Do morals actually exist, or are they just an idea in our head? How would you define morality?
I've been reading a little bit lately about nihilistic ideals, and one of them as I understand is the idea that morality doesn't really exist in humanity. Let me explain;
I used to think I was a decent person, following a strict unwritten code of morality that has been formed in my belief system over the years. But lately I'm questioning if I am or ever was moral or 'good' in the first place. Am I even capable of being moral or just? I don't know anymore.
For example, I'll save an insect or animal that I don't want to kill directly in front of me because I feel bad, than eat a ham sandwich that I bought at the store without a second thought. I'll clean up a mess or take out the garbage, and then drive a car to work that burns fossil fuels and pollutes the earth. I feel I save or help something in one area and then destroy in another based on my unique moral compass, and that makes me a hypocrite. Save a horse but eat a cow, say 'I love you' to someone then say 'I hate you' to someone else, tell the truth here but then tell a lie over there. Do you get what I'm trying to say? How can I be moral if I do both? If I'm required to do both depending on the situation, just to live?
"Thou shall not kill" This is a perfect example to me. "Though shall not kill"... ok so not kill what? Ever? Or if it suits my needs, then it's ok? How does that make sense? If it were true that killing is never ok, than anyone who's ever killed someone in a war, ever killed or ate another living thing, ever swatted a mosquito, or anyone who's pretty much ever lived or breathed on this planet is immoral. "Thou shall not kill" is too vague of a statement is what I'm saying, as it leaves out alot. Yet humans use this logic all the time to justify certain things.
If you've noticed, right now in the United States and many parts of the globe are filled with all sorts of humans who think 'I'm right' and 'They're wrong', but based on what? We're sitting here arguing and tearing each other apart constantly because no one can seem to agree with what's moral and what's not. And I say, maybe it's because morality is just an ideal, an unrealistic thought for humans to achieve because morality is an abstract opinion based on an individual's unique circumstances.
So, I bring up this debate in terms of suicide that if this is the case, then I don't want to be human. This adds to my suicidal thought because I don't want to live this way, constantly fighting with others about 'what's right and what's not', and all the hatred and conflict that comes from it. Am I making any sense here, do you understand or feel this also? I don't want to be immoral by just being alive, or think that I am moral and good without any real proof. What do you think?
I've been reading a little bit lately about nihilistic ideals, and one of them as I understand is the idea that morality doesn't really exist in humanity. Let me explain;
I used to think I was a decent person, following a strict unwritten code of morality that has been formed in my belief system over the years. But lately I'm questioning if I am or ever was moral or 'good' in the first place. Am I even capable of being moral or just? I don't know anymore.
For example, I'll save an insect or animal that I don't want to kill directly in front of me because I feel bad, than eat a ham sandwich that I bought at the store without a second thought. I'll clean up a mess or take out the garbage, and then drive a car to work that burns fossil fuels and pollutes the earth. I feel I save or help something in one area and then destroy in another based on my unique moral compass, and that makes me a hypocrite. Save a horse but eat a cow, say 'I love you' to someone then say 'I hate you' to someone else, tell the truth here but then tell a lie over there. Do you get what I'm trying to say? How can I be moral if I do both? If I'm required to do both depending on the situation, just to live?
"Thou shall not kill" This is a perfect example to me. "Though shall not kill"... ok so not kill what? Ever? Or if it suits my needs, then it's ok? How does that make sense? If it were true that killing is never ok, than anyone who's ever killed someone in a war, ever killed or ate another living thing, ever swatted a mosquito, or anyone who's pretty much ever lived or breathed on this planet is immoral. "Thou shall not kill" is too vague of a statement is what I'm saying, as it leaves out alot. Yet humans use this logic all the time to justify certain things.
If you've noticed, right now in the United States and many parts of the globe are filled with all sorts of humans who think 'I'm right' and 'They're wrong', but based on what? We're sitting here arguing and tearing each other apart constantly because no one can seem to agree with what's moral and what's not. And I say, maybe it's because morality is just an ideal, an unrealistic thought for humans to achieve because morality is an abstract opinion based on an individual's unique circumstances.
So, I bring up this debate in terms of suicide that if this is the case, then I don't want to be human. This adds to my suicidal thought because I don't want to live this way, constantly fighting with others about 'what's right and what's not', and all the hatred and conflict that comes from it. Am I making any sense here, do you understand or feel this also? I don't want to be immoral by just being alive, or think that I am moral and good without any real proof. What do you think?
