Source of Morality
Morality is a system of principles or rules of conduct to which humans conform. Presently our “wider culture” exemplifies the debasement of rules of conduct with little common agreement as to what rules or principles we should be following.
Memory Blockers: Lest We Remember
While many struggle with the fear of losing their memories, others would dearly love to be able to forget.
Who's Sorry Now?
The concept of forgiveness being a moral response from a victim to a wrongdoer raises ethical questions, particularly the challenge of forgiving those who are not truly sorry for the wrong they have perpetrated.
Tales of the Light-Fingered Gentry
The practice of “lifting” is an ancient but also a very current problem that is not only (or even mainly) restricted to the criminal element who perpetrate stealing crimes in our society. In fact, this time of year is particularly difficult for retailers as shoplifting by the general public is at its peak.
The Teaching of Moral Values
The school system has not only changed with the times in regard to the teaching of morality, but has openly advocated a more moral relativistic approach to students.
Guardrails for Human Conduct
There are many sides of democracy that we take little time to think about, but perhaps in this year it is especially worthwhile noting one aspect of democracy that very much shapes our lives.
Society's Primary Socializing Agents
Parents are the primary socializing agents of society and their role goes far beyond care and nurture.
Changing Standards of Morality
It is not that most people would disagree that society needs some standards of morality, it is rather a problem of agreeing what those standards should be.
Science and Sensibility: Do Humans Have a “Moral Sense”?
How do we determine what is right? It's not as easy as it sounds, despite the fact that there's a vast field of study devoted to the topic which is described using terms like ethics, or moral philosophy.
Mixing Politics, Religion—And Money
The involvement of popular and religious figures in swaying the outcome of elections is clearly growing.
Morality and The Golden Compass
New Line Cinema’s early December release of The Golden Compass follows the timing of other fantasy fiction film releases of recent years. The golden compass of the film’s title is a kind of truth-teller, a portal of gold-dust visions for the one who can decipher its symbols.
Christmas: Does It Matter?
It’s generally acknowledged that the second-most important festival of the Christian calendar has no biblical support. Most people shrug that off as irrelevant, but is it?
Who Are the Moral Educators?
The responsibility for teaching children ethical standards has subtly shifted from parents to social institutions. The trend has been quietly championed by educators and is becoming more apparent as we begin to see the fruit of efforts begun over a century ago.
Values or Ethics?
To a large extent we are shaped by our cultural setting, and its values imprint themselves on our minds in ways most of us hardly notice.
The Moral Compass
A compass is a relatively simple instrument based on a simple concept. With its northward facing needle, it is a consistent and true indicator of physical direction. By placing moral in front of compass, we evoke a clear picture of mental processes that point a person in a particular direction in life.
The Ethics of a Family-Centered Home
Since ethics deal with the formation and expression of character, there is no better place to begin their development than in the family home.
The Morality Pendulum
During the month of June 2007, a nationwide telephone poll of Americans between the ages of 17 and 29 was conducted by the New York Times, CBS News and MTV. The poll’s unsurprising conclusion is that young Americans are leaning left.
The Ethics of Patriotism
Patriotism, simply defined, is devotion to one's country. However, a few social commentators are beginning to record what they observe to be a growing trend of antipatriotism, especially in some of the major Western nations.
Small Concerns
Although embryonic stem cells are microscopic, their potential usefulness in molecular medicine and medical therapies is huge. Equally huge are the ethical issues surrounding these tiny biological entities.
Stem Cell Research: Setting the Moral Frame
Stanford University's William B. Hurlbut, a member of the President's Council on Bioethics, discusses his proposed alternative to using embryonic stem cells in the controversial field of stem cell research.
Reflections: May 31, 2006
Getting Relationships Right
Arguably, the most difficult part of life is maintaining healthy relationships. What should be at the heart of how we view one another?
Final Solutions, Part 2
Vision publisher David Hulme, together with three historians and a filmmaker, continue their roundtable talk on Hitler, the Holocaust and human nature.
Final Solutions, Part 1
Vision publisher David Hulme talks with three historians and a filmmaker about the Holocaust. How could it have occurred, and could it ever happen again?
The Moral of the Story
Fairy tales have clearly evolved over the centuries. And the changing tales say a lot about the changing times.
Lest We Forget
As the world recalls the end of World War II, Vision examines Adolf Hitler's rise to power, the unprecedented cruelty he unleashed, and the lessons to be remembered.
Special Report: Rewiring the Brain
Recent discoveries in neuroscience are providing exciting insights into the nature of being human.
The Splice of Life; Sex in the 21st Century
Will biotechnology change our views on sex and procreation?
Legislating Morality
What's at the heart of moral regeneration?
Advancing Toward the Moral Brink
Modern science is nudging us ever closer to a moral precipice. But can science serve as the arbiter of moral and ethical standards?
Right and Wrong
Does humanity have the right to define or even discard moral standards according to personal preference?
Ethical Jazz or Moral Cacophony?
Recently an Anglican bishop advanced the idea of “godless morality.” Is such a concept realistic?
Distinguishing Between Morality and Ethics
The basis for ethics must be morals, not the other way around.
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