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When religion is taken out of the equation, many would say there is no correct way to live. For those who identify as religious, their faith is the moral compass by which they live. The idea of faith means that there is no way to prove their beliefs as true. They have faith that the guidelines they're presented with are the right ones to live according to.

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A thought provoking question for a morally diverse world.

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Right and wrong exist, but not in every situation. If cheating on your partner was considered okay, more people would do it. There are consequences for our actions and cheating results in a negative outcome. The negative outcomes of our life choices are what deems them right or wrong.

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Many people have similar moral compasses but the logic behind their differences will vary. Who can confidently and logically prove that their morals are the only correct morals? Outside of religion or any pre made set of rules, it's difficult to prove one way of thinking is correct.

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Nobody fits into the same box, and neither do their beliefs. Who can truly prove their way is best?

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James McCormick on Why There is No One Right Way to Live Your Life

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What is the difference between Ethics, Morality and the Law?

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The things that we don't tolerate are the things that fall under our moral compass such as murder.

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It's completely up tp you! Humans have free will to live in what way feels right for them.

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Whether murder is wrong or not would depend on one's ethical theory. In a Jewish or Christian divine command theory murder (or abortion) would be wrong because believers interpret the Torah or Bible as prohibiting such behavior through divine commands. Their God is a law-giver.

Here is how Michael W. Austin describes a divine command theory:

Roughly, Divine Command Theory is the view that morality is somehow dependent upon God, and that moral obligation consists in obedience to God's commands. Divine Command Theory includes the claim that morality is ultimately based on the commands or character of God, and that the morally right action is the one that God commands or requires.

This is not a command or duty that comes from some rational source although philosophers may attempt to justify it rationally. If the divine king commands something one does it and does not ask questions.

If one wants moral obligation without God one would have to devise a theory that justifies murder or does not justify it. Some of these theories focus on intention such as Kant's categorical imperative and others on the consequences of the action such as consequentialism.

G. E. M. Anscombe, who likely herself supported a divine command theory, did not think any of these rational alternatives to justify moral obligation without a law-giving God useful enough to be worth considering. According to her these theories are "only harmful without" that "earlier conception of ethics".

Here is the question:

Obviously I believe murder is wrong, and I'm also pro-choice. I suppose I'm interested to know the (presumed) flaw in this chain of reasoning.

I will only consider this question from the divine command theory as Anscombe seems to present it. The result is straightforward:

If one does not accept a God who commands the moral obligation, one should drop the concept of moral obligation entirely because one will end up justifying injustice.

If one does, one should not question the command, but only interpret it. Any attempt to justify the command may be interesting but it is ultimately irrelevant.

Bottom line: Murder is prohibited by an interpretation of divine command and so likely would be abortion.

Anscombe, G. E. M. Philosophy. Vol. 33, No. 124 (Jan., 1958), pp. 1-19 Retrieved on October 7, 2019 from JSTOR at https://www.jstor.org/stable/3749051?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Austin, M. W. Divine Command. Retrieved on October 7, 2019 from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy at https://www.iep.utm.edu/divine-c/

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Whether murder is wrong or not would depend on one's ethical theory. In a Jewish or Christian divine command theory murder (or abortion) would be wrong because believers interpret the Torah or Bible as prohibiting such behavior through divine commands. Their God is a law-giver. Here is how Michael W.

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Nobody will ever have it all right. Treat life as an experiment to find the best way.

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Nobody will ever have it all right. Treat life as an experiment to find the best way.

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All people should respect one another regardless of lifestyle choices.