Norms and values = morality?

Just because something fits in with a cultures norms and values [think sociology] it doesn't make it moral [think philosophy].

I am going to use the old killing chestnut to demonstrate this. Is it okay to kill? Some people would say yes it is. Thinking of perhaps animals, murderers, euthanasia, war. Other people would say no. Thinking of innocent people, animals, murderers, euthanasia, war. It's generally innocent people that seem to be killed in an immoral way. Innocent people that have no need to be dead, because they've done nothing wrong.

In some places this is a common everyday occurance, and in those places perhaps it's not as much of a taboo subject as it is in our Western Culture. The Samurai for example used to take their own lives becuase they were ashamed of something they had done. And it was done rather regularly everywhere. I think they stabbed themselves while someone else chopped off their heads or something like that. Thus it was okay to kill.

Suicide rates are on the increase and that says something doesn't it. Perhaps more people are seeing things, and yet they know, or feel, that they have no control and have no other option. I think those who commit suicide are a little on the selfish side. I think they are only thinking of themselves. I don't feel that they think about the impact that it has on their friends and family. And it does. I feel sorry for them in the sense that thy felt they had no other choice.

War is one of those funny arguments, that wont ever really be solved. War is a beast. Those who fight in the war, do they deserve to be killed? To the enemy, they are the enemy, they are shooting at them, they will shoot back. If they get killed, then it' s not immoral. However those that are fighting have been told that they have to. Do they want to? Do they feel it's right? You could say that that is what they joined the forces for. Many join the forces because it's an easy route into some sort of career. It shows that you have many qualities, making a job as a civilian slightly easier to find. Innocent people get killed in wars too. It's not just those who fight is it. And what is the reason for fighting? What does it solve?

Murderes do it. Murder I feel is immoral. but some murderers wont see it that way. Perhaps they believed something, and saw something that we don't. What gave them this idea to kill in the first place. Self-defense is okay I guess, but you'd have to have put a lot of force into your self defense to kill. Says you are capable of it.

There's euthanasia too. Is it moral or immoral to help someone end their life. If they are suffering from a terminal illness, is it so bad. There are places around the world you can't do it. Places that you can. It's a bit of a taboo. It seems that it's okay to put animals out of suffering but not humans....and why is that?

Anyway...there are all kinds of things that happen, that whether they are normal or not, or valued or not....well some are, and some are not moral.

What is moral to you?