The structure is offered under seven headings. It is hoped that this structure will evolve. If you have ideas on how it
can be improved, please contribute them.
|
|
1. What is morality?
|
It will certainly help to have a definition that is readily understood
and widely accepted.
|
|
2. Do we need morality?
|
Hopefully, reasons powerful enough to convince the sociopaths:
· Can we wait for moral codes to emerge in an evolutionary manner?
· What is the evidence that formally articulated moral codes have helped humanity in the past?
|
|
3. What moral codes are already available to people?
|
Descriptions of existing moral codes answering such questions as:
· What exactly is this moral code
· What does it give me?
· Does it seem to make sense?
· Who or what supplies it - what are their motives?
Suppliers of obvious interest are:
· Philosophers
· Political and Social Theorists
· Religions
· The Law
· Humanism
|
4. Design criteria for a secular moral code
|
A bit of a shock to those expecting tablets from on high but we are talking about
something man-made. Possible issues are:
· Is an axiomatic approach like the Triax helpful? How much should a moral code
answer all the possible questions and how much should it encourage the development
of moral judgement?
· Are there any human needs such as rituals and allegories that must be satisfied in
association with a moral code?
· How should moral codes be communicated? E.g. should they be allowed to hide in
obscure language?
· Where should the balance be struck between rigour and the size of the audience who
can understand it - how should the gaps caused by such compromise be managed?
· What should be the application scope of a moral code - all our behaviour or certain
defined aspects?
· What is the viable user scope of a moral code - individuals only or potentially
organisations as well?
|
|
5. Proposed new moral codes
|
The Backslider's Guide To Success" offers the Triax as a new moral code. If you wish to
offer some criticisms of the Triax, "click here"
but, if you are more creative and can offer an alternative, please propose it on this site.
|
|
6. How do we persuade a massive number of people to adopt a secular moral code?
|
· What are the best channels for spreading a new morality?
· What "marketing" strategies would be helpful?
· Are there any human needs such as rituals and allegories that must be satisfied
along with a moral code?
|
|
7. How do we manage to maintain a moral code as something that is helping humanity?
|
· What kind of leaders, if any, can be trusted not to pervert a moral code for their selfish ends?
· Can one manage without leaders (we would like to think so)?
· How do we prevent a moral code being hijacked by selfish individuals or
pathological human organisations?
· How do we stop people from believing that rituals and allegories are more than
human constructs?
· Do any of these considerations feed back into the design criteria for a moral code?
|
| |
