Re: Amoral



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Topic: Religions > Atheism
User: "johac"
Date: 28 Jul 2003 12:19:42 AM
Object: Re: Amoral
In article <58881a23.0307271432.26b8e841@posting.google.com>,
(Daemon) wrote:

What does it mean to be moral or amoral? I have heard "Atheists are
amoral!" on one side and "Atheists can be moral without religion" on
the other, but what does that mean?

If being moral means being unselfish, then that doesn't make any
sense. No human action is purposely unselfish, whether it is due to
(perceived) reward of afterlife (or punishment), Imprinted guilt,
'Do-gooder's high', Laws, or some other reward/punishment, perceived
or otherwise.

It seems to me, any action, as long as it benefits me in the long
run is good, taking all things into account (even psychological,
reputation, repercussions, laws, etc.) My foresight may be in error,
leading me in the opposite direction, but the intent is "selfish", I
can't see it being otherwise.

But this is true even to religious folk; Fear of hell, group
pressure, and guilt. All actions they take are meant to directly
benefit themselves, (heaven, acceptance, no guilt, etc.) even if the
presumptions are false. The intent is the same.

So then what are morals? Is it what benefits 'Society'? I don't
think I have reason to benefit 'society' unless that action somehow
benefits me, even in the long run. It would be waste otherwise.

Unless I am missing something the words moral/immoral/amoral seem
meaningless.

"Moral" is derived from a Latin word meaning customs, as in customary
behavior. To say that something is moral means that is widely accepted
behavior, which has been practiced as such for a long time. Morals
arise from human reason and aspirations and are not something handed
down to us by some mythological being.


______________________________________________________________________________
__
A quote from Albert Einstein on the subject:

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy,
education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would
indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of
punishment and hope of reward after death."

--
John Hachmann, aa #1782
"In those parts of the world where learning and science has prevailed,
miracles ceased; but in those parts that are barbarous and ignorant,
miracles are still in vogue." -Letters of Ethan Allen to Thomas Jefferson
.

 

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