Reasons
These same morals that pervade human society can also be seen to some extent in the animal kingdom. This gives some credence to the idea that some moral codes are innate. Parents rear their children because it gives them a greater chance of success in their children surviving to adulthood and thus passing on the genes of the parent to future generations. the murder of useful members of society weakens the society as it hurts the citizen who committed the crime as well. Incest reduces chances of reproductive success, and therefore is not beneficial for passing on genes. Using this biological argument, anything that decreased chances of reproductive success would thus be seen as unethical or deviant, while anything that increased the chance of reproductive success would be seen as ethical.
Read more about this topic: Universal Code (ethics)
Famous quotes containing the word reasons:
“Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice. His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff; you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Write to the point: say immediately what you want to say most, even if it doesn’t “come first.” There are three reasons for doing this. First, you will then have said it, even if nothing else gets said. Second, your readers will then have read it, even if they read no more. Third, having said it, you are likely to have to say something more, because you will have to explain and justify what you chose to say.”
—Bill Stott (b. 1940)
“Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.”
—F.H. (Francis Herbert)