deconstructing morality?

    Are morals innate or learned? To understand this question, we have to remember what morals are; principles we act on, as to display our distinguishing of right from wrong. Our morality and ethics are directly tied to our personal values, and we do not form values innately. You have to start somewhere, and ultimately that starting point will be foundationless- if you decide that existence is pointless, then you have accepted fatalism and nothing is of any relevance. If you go the opposite route, then you ask, do I value survival? Survival is necessary to achieve any other goal, so unless you hate your life (which falls under fatalism as well, often of the suicidal kind), you should choose survival! You then begin to examine the patterns of reality, especially those that correspond to the continuation of survival. From there you can derive logic, math, science, etc. and have a foundation for knowledge. However, there are always cultural variations; certain values will differ among people, as well as the priority they place on those values. I believe this is where most of us derive our morals, values, and personal bias from. Most of us will begin with certain beliefs and assumptions about the world and life, while trying to work backwards and justify them (very obvious in many religions and traditions). In this case, our sense of morality is almost completely learned from our surroundings. The entire concept of morality is aimed to build rationally and logically sound values and premises, which is why basing morals on assumptions and unquestioning beliefs works against progression and self- development. Moral hesitation and paradoxes serve to point out the "holes" in many sets of moral values. By working in direct contrast, or thinking with a "blank canvas", we can then build ideologies unhindered by bias, childish assumptions, and moral hesitation.