[agumonkey]

Reminds me of culture shock between Europe and South America. When people came there, sacrifices seemed barbaric. To the aztec/inca ... these were probably a noble gesture.

People's emotions toward acts is highly dependant on the reference system they live in.

I'm sure it's exceptionally hard to escape this kind of nation wide social pressure. At least for a while. I've read people starting to feel sick and question their duty. But they still agreed at first.

Similarly, drone operators started happy, but became overly depressed after "working" for months.

[humanrebar]

> People's emotions toward acts is highly dependant on the reference system they live in.

Yes, but let's be careful not to conflate felt nobility with actual good. Sacrificing humans to false gods is pretty awful, no matter the sentiment behind the acts.

[agumonkey]

Try to put yourself in their shoes, to the victim it was probably a high desire, his family was probably proud, they may believe he went into heaven and were relieved. If the whole system is strong in its belief and consistent you cannot "understand" their acts as good or bad.

[humanrebar]

I believe there are objectively bad things to do and killing people for a false sacrifice is certainly bad.

It's true that people need empathy, though, partly so they can be wary despite their own good intentions and clean consciences.

[agumonkey]

You never felt the pleasure of giving your life for someone ? for a group ?

I did, very few times, but I did. I bet 10$ that their culture only amplified that feeling.

[humanrebar]

I'm confused why you think a lack of empathy on my part is the problem. Of course I can empathize with people doing horrible things with good intentions. It's all the more reason to be clear and definitive when drawing clear moral lines for everyone. So confusing feelings don't lead people to do horrible things.

We don't serve people well by simply putting ourselves in their shoes. That's certainly part of a mature response, but it's far from a complete answer.

[agumonkey]

not lack of empathy, I wouldn't dare, I mean altruistic "deathwish" might not be so common in society hence my question.

[zeth___]

Lets also not confuse means with ends. A room full of corpses is a room full of corpses. Regardless if they were put there from human sacrifice, nazi genocide, communist collectivization, or capitalist cost cutting (the sweatshop workers that get burned to death).

That the people who filled that room wanted a wonderful society filled with everything good doesn't detract from the fact they were monsters.