My thoughts are leaning towards an understanding of morality as something which evolves over time, as a society's needs change. For example, what we see in growing agricultural society with high child mortality are moral codes that resemble those of the Biblical Old Testament. In a society of that sort, one who withholds one's reproductive capacity is "sinning" against society. This environment favors polygamy, slavery, compulsory heterosexuality, etc. An urban society has much different reproductive needs and so urban sexual morality looks much more different -- more like modern morality, or that of ancient Athens.
A similar analysis could be made regarding the ethics of something like suicide or euthanasia. Suicide is seen as an honorable option in imperial urban societies like Rome or Japan.
And so on.
I'm wondering if there's a way to capture all of these under the umbrella of a single consequentialist or utilitarian ethics.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2003-10-28 11:38 am (UTC)A similar analysis could be made regarding the ethics of something like suicide or euthanasia. Suicide is seen as an honorable option in imperial urban societies like Rome or Japan.
And so on.
I'm wondering if there's a way to capture all of these under the umbrella of a single consequentialist or utilitarian ethics.