Everything You Need To Know About Right vs. Wrong

Subscribe to Sea Harp-
/ @seaharp
Honor The C.S. Lewis Legacy-
/ @cs_lewis_legacy
In this excerpt from Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis explores the universal nature of morality, which he refers to as the "Law of Nature" or "Law of Human Nature." He observes that even in everyday quarrels, people appeal to a standard of behavior that they expect others to understand and uphold. This standard isn't arbitrary; it implies a mutual agreement on what constitutes right and wrong, distinct from the laws of physical nature or biology that cannot be disobeyed.
Lewis argues that this moral law suggests an innate sense of right and wrong shared across humanity. While cultures may differ in some moral interpretations, he believes the fundamental aspects of morality are consistent worldwide. He challenges the idea that moral codes are merely societal constructs by pointing out that even those who deny a universal morality often betray their belief in it through their actions.
He concludes that humans universally possess a notion of decency and right conduct but frequently fail to live up to it. This inconsistency is not just a failure to follow an arbitrary set of rules but a breach of a law deeply embedded in human nature, evidenced by the common human practice of making excuses for moral failings. Lewis uses this premise to assert the reality of a moral law, arguing that understanding and acknowledging our failures against this law is crucial for honest self-assessment and moral development.

[@gregwilkin6565]

Thank you for sharing. :)

[@diannhall7564]

Wow! I’ve read this, but listening to it really hit home. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@starfishsystems]

Yes, it's to be expected of a social species that its members will have social instincts as well as instincts which enhance their own wellbeing. It's to be expected that a species which can reason will apply reason to the puzzle of how to sort out these instincts into codes of behavior. This is how we develop a moral sense of right and wrong. MORALITY IS SUBJECTIVE. That doesn't mean it's arbitrary. The subject is our species, and we can't choose which instincts drive us. We can only try to reconcile them and anticipate the consequences when they come into conflict. This account also explains why there's individual and cultural variation in morality despite a general consensus across the species. And it explains why other species exhibit moral behaviors which have some similarities and some differences from human behaviors.

[@Loriorealestate]

If morality is subjective is torturing babies for fun wrong? You see in our world we know that is wrong in all worlds

[@Loriorealestate]

If God does not exist than objective morality does not exist but objective morality does exist thus God exist.