Meta-ethics and the human future

In my recent series of posts in which I’ve attacked the idea that morality is objective, I have not sought to deny that morality of some kind is inevitable for human societies. I think it is . I also think that much of its actual content is inevitable for us ... i.e., for human beings or any species much like us. In a sense, then, we might want to say that some of the basic content of morality is objectively justified, after all, because we would not want to do without it.

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Posted by CygnusX1  on  04/04  at  01:25 PM

Quote : "This seems to justify a certain kind of sophisticated moral relativism: we should not be too quick to condemn the moral codes of other cultures, which might be functioning reasonably well, however bizarre they look. At the same time, it allows that some moral systems may do a better job than others, when judged by standards with much inter-cultural acceptance. Thus, it refutes the naive relativism which insists that all cultures are equal.

More generally, a pragmatic and pluralistic approach to morality might lead to considerable revision of our traditional moral norms, and might guide us in what norms should be retained, invented, or rejected. Is this norm (we might ask) actually promoting our more fundamental values? If not, pitch it into the flames. Many inherited moral norms may not withstand scrutiny, once it is asked whether they are actually performing such functions as creating happiness and minimising suffering (I take it that these, at least, are widely-agreed values)."


. And here is a specific example of the type of antiquated moral mindset that needs to be cast into the flames. I have been following this tragic story since Thursday and it would appear that the trail has all but run dry, and been covertly overlooked whilst less profile news and trivia aims to supplant the attentions of media sources. Is this all part of a political contrivance that serves not to upset "too much" so called allies with friendly fortunes?

The reasons for my strong political and moral stance here are precisely because I find this case both heinous and barbaric. See what you think?

"Sorcerer condemned to death in Saudi" 1st April 2010
"It's a case which is causing controversy across the world. A Saudi judge has condemned to death a Lebanese TV presenter for "sorcery".

"Ali Hussain Sibat had his own talk show on Sheherezade TV, based in Lebanon and transmitted by satellite across the Arab world. The programme's title was self-explanatory: "Ali Hussain Sibat gives advice and predictions about the future". People would ring in with their problems and dilemmas, and it was especially popular in Saudi Arabia. The problem is fortune-telling is regarded as witchcraft by the strict tenets of the sharia practiced in Saudi Arabia. When Mr Sibat went on a pilgrimage to Medina in 2008, he was recognised by the Police for the Protection of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, and promptly arrested."

"It was a year before his wife and five children back in Lebanon learnt that he had been seen on Saudi TV making a confession he was told that if he confessed then he would be allowed to go home. Amnesty International says there's reason to believe he was tortured as well. In Saudi Arabia, sorcery may be classed as "apostasy" in which case the defendant has the chance to repent, but if convicted of "corruption on earth", the death sentence is mandatory."

"The judge can decide whatever the sentence is in Saudi Arabia, far above what is fixed in the Koran," said Lamri Chirouf of Amnesty International. "They don't tell even the defendant, or in the case of foreign nationals, their embassy, that they are about to execute them. They just turn up to the cell in the morning and take them away". Which is exactly what will happen to Ali Hussain Sibat, unless international pressure persuades the Saudi authorities to show clemency."
>> http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/middle_east/apossorcererapos+condemned+to+death+in+saudi/3599167

And the good news is

"Beheading of Man in Saudi Arabia for Witchcraft Averted"
"A Lebanese man condemned to death for witchcraft by a Saudi court will not be beheaded Friday as had been expected, his lawyer said. Ali Hussain Sibat, the father of five, was to be executed after noon prayers Friday, but a frenzy of media coverage, appeals by international human rights groups and intervention by several Lebanese government officials, may have saved his life, at least temporarily. His lawyer, May al-Khansa, said she was still unsure whether the beheading had been waived or postponed."

" Khansa had contacted Lebanese leaders earlier to appeal on his client's behalf. The leaders would not speak publicly, but Khanza said she was told the Lebanese government did lobby for Sabit. Chirouf says, until that is clear, it is important to keep putting pressure on the Saudi government. "Human rights are the responsibility of everybody. It's a collective responsibility, not only of the Lebanese. It doesn't mean the United States, UK and France, etc should not be concerned. We should all be in this together," Chirouf said."
>> http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Beheading-of-Man-in-Saudi-Arabia-for-Witchcraft-Averted-89781397.html

Let's hope that this man will indeed be spared and freed and returned to his native country soon.
Happy Easter!

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