'No-one can teach us morals'

You've heard this phrase before: from Israeli fanatics or Muslim fundamentalists. As if our way is right, necessarily right, and always right. But there's more to it: it's a God-given fact-and there's no arguing with that!

Well, you don't believe for a second that a moral compass is 'given', or to the extent it is, then it is given to everyone and as a potentiality. No Syeds, no Brahmins, no Gurus; no pirs, no men in pointed hats, no swamis, no Shaikhs..no..as the Hindus say: "not this, not that"

Can a moral sense be taught, nurtured? If so, it's not through books or academia or music. You can study economics, philosophy, mathematics or whatever and still be a horrible person, just as you can be jewish, muslim, or an atheist and be horrible to other people. Not much use saying that in doing so you cease to be jewish/muslim etc. How to come to terms with violence within religion?

What is the 'first philosophy'?

You can talk all you want about pluralism (Isaiah Berlin) or 'infinite responsibility (Levinas). And yet, when it comes to real people, real events, what you say sounds fake, duplicitous. The Palestinians, for example. Or, you can harp on all you want about democracy but then at the very same moment say that the 'inferior races' aren't quite ready for it. Just as you can talk all you want about women's rights in Islam but, at some time or the other, you're going to have to face reality.

I dunno. On this one I tend to think that if it can be taught then it comes to us through our families: father, mother, sister and maybe through our friendships. Not as something that is inherited or inviolable. Anyone can fall (Augustine's pessimistic view in his later years, according to Peter Brown).

Iris M.
The background work required to be a good person. The need for second spaces, revision, for places of refuge, for generosity, for openness. Not the 'isolated will' making a choice. attention, concentration: seeing someone, something, oneself, in the right light. Clarity and charity.