by Lindi Vission

Created on: November 23, 2009

Morality, much like intelligence or imagination, can be a powerful tool in the human survival kit. If we make moral decisions, then it gives us a sense of reassurance that what we are making is the right decision. It can also dissuade the making of potentially bad decisions, but like all tools, there are some things it cannot manage.

Morality is a concept created by humans; that is why we still argue about it today. But throughout history, we have never been able to decide very well on morals either. The death penalty is a good example of this. Five thousand, or merely fifty, years ago, virtually all societies had some sort of death penalty. This could range from elaborate human sacrifice to a simple execution, but the common idea was that, in some circumstances, it was acceptable to take another person's life. Today, the death penalty is losing popularity in some countries. Does this mean morality in those countries has changed? Absolutely, though not for the better; it has merely adapted to a more modern outlook on life. In the past, we executed people when we had decided that doing so would bring greater benefits than keeping them alive, be to it please gods or protect society. We go with what works, and as that changes, so our morality changes with it.

Same-sex marriage is another example of how morality can change. In ancient Greece, the birthplace of western philosophy, homosexuality was generally acceptable. In ancient Rome, before Christianity at least, there was some controversy surrounding the matter, but it was still practiced without much persecution. Over the years, homosexuality became relegated to something sinful and unwholesome. Indeed, the countries that have legalised it generally did so less than half a century ago. This is not about where homosexuality stands on a moral ground; that misses the point entirely. The point is that our general acceptance of homosexuality has changed with morality over the years.

To a certain extent, the moral relativists are right. Morals certainly do vary between cultures, but there are some common themes. Though something like the death penalty is, or was, common, virtually no culture would endorse killing without a good reason. Self defense, for example; for even in the warlike cultures, killing someone randomly was frowned upon. Benevolence in general, or being good to others, is lauded. Altruism towards those around you is good evolutionary sense for social beings such as humans. But altruism on a grander

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