(new here, hope I am posting this in the correct forum)
I have been watching many debates between Christopher Hitchens/Richard Dawkins and various religious figures. A big question that comes up in nearly all debates is where our morality comes from. Most religious figures will state that our morality comes from god in one form or another, which as an atheist, I find silly.
What I want to know is why Hitchens/Dawkins only argue that morality is an evolutionary product? I do agree with them, but I see it only as the biological answer. I also think the answer is more than just biological, but also psychological.
The orbitofrontal cortex of the brain processes empathy. I like to think that this is the origin of human morality, and that our feeling of empathy has developed over time, i.e. evolution.
http://triplehelixblog.com/2012/08/serial-killers-the-brain-and-the-mind...
I never here this argument coming from Atheists. Why?
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Also, is there a way to edit posts once they have been posted? I'm noticing a few misspelled words.
No edits... :-( so if your anal about spelling an punctuation it is sometimes frustrating.
I am just waiting for a spelling or grammar nazi to come along, not knowing things can't be edited, and critique someones post. If they have a mistake in the post when they do that will be worth an especially good laugh.
Welcome to the boards
Interesting question, I too agree that it is a psychological thing. I feel for some it is empathy meaning they can relate to how another person feels and they feel the same, some is guilt and more along the lines of sympathy meaning they feel sorry for you but don't feel the same. some however is just a cut and dry less empathetic less sympathetic that seems a more narcissistic reaction to how actions feel to them. Yet some I would say have a more psychotic or psychopathic response which is implemented by a structure of rules created by either themselves or others. I am surprised you have never seen this discussed, debated or brought up by atheist though I know the subject has been discussed on these boards before.
There are a couple neuroscientist on the boards so I am sure this subject will get some attention.
Well if the question is where does morality come from in the context of a theist debate then evolution is getting to the root cause. I.e. That is the origin of the brain. If you only discuss the brain then the theist response is "God made the brain" or "the soul directs the brain".
Getting beyond the theist debate you can look at the psychology but you still end up at evolution- e.g. the development of empathy as a social skill, the protection of offspring, punishment of cheating. The brain is the mechanism to implement but evolution is the origin.
Good point! I'm noticing theists using the "God created the Big Bang" argument lately as well
I usually reply there is a slim possibility a god did but not yours, the bibles been pretty much bitchfked by science historians and theologians. So while a creator may exist i thank god its not yours lol
I agree. At least this new-ish view is beginning to accept evolution.
Religions vaunted morality always irks me take christianity 1 out of 50 the priests are child molesters the (popes estimate so might be higher) the religion repeatedly breaks 4 of the commandments and in the past repeatedly broke 5 the 5 th was thou shalt not steal they cant get away with that anymore.
Plus statistics show that religious people are more likely to commit crimes than atheist with interesting christianity at the top but only because islam permits some things that are crimes elsewhere.
Psychologists say its because these people have been taught from birth they will be forgiven for anything. Plus many religions teach that non believers are worthless christianity and islam in particular.
This is a very frustrating thing to me as well. It's even scarier to think that most religious people are MORE moral now than if they followed their books word for word, i.e. rape/genocide/sacrifices/etc.
Ment to say that since they are considered worthless they believe their rules dont apply to them. So its ok to steal etc from an atheist or any religion thats not your own.
I would argue that an objective morality is not 100% confirmed that it exists.
We only know for sure that we have subjective morality.
very funny:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44ilZq3R900
A discussion on objective morality:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIH0qHUJisA
I love DarkMatter2525! This discussion also reminds me of Tim Minchin's "The Good Book"