Q&A: Conventional Norms and Rational Values
Originally published:
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Conventional Norms and Rational Values.
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Regarding your article about Plumeria, I wanted to summarize what you said, because you also claimed that in fact you still haven’t reached a real decision on this matter (which is rare).
1. Basically, conventional norms are not fixed in an ideal sense, but were created by human beings. So does that mean that homosexuality, incest, nudists, or some other repulsive things that I don’t even want to write, are all basically normal like a person who conducts himself in a decent, ordinary way?
2. What about good character traits that are not ethical morality like not murdering or stealing, but rather being humble, happy, etc., etc.? Are they ideal values, or are they also conventional norms?
Answer
- It depends what “normal” means. In the literal sense, normal means according to the accepted norm, and in that sense they are not normal in a society where such behavior is not practiced. I also wrote that there is value in acting in accordance with accepted custom (conventional norms are also values, but they are subject to change).
- It seems to me that character traits are not conventional norms but rational values. Even in a place where people are accustomed to being arrogant, that is still a bad practice.