Do you believe in a absolute moral code?

Wise words. Still the questions stands, by what standard do you judge yours and other's deeds? How do you define the abuse the Chief speaks of?

@mar3sword: Great questions. I judge deeds (mine and those of others) by logically extrapolating them to their natural conclusion. Did the deed to harm to innocents? If so, then the deed is wrong even if it was conducted with the purest of intent.

As for the Chief's admonition to "abuse no one and no thing" I think that one is self evident. We are all responsible to defend the innocent, but outside of that we should do no harm in life. Or, as Google says, Don't be evil.

@sarabee1995: Well said. And thus the complexities arise when all alternatives bring harm to someone...for do make no choice is to still make a choice. Which is why we have moral codes of all sorts.

It is fairly self evident I will agree, still, people do seem to have to trouble with it.

@sarabee1995: this is too easy... for real world decisions sometimes innocents will suffer for some greater good, it is inevitable. if innocent people die to save my country from russian oppression, that is horrible but not immoral. can i kill one innocent to save many innocents? you know this dilemma, but it is far enough from you to have comfort of the absolute...

@Yulianna: There are many lines of philosophy about that very questions and the answer very much depends on which school of thought you lean to. More socialist and utilitarian to pick the option that provides the greatest gift for the greatest number of people or more individualistic choosing instead to save the person you love. Or do you just refuse to make a decision in an attempt to absolve yourself from guilt.

@mar3sword: yes... or ignore the numbers, put a value on the people - 1 surgeon against 10 philosophers? 1 poet against 10 politicians - or vice versa?

@Yulianna: Again, depends what line of thought you follow. 1 surgeon could save hundreds of lives so utilitarian thought would say he is more valuable. But what if the surgeon was single and the 10 philosophers had families? The whole world is so complex these sorts of decisions are incredibly difficult. Unfortunately there are people who have to make such decisions on the regular, military officers and the like.

In regard to your last, always save the poet, it is really just making the world better by taking out the trash... ;) Just kidding, sort of, but you get me...

@mar3sword: well, you say unfortunately, but really i think it is fortunate that people will go into politics, military and be prepared to make hard decisions based on evidence, intelligence, and objectives... imagine if we had to vote these every time, world would be overrun by terrorists.

@Yulianna: Ah yes, it is very fortunate there are such people. The unfortunate part I was referring to is the crushing weight they must bare on having to weigh such moral dilemmas on the regular and that such decisions have to be made.