A question on morality

I just read a pro-life discussion on someone elses blog, and it made me think about morality and all that stuff. When I'm in a happy mood, I like to think that the world is simple enough if you follow a few rules:

1. Please yourself
2. Try not to hurt other people
3. Be honest
4. If you say what you really think, then you shouldn't feel bad about it.

Like I say, simple, and perhaps a little crude. To put please yourself first is selfish, maybe, but often to keep yourself happy, you have to keep other people happy – boyfriend, girlfriend, friend friend, family. I mean more that its your responsibility to make yourself happy – theres no one who can really do it for you. And you should try not to hurt other people when you're making yourself happy. Unless you can really help it. And then the being honest. It makes sense I suppose – be true to yourself – do or say what you honestly feel needs to be done, and that should work. I mean, if you feel bad, its usually because you did something wrong.

But then, I feel bad. I think I hurt someone, I didn't really mean to, I don't think. I insulted someone – I was trying to be honest, and I stand by what I said, but I still feel guilty deep down that I hurt them (maybe). And I wonder if I'm the best judge, and I can say I was trying to be honest but I'm lying to myself because I like to feel all calm and superior like I have everything worked out.

I'd like to think I have everything worked out. Mankind is the only animal that doubts. I'm pretty sure anyway. Even chimps probably have more certainty than us. ALthough, I'm not sure we're all uncertain. Could it be that certainty is what sets apart the truly great – the scientists, the politicians – people who change the world? Or were they pretending like everyone else?

This is a little arrogant. I should take some time to explain that I'm not ruminating on life, the universe and everything because i am terribly wise. It annoyed me when I was replying to the other blog, and suddenly I wondered 'is this true'?. This is, I believe usually referred to as the 'human condition'.

The human condition is one of uncertainty. It works in a sentence I suppose. I remember thinking when I was little that when I was grown, I would know everything. It was such a perfect dream. Imagine knowing everything – being sure that what you were doing was right all along. Maybe that'll happen when I become a geriatric.

Either that, or I'll lose my marbles and won't care either way. I'm not sure morals are a good thing.

: 02 Mar 2006 23:42 |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem