Why do some people lack morals?

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Well now I can see how we disagree and that we will probably continue to disagree (not that that's bad, I can see now we just have two different viewpoints). You believe that everyone is born with an innate ability to tell good from evil and to do good (or at least that's what I'm getting from your post). I don't.

I believe that "good" is entirely subjective and that people aren't born with any sense of "good" in them. They learn what is "good" and "right" from the they are raised in.

Like I said earlier they can deviate from it, but they will probably at least base their sense of "right and wrong" off of what they learned growing up. They learn that it is "good" to be nice to other people and to respect them. They learn that you shouldn't hurt or steal things from other people because it is "wrong". They don't need to see every instance of doing "good" before they can get the general idea of how to act "right".

Perhaps humans are born with certain inclinations; such as wanting to be around other humans, looking for a mate, eating, sleeping, whatever. But I consider that as all instincts and "the nature of the beast". Certain animals are herd creatures, while others know instinctively to migrate during certain seasons. Its not that its right or wrong, its just what they do. Humans probably have behavioral patterns like this as well, but I believe that overall we learn our morals from whatever culture we're raised in.

I can guess that you'll probably still hold to you views after reading this post, and I see nothing wrong with that, but I'm just putting forth my ideas on how people's morality is created. I'm more of a believer in nurture while, if my guess is correct, you believe more in nature.

(I find that you getting the Cleric for the D&D class quiz and me getting the Wizard strangely fitting)

Well your point is the otherside of the fence ... but yeah, effectively I'm of the nature side of things. Universal perscriptivism and the categorical imperative ^_^

There is no real asnwer ... no matter how much philosophers will argue. The Categorical imperative has problems. For example .. it's a categorical imperative that you protect yourself and family, because a world where nobody prtected themselves and their family would be an ugly world.

But at the same time why is it that when we see a supreme act of self sacrifice (like the private leaping onto the grenade before it kills his sargeant) we feel touched by the nobility of that action without reservation.

Typically we shouldn't feel that way under the 'Murder!? Boo!! Charity?! Yay!' template that sums up (albeit somewhat childishly) the Categorical imperative and part of what's in Hume's Treatise of Human Nature (which has it;s own problems, of which stipulates that good must be felt to be good ... but why is it a good action is often one that will make you feel crappy regardless?)

On the D&D thing typically I'm a druid n.n I like roleplaying foxes and wolves ^_^ It gives me the ability to nip other pc's shoes and chew on their stuff whilst pretending I can't understand rply ^_^

 

[WhoaItsBrett]

Nobody "lacks" morals.
Their morals just differ to yours.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Because some of us prefer to reject the social constructs around us and only obey the law because breaking it is to our detriment (jail time and so forth).

 

[superbatranger]

The way I see it, no one is born bad. They're raised to distinguish right from wrong, but sometimes something happens that changes that. This event could be anything. Over time, they forget about their old morals which leads to new morals. Morals that may not fit in the standards of society.

 

[Dark Knifer]

Some people just see morals as boring, therefore refusing to have any. I know someone who would prove my point quite well.