Nowadays, we can observe an outbreak of an epidemic called infidelity. Why is it so seductive?
Have we lost our conscience? As it is stated, it is 'the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual' and 'the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives' (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conscience)
Does one, who cheated on his or her partner, feel guilty? Maybe, there are some people who claim that this is the present, and what is more, that one can do whatever one wants. Yes... our freedom, such a catchword, but really our getting lost in life. Unfortunately, I believe that the majority of us feels tired, hopeless and doesn't have a moral code to follow (either religious or human).
The Kant's categorical imperative : 'I ought never to act except in such a way that I could also will that my maxim should become a universal law' (Kant in Blackburn 2001:120) could be a solution. Do we want, being unfaithful to our partner, the same thing to happen to us? Most frequently, the answer will be ' no', however we tend to forget about it while doing something not only morally bad, but also painful to somebody else.
It is all about a pleasure, one can say. 'The happy life is a string of satisfying inner sensation' (Jeremy Bentham in Blackburn 2001:81). I think that the utilitarianism perceives life in a wrong way, because our life as a happy pigs, without suffering, would be monotonous, and at the same time boring and not happy at all. What is more, living in infatuation, would be only seemingly good, and probably, we wouldn't want such a life, if there was a possibility to choose.
What is so bad about cheating, when nobody else knows about it? It is not legally wrong, but it is morally! What's more, there is a possibility of finding out. We may feel guilty, and it could lead to a divorce.
4 comments:
In my opinion infidelity is incorrect in most circumstances. I for one would dislike it if it happened to me. I'd really like to stand firm and say that it is wrong in all cases. But i feel that i'd be lying if i said so.
Before i say it is completely wrong, i would first have to relate it to an actual incident of infidelity because then i could argue for both view points within the relationship.
For example; A man with absolutely no intentions of being faithful to his girlfriend what-so-ever may argue that he was not cheating because his intentions of being faithful were never there.
The woman however was faithful through all of the relationship. In which case, she was misled by her partner. Surely, morally this is incorrect.
There is however a growing problem in today’s Western culture; which i would argue stems from such activities as drinking in access and the mixture of nightclubs. Put together, is not usually a good outcome.
A psychological hedonist may argue that the deep rooted interest in infidelity may be due to an unhappy relationship, therefore the partner will perhaps cheat in order to maximise their desire for pleasure.
In contrast, an ethical hedonist would argue that one would try to maximise their ethical pleasure. So in relation to cheating, one would hope that a person would not cheat because it'd be on their conscience and therefore may maximise pain. (Perhaps search John Stuart Mill, also believed in maximising pleasure and minimising pain).
I believe that our behavior, the things we do, are the most important. One may think: I didn't want to kill him, ups...
Yes, you are right. It's a really serious problem, even our culture seems to absorb it.
It all depends on our believes!
I believe that unless specifically agreed upon that the relationship is an 'open' one, then infidelity is unacceptable behaviour from either party. The idea of being in a relationship with somebody, to me, means you want to be with them and only them. Cheating signifies the cracks in the relationship hence seeking something from elsewhere outside of the relationship
Yes.But I think that there isn't really something like 'open' relationship, because sooner or later, we are only for sex with that person, there is no love, we have other sexual partners and without love as well. Our real partner is exactly the same as the others.
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