Reset Password
If you've forgotten your password, you can enter your email address below. An email will then be sent with a link to set up a new password.
Cancel
Reset Link Sent
If the email is registered with our site, you will receive an email with instructions to reset your password. Password reset link sent to:
Check your email and enter the confirmation code:
Don't see the email?
  • Resend Confirmation Link
  • Start Over
Close
If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service
Forgot password?
Blogs > redmustang91 > Wild Red Mustang thoughts!

Righteous Mind  

redmustang91 64M
Ask me for a photo
7767 posts
2/4/2015 1:18 pm

Last Read:
2/5/2015 8:27 am
Righteous Mind

Reading a new book about morality. Fascinating stuff. Long story but quite well-written and fascinating stuff.

Like the book on Fast and Slow thinking, the mind works intuitively very quickly, and can slowly figure out a rational discussion if forced to do so.

Many issues are resolved quickly by learned disgust over things that are "wrong". some make complete sense like murder or sex crimes. But others are culture specific like Orthodox Jews having taboos about menstruating women or eating shrimp, pork or meat and milk together. Roman Catholics oppose birth control other than the rhythm method, but most others do not see the harm to limiting pregnancies.

Many clever experiments show people have a quick emotional response to situations and then seek to explain their response with rational sounding reasons. Actually the reaction comes first and then the justification is made up later.

This book helps me understand many confusing aspects of human behavior. Why do some oppose gay marriage when it clearly does not harm straight marriage or harm the adopted by gay couples? The answer is some find the notion disgusting as they would or eating poop... No wonder these advocates equate gay marriage to pedophilia or marrying a or a car.

An exhibit at the Huntington Library about the 13th Amendment barring slavery in the US raised similar interesting points. The South tried to justify slavery, which is inhuman and morally outrageous, yet the debate lasted until resolved by the Civil war from 1861 to 1865. From 1789 until 1861 the US allowed slavery despite the obvious immoral nature of this practice.

Of course slavery was common in the Biblical period, and there is not one word opposed to slavery in general. The Jews objected to slavery in Egypt, but nothing about slaves of other nations or ethnic background. The New Testament and the Koran apparently do not contain an Emancipation Proclamation.... So much for organized religion as a basis for modern morality.

Empathy appears to be restricted to people of your own group, defined by race, religion or ethnic origin. The stranger is fair game all too often.

Of course some people commit affinity fraud and fleece their own religious or ethnic group as well...

Become a member to create a blog