A recent article in the Smithsonian magazine suggests that babies have an innate ability to recognize right from wrong, and a desire to choose good guys over bad guys.
After reading an excerpt of this article in class we discussed the idea of morality, where it comes from, and whether there is some sort of absolute moral code, or whether it is a societal construction...
Is there a clear cut, black and white, right and wrong? Or are these social standards that are developed and evolved over time? How do we decide what is right or wrong?
Most of us have experienced the urge to help a stranger when we recognize they are in trouble, so we have the ability to sympathize. Do we follow that urge? Perhaps that behavior is more linked to our upbringing, our experiences...
If we are born with the ability to recognize good from bad, does that imply that there is a moral absolute? Or are we born as a blank slate and what we perceive as right is simply social convention?
Great discussion in class with arguments on both sides.
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