Amoralism Information & Amoralism Links at HealthHaven.com

Amoralism is the complete absence of moral beliefs, and/or the unequivocal belief that the theory of morality is immaterial.^[1]^[2]

Though often associated with immoralism, the two are fundamentally different.^[1] Immoralism is a system that does not accept moral principles and directly opposes morality, while amoralism does not even consider the existence of morality plausible.^[3]

[edit] History

Glover has cited realist views of amoralism held by early Athenians, and in some ethical positions affirmed by Joseph Stalin.^[4]

[edit] Meta ethics

Amoralism is generally regarded as a manifestation of moral nihilism,^{[weasel words]}^{[citation needed]} an aspect of moral skepticism, and sometimes even a form of moral realism.^[4]

Amorality is distinct from immorality. One who is amoral does not recognize the existence of morality, whereas one who is immoral knows the existence of morality but chooses not to comply with it.

To be amoral is unique in the regard that it has basically no active belief. Unlike a moral or immoral person who would believe to have an general understanding of what is "right" or "wrong", the amoral person does not have an idea of what is right or wrong whatsoever, but more a less of what would be "fun" or "scary".

[edit] Nonhuman appearances

Some corporations are known to exhibit amoralist qualities.^[5] Besides higher primates, the vast majority of life forms have amoral tendencies.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Criticism

Christianity, Judaism and Islam fervently disapprove of amoralism.^{[citation needed]} Some different sects of Judaism and Christianity share perspective with the values of Amoralism.^[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Johnstone, Megan-Jane (2008). Bioethics: A Nursing Perspective. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 102-103. ISBN 978-0729538732.
^ Superson, Anita (2009). The Moral Skeptic. Oxford University Press. pp. 127-159. ISBN 978-0195376623.
^ Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language
^ ^a ^b Glover, Jonathan (2000). Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century. Yale University Press. pp. 29. ISBN 978-0300087000. "The Athenians presented hard amoralism as mere realism. Echoes of this have been heard many times since, for example in a comment by Stalin on the policies of countries at war: 'Whoever occupies a territory also imposes on it his own social system. Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army has power to do. It cannot be otherwise.'"
^ Donaldson, Thomas (1982). Corporations and morality. Prentice-Hall. pp. 78. ISBN 978-0131770140.
^ Michael Newman, Morals in Theory pg. 123

[edit] External links

Definition of amoralism at Dictionary.com

[Johnstone_2008-0] Johnstone, Megan-Jane (2008). Bioethics: A Nursing Perspective. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 102-103. ISBN 978-0729538732.

[Superson_2009-1] Superson, Anita (2009). The Moral Skeptic. Oxford University Press. pp. 127-159. ISBN 978-0195376623.

[2] Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language

[Glover_2000-3] Glover, Jonathan (2000). Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century. Yale University Press. pp. 29. ISBN 978-0300087000. "The Athenians presented hard amoralism as mere realism. Echoes of this have been heard many times since, for example in a comment by Stalin on the policies of countries at war: 'Whoever occupies a territory also imposes on it his own social system. Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army has power to do. It cannot be otherwise.'"

[Donaldson_1982-4] Donaldson, Thomas (1982). Corporations and morality. Prentice-Hall. pp. 78. ISBN 978-0131770140.

[5] Michael Newman, Morals in Theory pg. 123

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