BilliardsBall
Veteran Member
Nobody. But if the Universe was made by an all-powerful creator with any ounce of good in it, suffering would not be a part of that Universe. There would be no reason for it to exist whatsoever.
I didn't say anything relevant to this.
That is a nonsensical question, and I've also never made any such assumption. I'm talking about the ACT of rape, not the urge.
Because foetuses (up to a certain point) are not living, thinking entities. Also, I never said anything about abortion, so this argument you've brought up is erroneous. I also never aid that it "cannot cause suffering". I already explained that the suffering a rapist suffers from being in prison is justified.
No, because I don't believe foetuses are living thing up until a certain point. You cannot end the life of something that isn't yet living, by definition.
I don't have to accept that axiom because it is literally meaningless, as I have already explained at length. I can answer them because I am able to JUDGE right from wrong by ASSESSING the objective values and effects of certain actions, and determining which actions I consider right or wrong in accordance with said values. I don't have to accept right and wrong as absolute. I just have to accept that I want to live in a world where 1) all people are treated fairly, 2) people have certain inalienable rights, 3) where life is preferable to death, 4) where well-being is valued over suffering, and 5) we do our best to improve general well-being and reduce suffering. When you judge things by these values, there are actual, objective ways you can start to assess right from wrong.
I don't use evolution to disprove genesis. Evolution has nothing to do with it. And I am not "unwilling to use evolution to discuss biological imperatives", it's just that such imperatives have no actual relationship to the discussion of moral values and establishing objective right from wrong. Evolution is merely a mechanism, nothing more. It has no import with regards to the morality of intelligent beings.
Not even remotely. I'm simply telling you that evolution is unrelated to morality. This isn't a thread about evolution - it's about morality. You're bringing in an unrelated subject which has no bearing on the concepts being discussed. I have no problem with you bringing it up, but all you're going to achieve by doing so is make yourself look foolish and pointlessly waste both of our time.
That entirely depends what your justification for it is.
The statements are meaningless without justification and context.
But they don't exist axiomatically. If you were to say "this movie is really good", is that a right statement or a false statement? On the other hand, if I was to say "rape causes suffering", then that is an objectively quantifiable statement.
Not according to your Bible it's not.
Except they aren't "immaterial" in the way you are indicating. A philosophical construct can still exist in relation to a physical or material fact.
You don't have to. It's just an obviously very good standard to use when determining right from wrong, and has served as a foundational basis for all morality from the beginnings of human society, and has proven its worth as a basis by doing so.
Because they aren't intelligent like humans are and are thus incapable of taking into consideration the broader world around them and their impact on it. I find it odd how you keep dragging animals into a discussion about morality. It's like trying to drag the opinions of Mesopotamian sheep herders into a discussion about hardcore gangster rap.
Are you serious? You think the opinions of atheists on a forum (which you are a member of and frequent at your own free will) is turning your life into "Hell on Earth"? You honestly think you're in need of pity?
Which is one of the reasons they are dangerous and deserve to be behind bars.
Okay then. Please demonstrate that God objectively exists.
Since I never said it WAS philosophical in nature, your statement is plainly inane.
Nobody. But if the Universe was made by an all-powerful creator with any ounce of good in it, suffering would not be a part of that Universe. There would be no reason for it to exist whatsoever.
Are you willing to explore with me reasons for suffering? I think suffering has meaning, purpose, even power.
Because foetuses (up to a certain point) are not living, thinking entities. Also, I never said anything about abortion, so this argument you've brought up is erroneous. I also never aid that it "cannot cause suffering". I already explained that the suffering a rapist suffers from being in prison is justified.
On what basis is the suffering a prisoner experiences justified? How did you come to the conclusion, “causing suffering is wrong”? In the animal kingdom, animals cause other animals, sometimes humans, to suffer for mating, self-preservation, food, etc. It seems like you have come to a subjective conclusion regarding suffering in the animal kingdom (if we are animals and not also “souls” or “spirits”.)
I don't have to accept that axiom because it is literally meaningless, as I have already explained at length. I can answer them because I am able to JUDGE right from wrong by ASSESSING the objective values and effects of certain actions, and determining which actions I consider right or wrong in accordance with said values. I don't have to accept right and wrong as absolute. I just have to accept that I want to live in a world where 1) all people are treated fairly, 2) people have certain inalienable rights, 3) where life is preferable to death, 4) where well-being is valued over suffering, and 5) we do our best to improve general well-being and reduce suffering. When you judge things by these values, there are actual, objective ways you can start to assess right from wrong.
If there are “actual, objective ways you can start to assess right from wrong” than “objective judgments exist”, “actual things objectively exist” and “right and wrong” (immaterial concepts) absolutely exist. Do you agree?
Also, you seem to predicate this statement: “When you judge things by these values, there are actual, objective ways you can start to assess right from wrong” of values as 5 values. Rapists ignore your values # 1, 2, sometimes 3, and 4 and 5. Why should I accept your 5 values as right and the rapist’s 5 counter-values as wrong? Is it because it is objectively true that causing suffering is wrong so the rapist are acting counterintuitively to conscience? If it is rather subjectively true that your 5 values ARE values, if the laws of the land change to become the rapist’s values, is rape still wrong? If you meet 100 people who say rape is right, why would you buck their viewpoint?
You may at this point want to refer to the OP, which states as axiomatic, “Rape is wrong”. It sounds like you believe rape is subjectively wrong.
Not according to your Bible it's not.
The Bible isn’t in the OP. What is your point? I say if the Bible says rape isn’t wrong, the Bible itself is wrong, but first, we are going to have to accept these axioms:
*Books can be right or wrong
*Rape is always wrong, because if it isn’t, and is merely subjectively or societally wrong, the Bible gets a pass and you are using a presentist slant here only.
Because they aren't intelligent like humans are and are thus incapable of taking into consideration the broader world around them and their impact on it. I find it odd how you keep dragging animals into a discussion about morality. It's like trying to drag the opinions of Mesopotamian sheep herders into a discussion about hardcore gangster rap.
Are humans “more right” than mere animals? Is that what you’re saying? Because the alternative would be you find rape “societally wrong”, which I think is very wrong.
Okay then. Please demonstrate that God objectively exists.
I surely will—as soon as we can agree what “exist” means and “objectively”. For example, God exists to me but not to you, so we would say God subjectively exists in our combined knowledge.