Oxymoron

People do not need to have a reason to care in order to care. They just do. Or don't, as the case may be. This is not a wholly (or even mostly) intellectual exercise, it is a largely experiential one.

Intellectually, I can think of many reasons to care. My own self-interest is one. I am more likely to be treated badly if I treat others badly and though the opposite is not as as true, I know which direction I'd generally like to move in. Which leads on naturally to empathy: when I see someone hurting, I can imagine what it is like, and wouldn't wish it upon my own sorry ass, and moreover would in that situation like someone to help me out if they could.

Jamie_L

The fact that drawing the line may be difficult does not mean the line can't be or isn't drawn. Clearly, torture, rape, and murder are on the "immoral" side of the line. Saying the line is hard to draw does not in any way mean (in and of itself) that "cheating" can't be on the immoral side of the line as well.

There are many different flavors of subjectivists. Many flavors can quite justifiable be concerned about harm to others.

Jamie

meritocrat

The harm caused by rape or murder are self-evident. However if infidelity is solely wrong because it can 'harm', then why not clamp down on other actions that can 'harm'?

Loren Pechtel

Infidelity is a major case of breach of contract. What's wrong with it being treated as such?

meritocrat

Non sequitur. If you believe that morality is truly subject to one's personal feelings or viewpoint then why condemn their morality or label infidelity as being totally wrong?

Viti

meritocrat, somebody willingly enters into a social contract with another person (in this case, they agree to be monogomous), then breaches that contract...exposing their partner to STD's, diminished self esteem, loss of ability to trust that future agreements will be honored, possibly financial loss (should the cheater be spending money outside the partnership) etc.

I don't see how this can be ambiguous. I am a moral subjectivist...and to me it is immoral not to honor agreements.

meritocrat

Unless I've misunderstood the concept of moral subjectivism, your position is peculiar. How can anything be 'objectively wrong' to you?

Viti

It is subjective because it is my PERSONAL values system. Sure, some people may not think they are under any moral obligation to live up to agreements...but they will probably find that they are out of sync with the rest of society and that there are consequences (bad personal relationships and inability to do business come to mind)

meritocrat

Yes, so infidelity is only wrong by your subjective values. It is not 'absolutely wrong'.

Quote:

Sure, some people may not think they are under any moral obligation to live up to agreements...but they will probably find that they are out of sync with the rest of society and that there are consequences (bad personal relationships and inability to do business come to mind)

If morality is subjective, then a person can easily disregard 'society's' judgement, no?

The AntiChris

Try it and find out how "easy" it is.

Chris