Is it easy to "centrally plan" morality?

[fakename]

I noticed that unlike economic phenomena, morality is attainable by only one method. Therefore, there can be no objection to morality being planned and commanded by a central authority (a gov. as we know it); for in morals the old aphorism “there are many ways to skin a cat” is not true but rather the path to goodness is a narrow road with no alternatives. And because there are no alternatives, there are no problems worrying if one method of bettering people is less or more costly than another method -for there are no other methods period. So therefore, is it easy to use fiat to plan out what is good for a whole group of individuals and (by implication) for each individual?

However, if there is an overlap between the complexity of economics and the seeming simplicity of practical ethics, then what would that be? Is it because ethics are fluctuating and differentiated by circumstance or conscience or what?

 

[Regina_Love]

The Ten Commandments

 

[paduard]

The Ten Commandments

You just beat me to it.

 

[Pugsly]

I noticed that unlike economic phenomena, morality is attainable by only one method. Therefore, there can be no objection to morality being planned and commanded by a central authority (a gov. as we know it); for in morals the old aphorism “there are many ways to skin a cat” is not true but rather the path to goodness is a narrow road with no alternatives. And because there are no alternatives, there are no problems worrying if one method of bettering people is less or more costly than another method -for there are no other methods period. So therefore, is it easy to use fiat to plan out what is good for a whole group of individuals and (by implication) for each individual?

However, if there is an overlap between the complexity of economics and the seeming simplicity of practical ethics, then what would that be? Is it because ethics are fluctuating and differentiated by circumstance or conscience or what?

We have trouble planning for a family of 5…and yet there are people in America who think you can micro-manage utopian solutions for 300 million souls?

 

[Pugsly]

I noticed that unlike economic phenomena, morality is attainable by only one method. Therefore, there can be no objection to morality being planned and commanded by a central authority (a gov. as we know it); for in morals the old aphorism “there are many ways to skin a cat” is not true but rather the path to goodness is a narrow road with no alternatives. And because there are no alternatives, there are no problems worrying if one method of bettering people is less or more costly than another method -for there are no other methods period. So therefore, is it easy to use fiat to plan out what is good for a whole group of individuals and (by implication) for each individual?

However, if there is an overlap between the complexity of economics and the seeming simplicity of practical ethics, then what would that be? Is it because ethics are fluctuating and differentiated by circumstance or conscience or what?

Leftism is a fear-based philosophy that seeks to control what it perceives as “dangerous”.

Since Leftism begins with the premise that there is no God…it fears the manipulations of people. Therefore, Leftism talks of “equality” but seeks to control first and foremost.

Your point about central planning morality, is exactly what Leftist seek to accomplish. The problem is that when the world has no OVERARCHING MORALITY (because Leftism excludes God from public life) then Leftists are always looking for that Empathetic Leader who (will not Manipulate but Love us) dictate our utopia into existence.

“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” Obama

 

[ThinkingSapien]

The Ten Commandments

I don’t think that’s going to be sufficient. The first 4 commandments under the protestant number, or the first 3 under the catholic numbering deal with worship. There were attempts to make laws to help enforcing those in the USA (see Blue Laws) but they were largely unsuccessful and in some cases unenforceable. The moral decisions that some one makes in a day often deal with concerns that are not addressed by the ten commandments.

Also a decree by itself probably won’t be enough. Looking at law as an example if one declares that a certain action is illegal or that one is obligated to perform certain actions then people in general might not pay attention to it unless there’s an incentive or threat attached to it. There may be some other way of winning over the hearts of the people, but I don’t think that will be it.

 

[Bob_Aliano]

The moral decisions that some one makes in a day often deal with concerns that are not addressed by the ten commandments.

This is only true if limited to the precise wording in the commandment; the reality is all aspects of morality and ethical behavior are contained in and governed by the Ten Commandments.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

A centrally planned morality is what we have in the Catholic Church. But for those outside the Catholic Church a central authority for morals is difficult to find. Were the government to become the central authority for morals, and the government taken over by atheists, there would certainly be a different kind of authority than the world has ever seen, because most nations have governed on the principle of morals coming from God, not men. The USSR under the atheist Stalin is an example of what might happen. Apparently that did not work, given the atrocities committed during the Stalinist era and the repudiation of Stalin by the Russians ever since.