Where do morals come from?

Part 1 of the debate.

The atheist's opinion.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• moral
• morals
• god
• christian
• philosophy
• debate
• atheist
• atheism
• evolution
• natural
• reason
• rational

[AlShaddai]

First, we have to have an agreed upon definition of "morals." Is it a "sense" of "right" and "wrong"? Knowledge of what is "good" and what is "evil"? Right for whom? Wrong for whom?  Good and evil in what sense? It is one of those things that you cannot define, but you "know it when you see it"? Forget the debate w/o the definition.

[morsec0de]

I think I touch on that somewhere in my videos. This was so long ago I have to look at it again.

[Shadofx]

I believe this is a very poor response..

[itzahazylife]

*banished*

[itzahazylife]

if we were born with no inhibition to steal or murder, it would greatly effect the efficiency of survival for the group as a whole..but u always have the social outcasts who don't adhere to these codes..and just like in a wolf pack, they are punished or baninsh in some form.

[itzahazylife]

i believe all social animals are born with certain morals..such as not murdering or harming one of your own species..like how wolves and bison are banished from the pack if they harm the young..i believe we are born with certain morals to help ensure that survival runs more smoothly for the group as a whole..

[xblackxsailsx]

actually, stateless societies in Africa were quite peaceful before Muslims (and im attacking organized religion in general, not Islam) came and promoted organized religion and government, both of which fucked everything up

[VitaminTMan]

Good vid! But where would the more complex moral issues come into play, like sacrificing your life for someone? Or diving into a freezing pond to save a drowning person? Or abortion issues or gay rights issues, etc etc. Are these types of moral issues just born of the humans more highly evolved psyche? Do animals also risk their own life directly for others? Would you say animals (besides humans) are altruistic, or is it only humans with altruistic tendencies. Interested to hear your thoughts.

[Reproductivist]

For animals who are capable of some degree of reasoning, apes f ex, it isn't always better to act "morally" or in accordance with emotions or instinct as they are often general, can be deceived or manipulated easily through f ex recordings or validated by false, I.E. non-relative, patrons like strangers or the God-concept. And with todays opportunities to have lots of kids or harm many strangers, it's is many many times better to act on 'evil' reason instead.

[Reproductivist]

The scout thing makes sense because it's genes are carried by it's blood relatives and natural selection cares more about genes than individuals and the call is gene-based and since they are similar genetically, chance has it they would do the same; pretty much the Golden Rule in it's correct setting. It should never be applied to strangers or other species. For most species memory or learning has nothing or little to do with it.

[Sonnetalex]

i share all your views in this video, i think giving and taking has become civilisation and i think it is the key to advancing it, for us to become less predatorial

[Piff343]

And the idea that the scout animal should run like hell is completely illogical.  The only logical thing for the scout to do in order to insure the survival of it's species is to warn the other animals. If it didn't warn it's commrades, they would all die and only one animal would survive. Your examples from nature are just examples of natural selection, not morality. Our morality comes from the government.

And you are way to worried about insulting people. Just loosen up and talk.