It’s a factor because pain is generally a negative emotion, it makes the situation worse when someone feels pain rather than when they don’t. If I got shot in the foot, I’d find it much more bearable if that was completely painless. It’s bad, but I’d probably be less mad that way, and I’d likely sue the person who shot my foot for less if I didn’t feel it at all. Pain adds to the immorality of the situation, lacking it makes it less horrible. The fact that I have, or am usually capable of, feeling and thinking is what allows me a large chunk of my own morality. A sentient, fully aware and feeling creature tends to have more moral value, as things like pain, emotions, thoughts, memories, and experiences are what gauges moral worth in some measure of the word. I’d feel less bad if an egg was broken rather than a full-grown bird, and I wouldn’t feel bad at all if something like a newly formed embryo dead suddenly, considering it was nowhere near even knowing of its own existence, let alone feeling it. These types of reasons are a part of the reason why I am more okay with abortion at earlier times, and why I’d prefer a maximum cap on abortion at 15-24 weeks if any specific ban HAS to be enacted.
Why is it morally wrong to inflict pain on others? Can you explain that apart from God?
@9CJ6CB61mo1MO
Because that feels bad for oneself, and since I don’t want that on myself, I don’t want to inflict that upon others either, as most don’t. Generally, giving it a “would I be okay in that situation” perspective tends to be helpful.
All you've said is that you shouldn't inflict pain on others because it hurts others and you don't like getting hurt yourself. So essentially all you've said is "you shouldn't inflict pain because you shouldn't inflict pain!" Which is blatantly circular reasoning.
@9CJ6CB61mo1MO
If you don’t like it yourself, it is mutually beneficial for all to agree not to inflict pain on one another, both because the risk for yourself of feeling pain is high, and because society has agreed mutually that inflicting pain is just inherently not good for the community or the people at large, because that can start fights that hurt everyone, and because we have evolved a tendency to not like inflicting pain upon others. I refuse to have to redefine every last aspect of morality to explain my side here, I can have solid morals without religion in this case, and I’m tired of these ridiculously recursive arguments that you and I have on this subject.
The reason you're tired of these "ridiculously recursive arguments" we have is because you don't have a clue how to respond to them. And it's impossible for morality to just mean "what is mutually beneficial for society" and I can prove it. Imagine a random guy on the streets accidentally trips you, and you fall to the ground, hurting yourself, but he sincerely apologises. Are you angry with him. No, of course not, if you're a decent person, it was an accident and he said he was sorry. But suppose another random guy on the streets deliberately tries to trip you, but fails. Read more
