Do most people lack a real moral compass and just follow reward and punishment?

[Danielle93]

Isn't this sad. It always starts with the kid only behaving because he/she is fearful of a harsh physical punishment all the way to those that don't cheat on their spouse out of fear of getting caught and losing everything and lastly people doing the right thing out of fear getting punished after death by some devine force in the afterall and expecting rewards for doing right; always governed by fear and rewards. That doesn't sound like actually respect. So if they could get away with whatever they're thinking without ever getting caught (not caught means not punished), they would do it?

Is that really a good person? It still seems like only someone working on survival mode, looking after their own interesting, working base on a system of punishment and reward. If you expect to get praised and a reward for doing something right, that's still out of self-interest, not genuine altruism nor out of pure consciousness, out of morals.

I don't recall ever screaming ''I hate you'' at my father and I actually have real respect for him. Neither of my parents ever laid a land on me. It was simply not right. I have basic empathy and morals.

Updates

1 mo

So there is still a lack of principle. They would be more likely to commit wrongs if they thought they could get away with it, without anyone knowing about it.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

There was actually a study on this. The understanding of morality changes in like 4 or so phases, with reward and punishment being the most common among children. They found it was something like… 50% of americans that are still stuck in this phase even in their 30s. I imagine this also correlates to how 50% of americans can’t read above a 6th grade level. Our cognitive functions have significantly lowered with the introduction of smart tech.

[Danielle93]

It's very sad. They are forever with the reasoning of a 7-10 year-old child.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Not forever, they just need to move past their dependency on tech. Honestly, considering how much online cancel culture has turned into another branch of Puritanism, we could all stand to take more breaks from it.

[Agape93]

Dunno, don't really care. I have morals, deep seated morals. They're likely different than yours though.

[strateguy632]

the first thing i learnt in school is not literature! that rules are not for all students. that is what teachers showed me in their actions. this teaches kids not to worry about getting caught.

[exitseven]

A lot of people do not have a moral compass. Maybe the absense of religion has something to do with it or maybe parents are mostly absent from theor kids lives.

[Danielle93]

Yet the most religious people I stumbled upon were the least one with real moral compass. If you're only doing good things to expect to be in Heaven (rewarded after death) and avoiding getting punished by a god that's already acting out of self-interest.

[Danielle93]

That person would be reverting back to when they were kids afraid of punishments and wanting rewards for getting good grades; self-interest.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[Miristheiss]

Most peoples compass is their own pleasure.

There is no absolute moral foundation.

They reject absolute truth.

[loveslongnails]

I think people have their own moral compasses and they adjust to situations and varying rationalizations. Even if you follow a religion based doctrine, you'll make rationalizations as needed.

[NathanDavis]

no... most people are normal

[Danielle93]

But only avoiding something out of fear of getting caughting isn't the same as still doing the right thing even if you can get away.

[NathanDavis]

you asked about most people... while focusing on specific cases

for specific cases... anything can happen

but for most people... we're just normal normies following the norms...

[Dargil]

Depends a lot on parenting.

[jahaims]

Yeah