Why is it wrong to take advantage of other people?

[silver 2039]

It is wrong to take advantage of people because I have been taught by society, parents, etc... that it is wrong. Its quite simple really. Society teaches us these moral values that allow us to function and coexist in society. Morality born out of nessecity.

 

[Sidhe]

It is wrong to take advantage of people because I have been taught by society, parents, etc... that it is wrong. Its quite simple really. Society teaches us these moral values that allow us to function and coexist in society. Morality born out of nessecity.

Wrong according to that topic about what came first the chicken or the egg, some people think morality is both the foundation and exclusive preserve of religion. It's a good job no one takes any notice though

I refer to this thread slightly but more generally to proselytising in it's most abhorent form. I.e we're going to heaven your going to hell, brinkmanship and My dads better'n your dadism, or childishness.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=173531&page=19&highlight=Religion

I can't remember if I posted anything about this but essentially the golden rule is it, that and paying it forward, as ye sow so shall ye reap, etc etc, in fact just read Mathew, that gives just about the sum of repurcusions for actions, plus about a million and one philosophical texts, based on both upholding and destroying religion.

If people are really interested then this question has been answered by the most brilliant minds of the last thousand years

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-moral/

Kants moral relativism agrees with me in many respects but moral relativism is considered a swear word these days

In the Critique of Practical Reason, Kant argued that this Highest Good for Humanity is complete moral virtue together with complete happiness, the former being the condition of our deserving the latter. Unfortunately, virtue does not insure wellbeing and may even conflict with it. Further, there is no real possibility of moral perfection in this life and indeed few of us fully deserve the happiness we are lucky enough to enjoy. Reason cannot prove or disprove the existence of Divine Providence, nor the immortality of the soul, which seem necessary to rectify these things. Nevertheless, Kant argued, an unlimited amount of time to perfect ourselves (immortality) and a commensurate achievement of wellbeing (insured by Divine Providence) are “postulates” required by reason when employed in moral matters.

 

[dh_epic]

Seriously, though. I welcome the OP to go around taking advantage of people. Refuse to pay for your pizza. Get someone to do you a favor in exchange for something, then reneg at the last second. Stab your best friend in the back.

See how much your life improves. I guarantee you, it will turn out much, much worse. There are consequences for your actions.

 

[Brighteye]

As has been said before, that's a practical reason, not a moral reason. I think that the OP was looking for moral reasons.

 

[Sidhe]

As has been said before, that's a practical reason, not a moral reason. I think that the OP was looking for moral reasons.

Then as I said the OP needs to read philosophy or a philosophy of religion.

 

[Brighteye]

Or ask the friendly OT-ers for help and guidance.

And debate, of course.