Why do humans have moral beliefs and where did they originate?
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Morals aren't about belief, they are actions that are acceptable to the community in which you live. Moral behaviour is not unique to humans and is widely observed in other species. It boils down to the simple fact that it's easier to survive if you work together than spend your time trying to kill each other.
#6
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#7
I too believe that those creatures who cooperated, survived longer, and therefore were able to pass on their genes etc. The reason I asked is because a large number of people I have worked with also manage to bring God into the equation….a disturbingly large amount
Trending Topics
#8
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: 52 Festive Road
Posts: 28,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#9
I would like to think, with the way Reality's comment was written, that they were being "devils advocate".
But heavy religious types will aways attempt to suggest that morality is only provided by their religion in order to give it some kind of credibility. They will also claim that other social animals have no morality because they refuse to accept that we are just animals and that we're somehow "special". Of course, a little bit of common sense when watching the social interaction of other species shows that this is not the case - if these animals had no "morals" - or social rules, then they simply wouldn't be able to function as a social group.
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They will. The next point they'll make is that you can't be moral without a belief in god. What get's really interesting is when you start to turn that around. If they can't be moral without the threat of a god hanging over their head then are they moral at all? Most atheists manage to live a moral existence with no such threats.
#12
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
... or alternatively, just have a good think about the universe, yourself, and your life, and make your own mind up, rather than just having another idiot egotist telling you that THEIR truth is THE TRUTH, and someone elses truth isn't THE TRUTH at all. Oh. And buy my book while your at it.
#13
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cas Vegas
Posts: 60,269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#14
Can I get back to you on this? After Eastenders
I love Scoobynet! From trivia to profound. I do big bore exhausts, diy tips and existentialism me!!!
Oll - where do non human animals exibit morality?
D
I love Scoobynet! From trivia to profound. I do big bore exhausts, diy tips and existentialism me!!!
Oll - where do non human animals exibit morality?
D
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Type 25. Build No.34
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They will. The next point they'll make is that you can't be moral without a belief in god. What get's really interesting is when you start to turn that around. If they can't be moral without the threat of a god hanging over their head then are they moral at all? Most atheists manage to live a moral existence with no such threats.
Doing good for the sake of it, is in my view a far greater good then doing it for some sort of religious payback.
Last edited by Martin2005; 24 January 2008 at 09:08 PM.
#16
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#17
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: 52 Festive Road
Posts: 28,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hope that helps
#18
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cas Vegas
Posts: 60,269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And the dna of the offspring that often share fifty percent of the parent's dna (sometimes more in asexually reproducing species), and the dna of kin that share copies of their genes to a greater or lesser degree.
#19
This subject is new to me really, but I dont think animals have a concept of morality - and that isnt cos of a lack of a God(s) thing. They dont worry about having big tellys, platinum credit cards and fast cars either!
D
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To see what I mean, see what get's posted on some of the Christian fundamentalist web sites, they seem to be a very un-christian bunch to me: Fundies Say the Darndest Things! - Latest Comments
Have a read of the story about the woman who's son is gay.
These quotes really are typical of the sort of things I come across. If you're going to debate a fundie then be prepared for them to turn up with a cart full of straw and motorised goal posts
#23
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cas Vegas
Posts: 60,269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Teamwork isnt morality mate. It helps self preservation except when it doesnt suit you. E.g. Male lions kill cubs if they aint their own. That, from my moral perspective, is a nauseating amoral behaviour.
This subject is new to me really, but I dont think animals have a concept of morality - and that isnt cos of a lack of a God(s) thing. They dont worry about having big tellys, platinum credit cards and fast cars either!
D
This subject is new to me really, but I dont think animals have a concept of morality - and that isnt cos of a lack of a God(s) thing. They dont worry about having big tellys, platinum credit cards and fast cars either!
D
#24
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: 52 Festive Road
Posts: 28,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
..and it also explains latent racism and xenophobia IIRC
#25
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#26
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: 52 Festive Road
Posts: 28,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Indeed, it's quite worrying to think there are churches all over the land full of murderers and rapists, held in check only by the belief that they will be punished by a deity if they don't behave. I find it rather worrying to be honest.
To see what I mean, see what get's posted on some of the Christian fundamentalist web sites, they seem to be a very un-christian bunch to me: Fundies Say the Darndest Things! - Latest Comments
Have a read of the story about the woman who's son is gay.
These quotes really are typical of the sort of things I come across. If you're going to debate a fundie then be prepared for them to turn up with a cart full of straw and motorised goal posts
To see what I mean, see what get's posted on some of the Christian fundamentalist web sites, they seem to be a very un-christian bunch to me: Fundies Say the Darndest Things! - Latest Comments
Have a read of the story about the woman who's son is gay.
These quotes really are typical of the sort of things I come across. If you're going to debate a fundie then be prepared for them to turn up with a cart full of straw and motorised goal posts
scary thing is that america is run by such feebs
#27
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: 52 Festive Road
Posts: 28,311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#28
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This subject is new to me really, but I dont think animals have a concept of morality - and that isnt cos of a lack of a God(s) thing. They dont worry about having big tellys, platinum credit cards and fast cars either!
D
D
#29
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cas Vegas
Posts: 60,269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
But only because of the probability that they share copies of the same genes owned by the individual exhibiting altruistic or moral behaviour. "Species selection" doesn't exist, except as a by-product of kin selection.
#30
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 12,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts