What would be your first commandment or tenet of absolute morality?

What would be your first commandment or tenet of absolute morality?

In comparing various moral codes and regardless of whether you think morality is subjective of objective; what is your choice for the first commandment?

Jesus proposed that the big 10 could be phrased in 2 and placed them in the sequence he thought was the most important. George Carlin also came up with 2 and did the same.

I do not agree with either of their first tenets as worded and wondered what most people would think is the most important tenet.

I rather like the fist tenet shown here but think it rather vague and in need of refinement.

blog.ted.com...

What would be your first commandment and why?

While you ponder this question, please enjoy some comedy.

www.youtube.com...

Regards
DL

Only need one "Treat people how you want to be treated" If we all did that the world would be a better place.

reply to post by Greatest I am


Thou shall not steal.

You can steal a life when you kill.
Steal a liveliyhood when you rob.
You can steal away someone's right to vote.
Someone's right to speak.
Someone's right to own a gun.
You can steal someone's dreams by enacting legislation that bars someone from living freely.
You can steal someone's future when you harm.
You can steal someone's faith when you deny them the right to worship.

Hello,
I would have to say...."Have no ill intent towards others".
Our actions can be perceived by others in many different ways...but the important consideration is the "intention" behind our actions.
I do believe in treating others as I wish to be treated....but I also never intentionally cause another human (or animal) any harm.
Interesting thread....hope others will reply.
jacygirl
S&F

Be excellent to each other.

Originally posted by boymonkey74
Only need one "Treat people how you want to be treated" If we all did that the world would be a better place.

An excellent choice but some have thrown people like S & M in there and can create an argument for their tastes and in that sense it would not be absolute.

Is there a command that one could not argue against?

Regards
DL

Originally posted by beezzer
reply to post by Greatest I am

 

Thou shall not steal.

Steal a liveliyhood when you rob.

Good reasoning but ---

We live in an evolving world where we have to compete to survive.

When you last competed for a job/livelihood, you did in a sense rob the losers of that competition for the job.
You could not help doing so, so your commandment FMPOV is unworkable.

Regards
DL

Originally posted by jacygirl
Hello,
I would have to say...."Have no ill intent towards others".
Our actions can be perceived by others in many different ways...but the important consideration is the "intention" behind our actions.
I do believe in treating others as I wish to be treated....but I also never intentionally cause another human (or animal) any harm.
Interesting thread....hope others will reply.
jacygirl

S&F

edit on 16-3-2013 by jacygirl because: Added S&F for OP

Not too shabby thinking but if you read the post just above you will see that you can still knowingly and consciously do much harm as you have to accept that you are harming even if you do not want to. The fact that you want to because you have to survive puts you-----

www.youtube.com...

Regards
DL

Originally posted by watchitburn
Be excellent to each other.

An S & M might have quite a different view of excellent.

Good reasoning but ---

We live in an evolving world where we have to compete to survive.

When you last competed for a job/livelihood, you did in a sense do the un-excellent the losers of that competition for the job.

You could not help doing an un-excellent thing to the loser of your competition, so your commandment FMPOV is unworkable.

Regards
DL

reply to post by Greatest I am


Do to others as you would have done to yourself.

OR:

Be free.....liberate.

reply to post by Greatest I am


I need only one.

Do anything you want in life as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, including yourself.

Click here for more information.

reply to post by Greatest I am


My first commandment would be service to others.

Originally posted by Greatest I am

Originally posted by jacygirl
Hello,
I would have to say...."Have no ill intent towards others".
Our actions can be perceived by others in many different ways...but the important consideration is the "intention" behind our actions.
I do believe in treating others as I wish to be treated....but I also never intentionally cause another human (or animal) any harm.
Interesting thread....hope others will reply.
jacygirl

S&F

edit on 16-3-2013 by jacygirl because: Added S&F for OP

Not too shabby thinking but if you read the post just above you will see that you can still knowingly and consciously do much harm as you have to accept that you are harming even if you do not want to. The fact that you want to because you have to survive puts you-----

www.youtube.com...

Regards
DL

Hmmm....had to think about that.
I still stand by my words though....my intention is NEVER to knowingly and consciously harm another being.
If my actions unintentionally hurt someone....it was not my intent. If I become aware of the fact that my actions hurt someone, then I can intentionally try to remedy the situation.
If I hurt someone....and never am aware of it....I cannot change it.
I consciously choose not to hurt/harm. I believe that it is my intention that matters.
jacygirl

#1 ... do not allow yourself to be misled.

"Love, and do as you will." ~ St. Augustine

Originally posted by tadaman
reply to post by Greatest I am

 

Do to others as you would have done to yourself.

OR:

Be free.....liberate.

edit on 16-3-2013 by tadaman because: (no reason given)

An S & M might have quite a different view of what should be done to himself and others.

Good reasoning but ---

We live in an evolving world where we have to compete to survive.

When you last competed for a job/livelihood, you did in a sense do evil or harm to the losers of that competition for the job.

You could not help doing this harm to the loser of your competition, so your commandment FMPOV is unworkable.

If you would have done unto him what you would want done to you, you would have let him win.

Regards
DL

Originally posted by jiggerj
reply to post by Greatest I am

 

I need only one.

Do anything you want in life as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, including yourself.

Not bad but you cannot help but do harm. Let me repeat from above.

An S & M might have quite a different view of what should be done to himself and others.

Good reasoning but ---

We live in an evolving world where we have to compete to survive.

When you last competed for a job/livelihood, you did in a sense do evil or harm to the losers of that competition for the job.

You could not help doing this harm to the loser of your competition, so your commandment FMPOV is unworkable.

If you would have done unto him what you would want done to you, you would have let him win.

Regards
DL

Click here for more information.

Originally posted by NOTurTypical
reply to post by Greatest I am

 

My first commandment would be service to others.

A variant of do unto others.

Not bad but you cannot help but do harm. Let me repeat from above.

An S & M might have quite a different view of what should be done to himself and others.



We live in an evolving world where we have to compete to survive.

When you last competed for a job/livelihood, you did in a sense do evil or harm to the losers of that competition for the job.

You could not help doing this harm to the loser of your competition, so your commandment FMPOV is unworkable.

If you would have done unto him what you would want done to you, you would have let him win.

Regards
DL