Atheists Cannot be Moral Redux
Hi All,
We had a discussion many moons ago about atheists and morality and a lot has happened since then. I reached some new conclusions (which I'll withhold for now so I don't poison the water) and at least one other poster here has some new ideas about it.
So, I was wondering what the prevailing opinion is out there on this topic. Do you believe that atheists can be "moral"? Is it impossible for an atheist to be truly moral? Is "morality" something to which adherents have a valid claim? The infamous Dawkins and Harris had a discussion at Oxford about this about a year or so ago that was very good and I would also be interested in what anyone thinks of what was discussed there.
Thanks and all are welcome.
- kk
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on -
No mija, no me gusta, ni otras drogas - estan muy malo para la cuerpa. No mas dos o tres veces, muchos años pasado, pero ahora, nada (aunque cerveza esta bíen, con lima, y poquito sal!)
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on
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Para me, la noche esta acabo - hasta mañana, Chicitita --
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Permalink Reply by Kir Komrik on -
Arch - are you sure? - kk
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Permalink Reply by Kir Komrik on
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Arch,
The most immoral person I know, discussing morality?
To whom do you refer? And yea, I think I got the Shakespearean line. Thanks
- kk
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on
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RE: "To whom do you refer?"
ME!
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Permalink Reply by Kir Komrik on
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Arch - aww come on, I want to be the debaucherous one! :-) - kk
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on
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Permalink Reply by Nikos Mika on -
debauchery is not just a way of life its a special frame of mind lol shall we all jump of the deep end with it? I'll bring the Scotch....
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Permalink Reply by Kir Komrik on
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Nikos - Quite - kk
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Permalink Reply by Tiffany bottoms on -
I believe Harris makes the argument that morality can be viewed simply as behaving in a way which "maximizes well being and minimizes suffering.". His argument is persuasive and that is basically how I view morality.
Simply put, atheist have as much ability of morality as theists. I could argue easily that we have a more instinctual inclination towards it, but that's a thesis for another days.
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Permalink Reply by Kir Komrik on
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Hey Tiffany,
Yea, I think you summed up Harris' view very well. - kk
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Permalink Reply by Tiffany bottoms on
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Harris also asserts, indirectly IMHO, that morality is not subjective at all. If we use scietific method to determine "what maximizes well being and minimizes suffering", science can offer as close to concrete answers to morality as can be expected. Basically, even though human sacrifice has been morally acceptable within societies in the past, does not make it actually moral. It would not pass the well being/suffering test.
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