The Roots of Morality: Subjectivity vs. Objectivity

How many times have you seen this in a debate?

Person 1: I lost my virginity at 15!
Person 2: That's... wrong! Don't do that!

This is one thing that always bugs me in a debate: when people say something is "wrong" as their only counterpoint. This is simply because morality is a subjective concept that we as humans came up with to explain types of behavior. Please note that most of this is just my personal theories on the origins of morality, but (as should be obvious), they make perfect sense in my own mind.

So, firstly, I suppose I should define "morality." Just what is it? Simply put, it's labels that humans put onto certain actions as either "right" or "wrong." For example, most of us agree that murder and rape are "wrong" behavior. Dictionary.com defines it as:

The relation of conformity or nonconformity to the moral standard or rule; quality of an intention, a character, an action, a principle, or a sentiment, when tried by the standard of right.

The morality of an action is founded in the freedom of that principle, by virtue of which it is in the agent's power, having all things ready and requisite to the performance of an action, either to perform or not perform it. --South

Note the bolded terms here: conformity, standard (of right). Aren't these terms generally associated with social standards? People conform to general standards because they want acceptance. Non-conformists are generally shunned unless they find someone similar to them.

As I already stated, most people can agree that murder and rape, for example, are "wrong." However, if morality was objective as so many claim, would we debate anything in the first place? Would there ever be societal upheavals? Would there be different political parties, issue platforms, wars, or social movements?

The answer to all of those questions is simply, no. There is no way to objectify morality, be it over abortion or playground rules.

So that begs the question: where, then, did this morality come from in the first place? Doesn't x-deity or y-deity say this and that about those sort of behaviors?

As I see it, these concepts evolved slowly over time into our brains because such behavior harms the survival of the species as a whole. People tend to group together based on their preferences, albeit clothing/ music style or something like moral perspectives. The groups with the most people become more powerful and influential in society. And seeing as people (and animals in general, really) follow survival instincts for practically everything that they do in life, it makes sense to say that the basic concepts like no murder and no rape got ingrained into people's heads as bad things to do. People don't tend to mate with others who murder, rape, or otherwise harm other people out of survival instinct, so traits that increase these kinds of behaviors are generally NOT passed on genetically.

After this point, though, it's all personal opinion. From this stemmed all kinds of other issues; social, fiscal, etc. And then, it all went to hell. The people with the most influence, again out of a survival instinct (which may be backwards in this instance, but that's the human mind for you), became despotic over everyone else. They subjugated their own morality onto their "subjects."

But what of those that disagreed with them? This is where the concept of a "god" comes in. These deities were invented by the ones in charge to keep other people in line, with the promise of either eternal bliss or torture after death. based off behavior.

All of this led to the way we think today. One of my teachers said that humans are like an "anthology of past culture." We are a culmination of every human experience from the past, which mold our current mode of thought. People often use the label "wrong" on certain behaviors to make themselves feel more righteous about themselves. In some ways, morality keeps people in line, religious or not, but in other ways, it is like a crutch, or a method of self-gratification, when it gets to more complex issues.

It's getting late over here, and I've said my piece. Feel free to ask questions if I wasn't clear. But basically, morality started like this:

1. Murder, rape, etc. (basic things) are harmful to species survival.
2. Survival instincts make people who do these behaviors less likely to mate.
3. Thus, genes that influence said behaviors are less likely to be passed on.
4. People with the biggest numbers and most influence become despotic, enforce own morality upon others.
5. Those in charge came up with the concept of deities who would punish people eternally for their "wrong" actions.
6. People dissented from these standards, and other social groups were formed. And, of course, everything went to hell.