Morality Without Gods

[Eudaimonist]

There was a debate held on the campus of Georgia State University on March 16th, 2009 called "Morality Without Gods". Here is podcast that includes a recording of this debate.

http://www.americanfreethought.com/wordpress/2009/03/30/podcast-48-morality-without-gods/

Scroll down a bit and find the "Download" link.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[B.H.]

Without having read the material I would say the problem isn't really that there is or is not a moral standard, but that there are in fact many different and sometimes conflicting moral standards held among the individuals of this planet.

A sociopath has a different moral standpoint from a nurturant person. An authoritarian has a different morality from a liberal. Also, most people do tweak their ideas od right and wrong as they get older based on real world situations as well as reflection on observations and experiences.


Basically, you are looking at anomy.

[Ray Moscow]

There are no actual gods, so all we've ever had was morality without god.

Some of us realise that. Others follow those who claim to speak for "God", not realising that they are just following other people (who are often dishonest).

[Bane]

Ray, I'm inclined to agree with you.:)

[Garrett]

Ray, I'm inclined to agree with you.:)
Me too, but I recognize it's a matter of opinion rather than fact.

My secular opinion is don't treat others in a way I wouldn't want to be treated. That view shows up in theism too, consistently and explicitly.

[Bane]

Yes, but that's not proof that there is a sky daddy ordering everyone around whether we know it or not.

I think I became nicer after I quit believing. I don't have the cognitive dissonance--or any need to get defensive.