?

06-24-2002, 06:09 PM	#5
Christopher Lord Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 808	Because moral codes are always amoral in at least a few situations. Nothing is always wrong no matter what, till the end of the universe.

07-09-2002, 12:10 PM	#7
BapFlap Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 9	I want to know if it is written in stone, yeah, kind of like the ten commandments. The reason I ask that question is because you have a buch of republicans out there such as Rush that say that the constitution and the bill of rights are derived from morality and thus can never be changed, or violated.

07-09-2002, 02:51 PM	#9
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	And since when is Rush and the boys above changing or re-interpreting ANYTHING>

07-10-2002, 07:16 AM	#10
Keith Russell Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 1,336	Greetings: The same actions can be 'right' or 'wrong' depending on the situation, it's true. Yet, the way to determine which action(s) is right or wrong in a given situation is not subjective or arbitrary. There are moral principles which can be recognized, and applied consistently, objectively, and rationally, in all situations. This is why one should use reason to discern the principle involved in a given situation, not dogma to memorize a set of intrinsic, inflexible, arbitrary 'rules'. Keith.

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