What is morality exactly? My own understanding is that it is a system of beliefs based on the logic (or lack of) of the majority, which is in turn based on instinct and genetics. What else could it be? This is shown in the specific behaviour of people of different cultures, producing different moral codes.
I agree that decisions should be made according to logic and information (Hitler's premise was not logical and not based on information), including laws, and I try to live by this philosophy. I would like to get as close to the truth as possible and not get distracted too much by useless philosophical bullshit. I look at each law that involves me, and I ask myself what its purpose is, logically. Why should I walk on the pedestrian crossing? Because otherwise I raise the chance of causing an accident. Others may not hold this view, but I do. I don't think the law is there for some other reason. If it doesn't make sense, I'll try my best not to obey it. I try to do the 'practical' common sense thing. This means that 99% of the time I am a 'goody two shoes' and sometimes a dangerous rebel. The aim of this logic is for people to be as happy, healthy and free as possible. So I'll apply this idea to some issues, trying to distance myself from my own culture as much as possible.
Homosexuality in adults is genetic and is therefore a natural thing. It causes no harm to me at all, or anyone else. See Ashmo and Sander's posts for more evidence. Tone says that it harms him to have same sex marriage. How? I would not like my children to be homosexual, but I would accept it and hope that they could have the same legal right that everyone else has. I would be upset and disappointed, but would get over it. Weighing their right to be happy and my minor disappointment, there is no competition. There is no logical reason why they should not be allowed to have a same sex marriage.
Pedophilia and other such things are also genetic, although they are far less common. But these practises involve taking away the freedom of others and making them unhappy, causing physical and psychological pain. I do not want people to be in pain because I can empathize and do not want it to happen to me. I feel sorry for the misfortune of others. Thus such extreme anti-social behaviour must be prevented. Rapists must be removed from society or changed so as to protect others.
Why not polygamy, between consenting adults? I do not see this as much of a problem. As long as they can support themselves and maintain all their emotional needs, then why not? The difficulty is measuring the effectiveness of the system. I would have to assess it financially and psychologically, with interviews and in-depth investigation. Then I would advise people as to whether this is a good lifestyle choice, and probably say it isn't. Still, if all involved did want to live that way, then I wouldn't stop them.
Likewise, I see no reason why a legal 'marriage', in the form of an economic partnership, between any adults is a problem. Get rid of the useless label of 'marriage' for law, and leave it for spirituality and social ritual. There are two old sisters who live next door to me, and I think a 'marriage' of convenience would be useful for them, as they have similar financial roles. With the question of children, if they can create a strong family environment, then they can adopt a child or whatever.
Incest is even rarer, as one is not attracted by close family members, as it leads to genetic abnormalities. Cousins have to marry in small communities, but this is still risky and should be avoided if possible.
If you can afford to feed murderers, the element of uncertainty, rehabilitation and mental problems means you should not execute them.
I am not sure as to the level of consciousness of animals, but I know that they feel pain and it is not nice (I empathize). When a fly gets into my house through when the door was open, I genuinely feel sorry for having to kill it. It is annoying, invading my personal space and spreading disease. So I kill it, as quickly as possible. Pain might just be a terminator style warning, but I would rather not take a risk. If it were a clean lizard or bee, I would capture it and release it, as these creatures are useful to me. This might lead to morality, but I see it as logical. I also love meat, so I am not going to be a vegetarian and instead hope that cows or whatever are killed as painlessly as possible. In the future, I hope that we can simply grow meat in vats or manufacture it. As are understanding of the universe slowly grows through science and logic, more problems can be solved. People might have a problem with such things, but I would not.
So in general, I think one should take every situation on a case by case basis, and make a decision which will be most positive for both the individual and the majority. If you have a more difficult problem, gather more information about it, think longer, and make the most practical decision. Morality, whatever that is, might define our behaviour, but I am have little confidence in it when people use morality as an excuse to act without reason. The whole chain of understanding should be correct. It will never be perfect, but we should try to make it so.
