What is your own personal philosophy

Although aspects of many of the theories we studied were quite reasonable and while I agree with many of them, there was a constant problem throughout. There is not a one that allows for enjoyjment of (or even allowing for livability) in the status quo while also looking toward the betterment of the future. Theories stress either where to go, or how to deal with what we have - but not how to get from here to there.

Part of dealing with today is a tolerance for people who disagree with you. You must be tolerant, one - because it will happen, and two - because they might know better. But even given that you must assume that you are right...with an open ear, and the willingness to change your view.

So what am I, relativist or absolutist? Absolutely absolutist! I also believe in the Lord and His Divine Good and Truth. The Diving Truth is what we must look to to lead us, but our perception of it may not be clear at times - this is why we must be attentive to others views and be prepared to change.

Given that I am absolutist and religious it might come as a surprise that my favorite definition (of the ones we studied) of a moral person is that of Satre. It is the essential ideas of self-confidence and responsibility to humanity that I find so powerful in his ideas. The combination of his responsibility concept with the absolute truth provided in the Writings and the self-confidence to do what you believe is right...it makes me shudder with delight to think of the potential.

Jumping back, I would like to mention that I was pleased to hear Aquinas' argument that "if science points toward singular truths, shouldn't the study of morality as well?" I've used it myself prior to hearing it from him, and I believe it is a powerful argument as to why absolute morality is right.

How do you get to be a moral person? Regeneration, and it's a process of removing our evil tendencies. And, I might add, that will be painful, about that Kant was right. And I believe he was also right that in messed up world, happiness isn't directly linked to being moral. But, part of being moral is taking time to enjoy yourself - Aristotle's "means between the extremes," i.e. at times you must appear egoistic - taking time to enjoy yourself - but the intent is to make you better able to serve society.

Will and reason both play parts in morality. A large part of regeneration is the cleansing of the old will - a removal of hereditary evils by forcing yourself, by means of your reason, to comply with what you know to be right. This old will is then replaced with a new will that will allow us to enjoy being good.

Enjoy being good? Yes, hard to believe as it is, there can be a love associated with being useful, if we allow it ot come through.

To recap, I will go over the most important parts of my (*) beliefs.

Ideal

1. Morality is living according to Divine Truth
2. The source is the Writings and the Word
3. Regenerate to reach morality
4. There can be a love associated with morality and a happiness if we allow there to be
5. There is one absolute truth (see #2)
6. It is altruistic (though it may appear otherwise)
7. We must use our reason to tame our will and then they may work in conjunction and we will be happy

Today

1. Be tolerant of other views
2. Live according to what the writings teach, accepting responsibility, and doing these with confidence

But how will things get better if you are tolerant?

Live to prove you are right.

Everyone is granted a conscience that is developed as they recognize what is true. If you live right and enjoy it, they will know it. So take life by the...uh, reins and take it where you think it should go. The final judge of morality is the Lord, and he will know if you've done what you believe is right, and it is on that scale that you will be judged.

To quote Shakespeare's Signoir Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing, "Man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion."