Posted by: Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier
on November 12, 2005 02:37 AM
Non-religious ethics have absolutely no rational basis whatsoever.
I would disagree with this, strongly. There's a very rational basis for a system of ethics that does not posit a higher being, life after death, or potential punishment for behavior during life -- mainly, ethics based on self-interest.
Most people don't want to have people stealing from them -- so most people can agree that stealing is Bad. Most people don't want to be murdered, so they can all agree that being murdered is Bad, and shouldn't be done. Etc. No higher power is necessary to arrive at a system of ethics.
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Re:if ethics then religion # sorry friend
Posted by: Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier on November 12, 2005 02:37 AMI would disagree with this, strongly. There's a very rational basis for a system of ethics that does not posit a higher being, life after death, or potential punishment for behavior during life -- mainly, ethics based on self-interest.
Most people don't want to have people stealing from them -- so most people can agree that stealing is Bad. Most people don't want to be murdered, so they can all agree that being murdered is Bad, and shouldn't be done. Etc. No higher power is necessary to arrive at a system of ethics.
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