A thought experiment on morality?

Question

Let us say stealing was all of a sudden allowed and not punishable by law. Let us say everyone started stealing and looting. Even though before this you were strictly against stealing would you steal now that everyone is doing it ? How much time would need to pass for you to start doing so? Hours, years, generations?

Answer 1

I would not steal because I take great pride in earning my keep and conscience wouldn't allow. Anyway, if such a situation ever arose it would last a very short time as everyone would take the law into their own hands and annihilation of mankind would be the end result. ooh...sends a shiver up my spine!

Answer 2

Much as it will not be punishable by law, it will still affect you in one way or another.

When you pick someone's property without the consent of that person, then you are hurting that person.You are inflicting pain and suffering to some one/that person(the owner).

Which means that i would not steal because the consequences of the act do not change

Thanks for asking

Answer 3

Great question!

In my view, morality is not an absolute, it is a construct that, as noble and useful as it may be, is more distinctly relative to the conditions impacting it.

For example, with "laws," morality is less of an issue generally (although, as we all know, not absolutely) in that most peoples' needs and wants can be staisfied without breaking the law.

However, with the absence of laws, the issue of morality shifts from the previous conscious decision of desiring to be lawful, civic, and playing by the rules into one where the circumstances governing whether one steals or not are much less cognitive and much more physical (need for survival).

As such, regardless of how well we (all humans) may believe that our morality would prevent us from looting and stealing -even in the absence of laws- that esteemed position would soon crumble if the circumstance dictated that you needed to loot and steal to ensure the survival of yourself and your family.

How long until that kicks in?  Again, I don't believe it's a function of someone's fortitude or constitution, as (in my view) it is a function of how close to death you are (starvation ... others taking what you have ...etc) -or even the perceived fear of death.

Answer 4

I used to be a big five-finger discounter (I'm ashamed, yes.)  I made a pact with myself quite a few years ago that I would never take something that didn't belong to me again.  (This came during my study of Buddhism.)

So, if it suddenly became allowable....I still wouldn't do it.  Seriously, that is hard for people to comprehend.  But I was dead serious in the committment I made to myself and would hate to destroy all the progress I have made in not taking what isn't mine.

I would however, go out and invest in a lot more ammo than I have now.  If people are suddently allowed to just help themselves, I'm going to need to be ready to protect me and my stuff!  Lol...I won't steal, but I won't hesitate to kill, go figure!