A Discussion on Ethics Options

[DoomedOne]

Due to the flame war I started in the Coffee Shop (more like a flame execution) by merely discussing my day, I think it's clear something of this magnitude should be given it's own topic, so here it is.

I'll give some rules:

No flaming and no disrespect. All standard forum rules hold here. This is a thread for people's personal discussions on ethics and justification for their actions. I know people can feel very strongly about these sorts of things but no one has the right to insult or attack people instead of their ideas. Also, for those being attacked, remember don't mistake an attack on your ideas as an attack on you.

So this was spawned due to this idea: Is there any justification in stealing?

[Black Hand]

Since you asked.......

My personal opinion is between the maintenance of the social order and the understanding that all ethics and morality are HUMAN designs.

The social order was designed so the weak may live with the strong and that all humans supposedly are given equal chances within a society, rather than be at the mercy of predators and natural phenomena. This thinking is further reinforced by emotional damaging given early in life with the concepts of right and wrong, good and evil.

However, I know that these things are only that. Concepts. Everyone who says that stealing is always wrong no matter the circumstance are merely voicing an opinion. Same as me.

If I were broke and had'nt eaten in days, I would steal to eat. That is not stealing, that is called survival. Just as if a person attacked with intent to kill me, I would do everything in my power to defend myself up to and including killing the other person. That is not murder, that is self-defense.

Stealing arbitrarily for no reason other than to possess a material object that serves no purpose other than having it, well, I don't like being stole from, so I do not steal from others. Simple as that. It's called respect and it goes a long way.

But as for the people who want me to believe in the concept of right and wrong, good and evil, sin and salvation, I don't beleive in these things any more than I do the tooth fairy or Santa Claus, as none of these things truly exist.