Reality About Human Morality

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   Beelzedadposted 13 years ago

   Although I am a member of 'the brights' I get monthly newsletters and wanted to share this interesting challenge they are putting together for anyone who wants to participate. Here's the introduction to the program:
   
   "Persons who have a naturalistic worldview are perpetually “up against” the false but widely held cultural presumption that they, because of their worldview, lack certain requisites to be moral persons. This presupposition by others is an encumbrance that crops up again and again. In our view, it appears to be the single most significant hindrance to public disclosure that one has a naturalistic worldview. Brights must address this “morality problem” head on—with zest, and with profundity.
   
   It is important to firm up understanding within the constituency of what is known about the natural underpinnings of human morality so that Brights can more effectively counter “common knowledge” that morals are presented to humanity by a supernatural deity through scripture."
   
   http://the-brights.net/action/activitie … /arenas/1/
   
   

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      Deaconessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I have considered this before, and found it interesting that less than .3% of US convicts are atheists... while more than 83% are of Judeo-Christian religion.
      
      http://www.holysmoke.org/icr-pri.htm

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         Castlepalomaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         It's 80% of the world is religion, since 25% of the world jails are in the USA no wonder where the breakdown of hard moral fiber comes from

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      just_curiousposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Oh gosh beelzedad. You might double check your credentials. You might be wrong on this one. This  idea doesn't appear to be too bright. A little lame, if you ask me.

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         Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Interesting that you would resurrect an old thread, which seems to have received a few more comments now.
         
         Your comment once again dismisses out of hand without offering a shred of explanation. Still batting a thousand with that style of responding.
         
         Or, are you waiting for someone to take up the challenge and beg to ask the obvious questions?

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            just_curiousposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I truly apologize for this. It appeared on the droid, as if out had recently been posted. I was not trying to accomplish anything. Please accept my apologies.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Looks like just another liberal group that wants to re-define right and wrong.  I wouldn't call that too "bright", since they're up against the real standard of morality---God Himself.

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         AKA Winstonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Real standard of morality #1: Thou shalt have no other god before me.  Love, Buddha

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            Brenda Durhamposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Sorry, but you'll hafta do better than that.  I heard Buddha died.  So I'm purty sure he doesn't love me.  ha

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         Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         That is exactly their point, Brenda, that is exactly their point...

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            Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Hey Beelz,
            
            If they are comparing moral standards of humankind to that of a god standard, then common sense there already exists a belief that a god exists. Yes?
            
            Btw- I didn't read the link you provided, because it's rarely that I follow any link, unless it leads to a hub.
            
            The "reality" about human morality is that too many people lack any understanding of the meaning of the word. Very few, truly understand it.

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               Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I would suspect that to be true, if I'm reading that right.

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                  Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Now how stupid is that?

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                     Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Maybe I didn't read it right, then.

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                        Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Hey Beelz,
                        
                        God Standard - Human Morality - One slight difference.
                        
                        God Standard is perfection.
                        
                        Human Morality isn't.
                        
                        Since Human cannot be perfect, it would be irrelevant and/or stupid, to waste any effort in comparing the two.
                        
                        It's already understood, at what level of morality the "God Standard" is and not achievable, and for one specific reason- Rights. Which is ironic, considering many think that rights are god given to begin with.

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      Paragliderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I did some work on this a while ago. I have a hub called A Rational Code of Ethics - Discussion Page, easily found, which covers it.

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   aka-djposted 13 years ago

   Good Luck! (with a touch of sarcasm)

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   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   That's all "morality" is a definition of one's conscience. It describes "good" and "bad" actions. Nothing more, nothing less.

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   AKA Winstonposted 13 years ago

   Our theistic moral superiority will reign as soon as we kill off all the infidels.

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   Bill Manningposted 13 years ago

   That site has a home page PR of 6, pretty impressive.

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   knolyourselfposted 13 years ago

   Morality is conditional behavior without prohibitions based on authority. You get to do whatever you want to what does not conform to authority. You can't steal from your friends but you can from your enemies. Ethics applies the same prohibitions to all alike. You don't steal from anybody for any reason.

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   Beelzedadposted 13 years ago

   Here are the statements in question:
   
   Statement A
   
   Morality is an evolved repertoire of cognitive and emotional mechanisms with distinct biological underpinnings, as modified by experience acquired throughout the human lifespan.
   
   Statement B
   
   Morality is not the exclusive domain of Homo sapiens; there is significant cross-species evidence in the scientific literature that animals exhibit "pre-morality" or basic moral behaviors (i.e. those patterns of behavior that parallel central elements of human moral behavior).
   
   Statement C
   
   Morality is a "human universal" (i.e. exists across all cultures worldwide), a part of human nature acquired during evolution.
   
   Statement D
   
   Young children and infants demonstrate some aspects of moral cognition and behavior (which precede specific learning experiences and worldview development).

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      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      No. Morality, the concept is a set standard derived by understanding one's conscience and defining it. It should not be changed or modified.
      Irrelevant what animals and other species do with moral behavior.
      Yes, when humankind defined the conscience.
      It's only an appearance, perceived by those who observed the behavior.

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         Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I'll be happy to pass your comments along if you like, as these statements are going to be put under scrutiny and scientific testing.

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   knolyourselfposted 13 years ago

   Maybe its easy to be perfect when you live in heaven, and don't have to deal with survival in all manner of conditions.

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