Atheists: What moral grounds do you base your views on?

[Debater Slayer]

I'm not questioning whether you have morals or not, to avoid any misunderstanding. What I'm asking is, is there any universal standard for morals, in your opinion? And if there isn't, what grounds are your morals based upon?

 

[outhouse]

The same as anyone else, we just dont need instructions

 

[Gjallarhorn]

I'm not questioning whether you have morals or not, to avoid any misunderstanding. What I'm asking is, is there any universal standard for morals, in your opinion? And if there isn't, what grounds are your morals based upon?

Experience, empathy, education, and other things that start with "e".

 

[9Westy9]

Experience, empathy, education, and other things that start with "e".

Like Eudaemonism

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Like Eudaemonism

E-xactly. :yes:

 

[theirreverentconcubine]

Experience, empathy, education, and other things that start with "e".

Euler's constant?

Evolution provides morality, simulation provides ethical standard. I have morality, that makes me human; my ethical standard simplifies to "I love," that makes me appear moral.

Don't have to write a book about it.

 

[Viker]

Experience, empathy, education, and other things that start with "e".

That is a fine start.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Euler's constant?

And potentially a little episcopicide.

 

[Noaidi]

My morals are, to a large extent, derived from the society and culture I live in. In order to fit into that society, I need to adhere to them.

 

[The Neo Nerd]

This is probably the question that makes me the angriest. You get credit for atleast asking the question instead of just outright telling us we have no morals.

I look at it this way.

When a group of humans get together they will unconsciously organise themselves into a hierarchy or pecking order. The strongest will be at the top and the weakest at the bottom (this strength could be physical, intellectual or financial).

The person at the top will generally create the rules of the group and will recruit lieutenants to enforce these rules. Now the individual needs to obey these rules or they will be punished. Sometimes the lieutenants will mete our this punishment (death, imprisonment), sometimes the rest of the group will (shunning or banishment).

Of course the individual can do what they want, but if they want to be part of the group they have to obey the rules.

This is basically the premise of pack behaviour. It is of course far more complicated than this but its a general overview of the concept.

So therefore our morals are determined by the society we live in. The strength of this model is that it explains how different societies throughout time have had different morals. Which is something the god given morals can not explain.

On another (and i know you aren't saying this) those that say that atheists don't have any morals because they don't believe in their favourite god are being stupid because is god did indeed create morals they would apply even if the person doesn't believe in the god.

 

[theirreverentconcubine]

And potentially a little episcopicide.

That seems like a downtrend, kitteh.

Is that the strategy? They continue to question our morals until we get immoral about it? I mean, we do owe them a few burnings at the stake, no?

Yeah, I try to get away from that us versus them mentality, but curiously, there seems to be no sect in atheism.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

That seems like a downtrend, kitteh.

Is that the strategy? They continue to question our morals until we get immoral about it? I mean, we do owe them a few burnings at the stake, no?

Yeah, I try to get away from that us versus them mentality, but curiously, there seems to be no sect in atheism.

I rather enjoy doing the old "keep asking them why they're angry until they get angry" mentality...

I was hoping for a less literal interpretation of -cide in this case though.

 

[PolyHedral]

Superrational game theory. The game is social interaction, the goal is to survive, and so the answer is to cooperate.

 

[Willamena]

And potentially a little episcopicide.

If you meet a bishop on the road, kill him?

 

[Father Heathen]

I'm not questioning whether you have morals or not, to avoid any misunderstanding. What I'm asking is, is there any universal standard for morals, in your opinion? And if there isn't, what grounds are your morals based upon?

Reason and compassion.

 

[waitasec]

I'm not questioning whether you have morals or not, to avoid any misunderstanding. What I'm asking is, is there any universal standard for morals, in your opinion? And if there isn't, what grounds are your morals based upon?

there is no universal standard
our innate sense of empathy

 

[Gjallarhorn]

If you meet a bishop on the road, kill him?

And take his spiffy outfit. :yes:

 

[Photonic]

I don't have morals. I have empathetic standards.

 

[Viker]

Superrational game theory. The game is social interaction, the goal is to survive, and so the answer is to cooperate.

I like.

 

[Father Heathen]

Reason and compassion.

Oh, and honor and honesty.