Hey Ajax...
I just have a minute so a couple of responses... :-)
You talked about morality being relative to the "collective" good. I think that's what you're getting at, at least that's what I've heard others speak. In other words, what makes the most people happy. Is that what morality is relative to? The only problem I see with this is suppose you're in the minority of people who don't fit the normal mode and this standard of morality doesn't work out in favor of your own happiness. Should you just be overpowered because you're different? Or is it a case where since you're in the minority you're weaker than the majority so might is right and it's right that you be overpowered? What good is happiness even for the majority, if you find yourself a part of the minority (those who the plan doesn't work for). It seems that the common good is of no value to these individuals, and why wouldn't or shouldn't they fight and struggle to change it?
I think much of the human community is about balancing individual good with the collective good, and certainly we see over the history of humankind a need for a collective agreement on some basic rules. (Although this has altered over the years). For most of human history slavery was accepted, slowly and perhaps one person at a time, a consciousness was awoken that this practice was not moral/right/good/holy/whatever. As our awareness/compassion increased we see "morality" deepen.
The next point is, "Is it really fair for a woman to judge what should make a man happy?" "Is it really fair for a man to set the bounds on what should make a woman happy?" It seems like we make these judgments on each other all the time, and enforce them inasmuch as we have the power to do so. Marital as well as all other human relationships truly do seem to be a continuum of war and cooperation, with each person making the decision as to how far the other must take advantage of you before you decide that its better to suffer the immediate negatives of war in hope of a better future or improved behavior of your peers, or even their elimination or replacement. I know many people choose isolatio if given the option. Sometimes its not always possible. I would like to believe that the universe has allowed for compensation and justice beyond this cruel predicament in which we find ourselves. To think that justice only exists inasmuch as we have the power to enforce it, is truly depressing. Allowing people to write their own marriage vowels and the abolition of a universal morality in favor of this war and peace cycle is what I think has led to the breakdown of the American family. The war and peace cycle will not keep most relationships together very long in most cases.
I'm not sure what you are addressing here. Hmmmm....I do not think it is anyone's place to say what should make others happy. We can embrace the wisdom and experiences of others, and we can look at the human to glimpse what may or may not appear to be healthy but it not a perfect science by any means. I don't get the whole "justice" thing at all actually. I do not see life in a cycle so much as an unfolding as we evolve and bring forth newness to the universe.
While I appreciate that women have been mistreated and in some cases continue to be mistreated, I can't say I would ever subscribe to the feminist ethic. I don't hear them preaching the golden rule very often. Mostly what I hear them preach is "empowerment" "self fulfillment" "self esteem," but I've never heard them preach self sacrifice. How is this passive aggressiveness any more moral than the male dominance we had before? There are just as many men as women now, so I don't see how mistreating men to benefit women is really in the collective good. If all you preach is empowerment, self fulfillment, and self esteem, and not the golden rule, then mistreating men to better the lot of women is really all they're going to achieve. "Two legs good, four legs bad." The sovereign and the slave may have swapped places but ultimately the world is just the same as before.
My experience is much different. I do not know of any woman who believes it is right to mistreat men. Feminism is about being treated as a human being with equal rights like other human beings who happen to have different body parts. I think mistreating others is "wrong". I think the Golden Rule is about as good as it gets in giving us a basic guideline for human interaction. Not perfect but pretty darn good.
It's questions like these that keep me clinging to my belief in God, and right and wrong that exists independent of human beings, and the existence of an innate free will within all intelligences. I believe it was Brother Skousen who spoke of the idea of all "intelligences" (not just homo sapiens) crying to God for justice. In other words, this justice cannot be the invention of man or God. It's an independent entity that God respects, adheres to, and ultimately enforces.
The way I look at it, there is a way to live that is in harmony with life and supports/enhances the furthering of our universe, AND there is a way to live that harms others, thwarts and damages the story of the universe. (I know this is subjective and imperfect and that even the harm seems to bring forth existence, still it is my perception and my best guideline).
Totally disagree about justice. I do not see this "need" at all and think it is a very, VERY human invention. In fact if I had to form an opinion on this I would say the universe works in exactly the opposite way. :-)
If free will does not exists, what gives the controlling majority power the moral right to punish someone for something they're really not responsible for? Or once again is it just a case of the majority acting in the best interest of the majority. If you're in the minority, too bad, you loose. Pray to be reincarnated in the majority.
I do not think too many folks believe free will doesn't exist at all, but even if it doesn't we still have to find a way to function in this world.
It seems to me that yes, based on history, the powerful win. It is not always the majority but it is the powerful, I think this is actually becoming maladaptive but unfortunately this is our history. The way to change things is not to be reincarnated as one of the majority but to help make the minority the majority or powerful. ;-) I actually think actually happens all the time and (although not always bringing forth goodness), is the very way consciousness has evolved and awareness has been brought forth into the human.
If this is all just a load of hooey, than how can we not arrive at the conclusions of Korihor that all beings prosper according to their genius, and right and wrong are simply inventions of those powerful enough implement by some form (violence, persuasion etc.) them into the minds of all people.
If what is all a load of hooey? :-) I do not arrive at the conclusion of Korihor as you describe it.
:-)
~dancer~