Is there a universal morality?
There are many divergent opinions on the existence of universal moral system in the world. Many people disagree on such topics as abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, animal rights, and social justices. The existence of such divergent opinions puts forth the question as to whether there is the universal moral system or not. This paper seeks to analyze the arguments and counter arguments that surround universality of morals.
Some scientists, such as Marc Hauser (2009) of Harvard University and several others claim that there is a universal moral system in the world. Hauser argues that the world tend to have a particular pattern in the responses on moral issues. For example, if one questions about killing humans, majority of the people in the world would tend to disagree stating that killing is wrong. Although killing has various definitions, the final inclination is that killing without justifiable reason is usually accepted as wrong. From this premises, therefore, Hauser proofs the existence of an innate moral code that cuts across also cultures of the world.
In addition, humans are all sentient and since morals tends to review around acts that cause pain, humans tends to universally avoid all the things that cause pain. Form these premises, then, humans would unconsciously or consciously create a similar response to situation that causes pain without justifiable reason. It is such response that leads to the formulations of what is good and what is bad. For example, social justice ought to be extended to all humans regardless of their race, culture, social-economic status, and such other factors that may lead to unfair treatment. Such a standing is acceptable by the majority of humans in the world.
However, from Hauser’s arguments and the argument above, it is very clear that humans do not agree on all moral issues. The fact that humans agree on some moral issues does not necessarily lead to universal moral code of ethics acceptable all over the world. There exists diverging opinions some of which can never be reconciled. Considering the fact that morals are obtained largely from the interactions in the society. Different interactions results in different morals. Therefore, even if humans are born with innate affiliations to some moral issues, culture influences greatly how one comes to agree and disagree on the good or bad. For example, in some regions in the world, women are not allowed to talk before men or even hold leadership positions. On other parts, women are given equal treatment and, therefore, can do all what men do. From these two scenarios, the moral inclination is culturally influenced and therefore, not universal.
In conclusion, it is event that what Hauser referred to as universal moral code is in fact universal, but that does not include all the moral aspects facing humans. It is, therefore, safe to tentatively agree that universal moral code partially exists. In particular, there are some moral aspects that are agreeable in all cultures while others differ greatly. The question arises as to whether with the changing world that all moral issues shall merge and become one. The world is experiencing culture merging as globalization is increasingly becoming evident even the remotest areas. Therefore, it is possible that as the people learn from each other and culturally exchange ideas, it is possible for the world to come up with an absolute universal code of ethics. However, it may never be all acceptable just as the discussions on ethics vary today.
Thesis statement
The existence of such divergent opinions puts forth the question as to whether there is the universal moral system or not.
- Body paragraph one
- Hauser argues there is a universal moral code
- Proves with the universal belief one some moral case such as killing
- Almost all people agree it is wrong to kill
- Second paragraph
- Humans derives moral from interaction
- Humans are sentient
- Humans hold that what causes pain is wrong
- There is a universal moral code
- Body paragraph three
- Humans do not agree on all morals
- Some moral are culture-oriented
- Therefore, there is no universal moral code
- Conclusion
- Universal moral code is partial
- It is possible for the moral code to tend to be universal due to globalization
- However, that does not mean there shall be a universal agreement, it remains tentative
Work cited
Marc Hauser. It seems biology (not religion) equals morality. 2009. Retrieved from http://edge.org/conversation/it-seems-biology-not-religion-equals-morality on October 6, 2014.
