The Philosophy Discussion Forum

popeye1945 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 23, 2026 8:56 am

osgart wrote: ↑Sun Aug 23, 2026 1:07 am

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Fri Aug 21, 2026 9:00 pm
Then psychopaths are "moral"? Their "inner experience of conscience" remains unbothered by anything they do. So they must be as moral as anybody else, right?

That doesn't follow that psychopaths are moral from what I said. Psychopaths don't experience conscience or completely reject it.

Conscience is where morality begins. Immorality is ignoring or rejecting conscience.

Conscience, you say, and where does that come from? You should keep in mind that all things are process. Where there is no identification with the self of others, compassion does not arise, and compassion is conscience. That process is the foundation of any society or civilization. Our common biology is the rational foundation of morality and society. Where morality is projected outward to a religious superstition, morality is then once removed from reality. Morality is about the survival and well-being of the individual self and a community through an expanded concept of the self; that is where identifying with the self in others comes in.

osgart wrote: ↑Sun Aug 23, 2026 9:18 am

popeye1945 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 23, 2026 8:56 am

osgart wrote: ↑Sun Aug 23, 2026 1:07 am

That doesn't follow that psychopaths are moral from what I said. Psychopaths don't experience conscience or completely reject it.

Conscience is where morality begins. Immorality is ignoring or rejecting conscience.

Conscience, you say, and where does that come from? You should keep in mind that all things are process. Where there is no identification with the self of others, compassion does not arise, and compassion is conscience. That process is the foundation of any society or civilization. Our common biology is the rational foundation of morality and society. Where morality is projected outward to a religious superstition, morality is then once removed from reality. Morality is about the survival and well-being of the individual self and a community through an expanded concept of the self; that is where identifying with the self in others comes in.

Well, I'll agree compassion is conscience and a virtue also. Any meanings of good character is a virtue. Good qualities invoke compassion in the good of people. I'm an atheist and I practice no religion. Animals and humans have a vital characteristic each I call soul.

Morality is about virtues and they are the standards of goodness. Morality protects self-interest, but it goes deeper then that. Morality isn't driven by necessity it covers it, and protects it out of genuine care. Care being a virtue. Deserve compels all virtues.
There is actual deserve and perceived deserve, natural deserve and earned deserve.

popeye1945 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 23, 2026 6:59 pm

osgart wrote: ↑Sun Aug 23, 2026 9:18 am

popeye1945 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 23, 2026 8:56 am

Conscience, you say, and where does that come from? You should keep in mind that all things are process. Where there is no identification with the self of others, compassion does not arise, and compassion is conscience. That process is the foundation of any society or civilization. Our common biology is the rational foundation of morality and society. Where morality is projected outward to a religious superstition, morality is then once removed from reality. Morality is about the survival and well-being of the individual self and a community through an expanded concept of the self; that is where identifying with the self in others comes in.

Well, I'll agree compassion is conscience and a virtue also. Any meanings of good character is a virtue. Good qualities invoke compassion in the good of people. I'm an atheist and I practice no religion. Animals and humans have a vital characteristic each I call soul.

Morality is about virtues and they are the standards of goodness. Morality protects self-interest, but it goes deeper then that. Morality isn't driven by necessity it covers it, and protects it out of genuine care. Care being a virtue. Deserve compels all virtues.
There is actual deserve and perceived deserve, natural deserve and earned deserve.

As I said above, all is process. The expanded concept of the self is the collective self in the group, society, or pack.