[Vision2020] Seeking some definitions -- just what do you mean?

[Ted Moffett]

Paul et. al.

Stating that "morality has nothing to do with religion" requires some
explanation, given that various religions, as practiced by human beings, are
a source of moral principles acted upon, so from an anthropologists
viewpoint, to some extent, morality is tied to religion.  It can be asked if
religion is necessary for society to have consistent moral standards, or if
moral standards derived by other means would allow dispensing with
"religion" as an "enforcer," a very important question, that only begs
another important question, what is religion?

To answer Paul's question as to where we derive our morals from, requires
backing up to define what morals are....Again from an anthropologists
viewpoint, social relations, and genetics (sociobiology), no doubt explain
in part where our morals come from.  But the issue becomes very difficult
when inquiring about the nature of Ethics from the perspective of the master
discipline that explores the ultimate questions about the meaning of human
existence, Philosophy.

Listed as one of the 100 greatest non-fiction books, a small coup for
Philosophy, is G. E. Moore's "Principia Ethica," published in 1903.  It is
now available in full text online at the web link below, under public domain
rights!

Good luck!

http://fair-use.org/g-e-moore/principia-ethica

Note that "Principia Ethica" is listed in the "Board's List" at the web link
below, but not the "Reader's List."  Three books by or about Ayn Rand are
listed in the "Readers List."  Good grief!  I wonder what Ayn Rand would say
about what is (I can't resist!), according to the UK's Stern Report, the
greatest market failure in history, that being the lack of response to
anthropogenic climate change?

http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100bestnonfiction.html

------------------------------------------
Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

On 11/18/07, Paul Rumelhart <godshatter at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Ralph Nielsen wrote:
> > And just what does Chris mean by "biblical morality"?
> > Oh, I know, anything that Doug Wilson or any other "authority"
> > decrees it to be. In fact, morality has nothing to do with religion
> > at all.
> >
>
> While we're on this subject and since this list has a lot of
> philosophers who read it, where does morality come from?  I have morals,
> but they don't come from my religion.  In fact, some god telling me to
> do something I know is wrong doesn't change anything, except that I now
> have to choose whether to do it or face the consequences.  So where do
> we derive our morals from?  Our family?  Our genes?  Society?
>
> Paul
>
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