The Philosophy Discussion Forum

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 8:43 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 8:42 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 4:25 pm

There is no "rightness," only avoiding wrongness as much as possible. We're all living in a dungeon called "the universe". We've all been condemned to live in this place. The best we can do is try to coexist peacefully with each other as best as possible. When one of us decides that the only answer is to purge the world of another, then we're not living in the reality of our condition. We're all in this dungeon together. We're all equally screwed. That is the only reality worthy of considering.

Again, what is the criterion for wrongness?
It's possible to be on a uninhabited island with no one to "peacefully coexist" with. Are there no morals on a uninhabited island?

If there is nothing else living on the Island, then why would there be any morals to follow?

EDIT: To directly answer your question: No. There are no morals for someone living on an island uninhabited by any other living beings to follow.

if you find a reason to be human even where there are no people, then be sure to let me know.

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 9:08 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 8:43 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 8:42 pm

Again, what is the criterion for wrongness?
It's possible to be on a uninhabited island with no one to "peacefully coexist" with. Are there no morals on a uninhabited island?

If there is nothing else living on the Island, then why would there be any morals to follow?

EDIT: To directly answer your question: No. There are no morals for someone living on an island uninhabited by any other living beings to follow.

if you find a reason to be human even where there are no people, then be sure to let me know.

Why would there be any reason to be at all if there were no other people or living beings in the world other than yourself? Let's ditch the stupid "Island" scenario and go right to the point.

I know you think there is a God, and you probably think that worshiping God is a "moral" duty of a person living on an island all by himself without any other living beings on it. That's fine. If you want to talk to yourself until you die of starvation, that's fine too. Or you could end your life early if you thought starvation would be more painful to suffer through than slitting your wrist with a sharpened rock. Of course, if you really think there's a God with you, then you might have to ask God if he was OK with you slitting your wrist. If God answers, then you'll know there's a God. If nothing or no one answers you back when you ask out loud, then maybe slitting your own wrist might be as good as any other alternative on an "uninhabited" Island.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 9:29 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 9:08 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 8:43 pm

If there is nothing else living on the Island, then why would there be any morals to follow?

EDIT: To directly answer your question: No. There are no morals for someone living on an island uninhabited by any other living beings to follow.

if you find a reason to be human even where there are no people, then be sure to let me know.

Why would there be any reason to be at all if there were no other people or living beings in the world other than yourself? Let's ditch the stupid "Island" scenario and go right to the point.

I know you think there is a God, and you probably think that worshiping God is a "moral" duty of a person living on an island all by himself without any other living beings on it. That's fine. If you want to talk to yourself until you die of starvation, that's fine too. Or you could end your life early if you thought starvation would be more painful to suffer through than slitting your wrist with a sharpened rock. Of course, if you really think there's a God with you, then you might have to ask God if he was OK with you slitting your wrist. If God answers, then you'll know there's a God. If nothing or no one answers you back when you ask out loud, then maybe slitting your own wrist might be as good as any other alternative on an "uninhabited" Island.

I haven't said a word about God here. I discuss the concept of God in another topic, of mine.

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 10:39 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 9:29 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 9:08 pm

if you find a reason to be human even where there are no people, then be sure to let me know.

Why would there be any reason to be at all if there were no other people or living beings in the world other than yourself? Let's ditch the stupid "Island" scenario and go right to the point.

I know you think there is a God, and you probably think that worshiping God is a "moral" duty of a person living on an island all by himself without any other living beings on it. That's fine. If you want to talk to yourself until you die of starvation, that's fine too. Or you could end your life early if you thought starvation would be more painful to suffer through than slitting your wrist with a sharpened rock. Of course, if you really think there's a God with you, then you might have to ask God if he was OK with you slitting your wrist. If God answers, then you'll know there's a God. If nothing or no one answers you back when you ask out loud, then maybe slitting your own wrist might be as good as any other alternative on an "uninhabited" Island.

I haven't said a word about God here. I discuss the concept of God in another topic, of mine.

So you don't think there's a God, or else don't know if there's a God, is that correct?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 10:42 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 10:39 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 9:29 pm

Why would there be any reason to be at all if there were no other people or living beings in the world other than yourself? Let's ditch the stupid "Island" scenario and go right to the point.

I know you think there is a God, and you probably think that worshiping God is a "moral" duty of a person living on an island all by himself without any other living beings on it. That's fine. If you want to talk to yourself until you die of starvation, that's fine too. Or you could end your life early if you thought starvation would be more painful to suffer through than slitting your wrist with a sharpened rock. Of course, if you really think there's a God with you, then you might have to ask God if he was OK with you slitting your wrist. If God answers, then you'll know there's a God. If nothing or no one answers you back when you ask out loud, then maybe slitting your own wrist might be as good as any other alternative on an "uninhabited" Island.

I haven't said a word about God here. I discuss the concept of God in another topic, of mine.

So you don't think there's a God, or else don't know if there's a God, is that correct?

I already said that I am not discussing the concept of God in this topic.

Janoah wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 12:23 am

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 10:42 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 10:39 pm

I haven't said a word about God here. I discuss the concept of God in another topic, of mine.

So you don't think there's a God, or else don't know if there's a God, is that correct?

I already said that I am not discussing the concept of God in this topic.

Fair enough. Not sure what the point of your question was regarding whether a person would have moral obligations on an uninhabited Island. Do you think you would have moral obligations on an uninhabited Island if you were that one person there? And if so, what would be one of those moral obligations?

Janoah wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 8:42 pm Are there no morals on a uninhabited island?

With that in mind...

(I don't know if these questions have been asked...)

1) Is it immoral for a human to needlessly kill animals or destroy nature?

2) If someone lacks awareness of the impact of their destructiveness, are they guilty of being immoral or ignorant?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 1:58 am

Janoah wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 12:23 am

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 10:42 pm

So you don't think there's a God, or else don't know if there's a God, is that correct?

I already said that I am not discussing the concept of God in this topic.

, what would be one of those moral obligations?

Don't lie to himself, follow to himself conscience, everywhere, both where there are people and where there are not.

Janoah wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 6:14 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 1:58 am

Janoah wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 12:23 am

I already said that I am not discussing the concept of God in this topic.

, what would be one of those moral obligations?

Don't lie to himself, follow to himself conscience, everywhere, both where there are people and where there are not.

How does a person lie to themselves? And what counts as a "lie" to oneself or is an example of it?

...by knowing subconsciously what he consciously defends himself against.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 10:07 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 6:14 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 1:58 am

, what would be one of those moral obligations?

Don't lie to himself, follow to himself conscience, everywhere, both where there are people and where there are not.

How does a person lie to themselves? And what counts as a "lie" to oneself or is an example of it?

Let's say I know that smoking cigarettes will cause cancer. But I like to smoke. So instead of paying any attention to the averages or the scientific evidence, I point to my Aunt Mathilde, who smoked constantly and died at age 101. And I insist that whatever may be true for others, it's not going to be a threat to me, because I have good genes.

Now I'm lying to myself. Very easy to do.

Morality is obvious, socially it's only ever about how you should respect others, and treat them as their own individuality requires. We live in a give and take world, and that should only ever be realized in a mutually exclusive manor, like minds and all, you know.

Privately anything goes that the group agrees to. To look in another's garden and tell them what they should grow, is FOLLY. We only have one life to live, and it's best to live our way, and let live their way.

It's really simple people. The golden rule tries to say it, but as philosophers have noted, it doesn't consider knowledge. But it still functions to initiate one on the right track. NO RELIGION IS NECESSARY! if one has a brain!

And if there really is a god, he's supposed to take care of us, one way or another, just ask Peter at the pearly gates. AND STOP TRYING TO PLAY GOD. You're not him, her, it!

I'm reminded of a song by Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World. ...FOR FEARS!!!!!!

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 10:07 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 6:14 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 1:58 am

, what would be one of those moral obligations?

Don't lie to himself, follow to himself conscience, everywhere, both where there are people and where there are not.

How does a person lie to themselves? And what counts as a "lie" to oneself or is an example of it?

to act against one's conscience is self-deception.
Try to give an example of this self-deception from your own experience. Everyone deceives themselves, so you should be able to come up with an example.

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2026 4:02 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 10:07 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 6:14 pm

Don't lie to himself, follow to himself conscience, everywhere, both where there are people and where there are not.

How does a person lie to themselves? And what counts as a "lie" to oneself or is an example of it?

Let's say I know that smoking cigarettes will cause cancer. But I like to smoke. So instead of paying any attention to the averages or the scientific evidence, I point to my Aunt Mathilde, who smoked constantly and died at age 101. And I insist that whatever may be true for others, it's not going to be a threat to me, because I have good genes.

Now I'm lying to myself. Very easy to do.

How do you know you are lying to yourself? If your Aunt Methilde smoked constantly and lived to be 101, then how do you know that wouldn't also be true of you?

Janoah wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2026 9:27 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 10:07 pm

Janoah wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2026 6:14 pm

Don't lie to himself, follow to himself conscience, everywhere, both where there are people and where there are not.

How does a person lie to themselves? And what counts as a "lie" to oneself or is an example of it?

to act against one's conscience is self-deception.
Try to give an example of this self-deception from your own experience. Everyone deceives themselves, so you should be able to come up with an example.

If one is on an island without other living beings on it, then there is no such thing as "conscience". There's nothing to harm. There would be no such thing as deceiving yourself, only doing whatever you wanted to do because you'll die anyway without other living beings in your world. So "all bets are off" under those circumstances. Morality is pointless in a world without living beings. It doesn't exist.