forum for week of 12 September

They may be arbitrary but they are not without purpose. A cultures beliefs or values are rules for how to effectively live/succeed in that culture. This of course will differ by region and time period, but will always, at least at the time, reflect the endpoint in the evolution of that society. These values emulate how the fittest member of a certain society would think and act. Appealing to these morals, arbitrary they may be, is not a meaningless goal.