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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 1 of 10 1 2 3 … 9 10 Where does morality come from? #210554 04/22/13 02:23 AM 04/22/13 02:23 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie OP Carpal Tunnel Jackie   OP Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky We had a lively discussion at lunch today about morality. One person maintained that morality comes from a Higher Power, for lack of a better term, and that if you're not religious you don't have morality, you just go by what's "right" or "wrong" according to the laws of whatever society you live in. I maintain that an atheist can have morals. I would love to read your-all's thoughts on this, if we can do it without getting into whether or not there is a Higher Power (of whatever name) or judging the various religions. Re: Where does morality come from? [Re: Jackie] #210563 04/22/13 10:33 AM 04/22/13 10:33 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Morality is a trait of any successful social species. Without morality it would be impossible for that species to survive. If there's a higher power involved that higher power is natural selection. Re: Where does morality come from? [Re: Jackie] #210567 04/22/13 02:18 PM 04/22/13 02:18 PM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel zmjezhd   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh I maintain that an atheist can have morals. I've never bought the "only the religious have morals", which in my experience means those whose religion is closest to the speaker's. I think all humans have morals (just step on somebody's toe or reach into another person's shopping cart at a store and remove an item for yourself). And, what one's ethical system is a mishmash of the traditional plus the idiosyncratic. As to its origins, like many things, it comes from the individuals who make up the societal group. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Re: Where does morality come from? [Re: Faldage] #210573 04/22/13 04:42 PM 04/22/13 04:42 PM Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,554 Lower Aberdeen, Mississippi J jenny jenny veteran jenny jenny   veteran J Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,554 Lower Aberdeen, Mississippi Originally Posted By: Faldage Morality is a trait of any successful social species. Without morality it would be impossible for that species to survive. If there's a higher power involved that higher power is natural selection. Yes, but not exactly. Morals are but an aspect of the mechanics of evolution. A Higher Power is needed to effect a Creation to put the billiard balls in motion. Re: bootstrapping quidditas ipsa [Re: jenny jenny] #210574 04/22/13 05:56 PM 04/22/13 05:56 PM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel zmjezhd   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh A Higher Power is needed to effect a Creation to put the billiard balls in motion. Ah, deity qua big bang. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Re: bootstrapping quidditas ipsa [Re: jenny jenny] #210575 04/22/13 06:12 PM 04/22/13 06:12 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Originally Posted By: jenny jenny Originally Posted By: Faldage Morality is a trait of any successful social species. Without morality it would be impossible for that species to survive. If there's a higher power involved that higher power is natural selection. A Higher Power is needed to effect a Creation to put the billiard balls in motion. Too many capitals in that sentence. formerly known as etaoin... Re: bootstrapping quidditas ipsa [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu] #210576 04/22/13 06:49 PM 04/22/13 06:49 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Morality is, morals are the principles that maintain in or bring into equilibrium the interests of the individual with the interests of a group/ society. I think it comes from our hunting, gathering, cave dwelling past. How to fight and compromise over territory and bone. From rudeness to refinement. Who's the expert in the does and don'ts of our prehistory? Re: bootstrapping quidditas ipsa [Re: BranShea] #210577 04/22/13 08:12 PM 04/22/13 08:12 PM Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,554 Lower Aberdeen, Mississippi J jenny jenny veteran jenny jenny   veteran J Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,554 Lower Aberdeen, Mississippi Clearly said BranShea. And buffalo, if you can't capitalize THE Creation how can you justify capitalizing Walmart or Chicago or Obama or Sin? Re: bootstrapping quidditas ipsa [Re: BranShea] #210582 04/22/13 11:33 PM 04/22/13 11:33 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Originally Posted By: BranShea I think it comes from our hunting, gathering, cave dwelling past. If we didn't have morals to start with we would never have made it that far. Re: bootstrapping quidditas ipsa [Re: jenny jenny] #210583 04/22/13 11:44 PM 04/22/13 11:44 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Originally Posted By: jenny jenny And buffalo, if you can't capitalize THE Creation how can you justify capitalizing Walmart or Chicago or Obama or Sin? Well, three out of four are what they call themselves, so who am I to say? I don't know anybody named Sin. formerly known as etaoin... Page 1 of 10 1 2 3 … 9 10 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. 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