1)      To what extent do we learn these ideas of right & wrong from our environment?  To what extent is this morality intrinsic, i.e., present in us from birth? 

I think that I learned my ideas of right and wrong from my parents, school, church, other family/ friends, and maybe even some television I watched as a kid such as Arthur that in some episodes dealt with issues like right and wrong. I don’t think that right and wrong are in us from birth right away, I think we learn as we go. If I was never told that hitting other kids was wrong as a child and I never got in trouble for doing it, I might think that it was okay and that it was how you are supposed to solve issues. I think that maybe most people have that tinge of guilt say if someone were crying or if someone was getting hurt, but I think that you can learn to push that away too. I think that we can train ourselves or be trained by others not to feel that, as bad as that sounds. I think that a lot of what we are taught and told growing up changes how we view things as right or wrong. 

2)      Are there actions you believe are always morally wrong? Which actions? Why or why not? 

I think that actions such as complete hatred and murder and purposely hurting others is wrong, but that is just me. I think that these are wrong because you are telling someone they aren’t good enough, that you are better than them I feel. It is especially seen with intentional murder or hurting or committing other acts of hatred. I just don’t see how someone could look someone else at think that they should be killed or beaten or terrorized or abused or whatever else. Of course, if you need to use self-defense like someone is running at you with a knife yelling “I will kill you” then you shouldn’t just stand there you should fight back, but what I think is wrong is doing these things for no valid reason. 

Morals are hard and very from person to person. Something that I think is just fine could be considered morally wrong by other people and vice versa, especially today with issues of LGBTQ+ rights (and even within that for some people, which parts of LGBTQ+ are okay and what aren’t), abortion, and the death penalty. These things can be and are viewed very strongly on both sides. To me it’s based on what you were raised to believe, what your family and friends believe that impact what you think is morally right or wrong.  

3)      Can one live morally without the guidance of religion? Why or why not? 

Yes, I think they can. I think that most religions have a good moral compass and a good list of rules you should follow to be a good person, but I also think that those things can be learned without religion too. You can learn how to be a good person from family and school. For me though as a religious person (ELCA Lutheran) I have this thought of what would God think or if I do something I need to say sorry or pray about it or whatever I need to do. I don’t how ever think that I would be a bad person if I was raised without religion. I think that instead of thinking that God would be mad I might think about how my parents might feel. I also don’t believe that everyone who has religion is a good person either. I think that it all depends on how you were raised, and religion doesn’t need to be there. 

4)      Is empathy the proper basis for morality? Why or why not? 

I think so, yes. I think that everyone has at least a little pinch of empathy. I even think that the worst serial killers in the word even have empathy. Now weather or not that empathy stops someone from doing bad things is the question. I think that everyone has it and that they think about. Empathy can definitely change your behavior, but it won’t change very ones.