writes:
So Zim, how do you weigh in on Dan's statement that ethics
are a matter of faith, which was at the heart of this
discussion.
I don't know to be honest.
Some random thoughts on the matter
1) I believe that having ethics and/or morality is a hard wired genetically
determined trait. We share enough similarities across cultures and time to
make this completely cultural. The precise form of these ethics will vary of
course (think language) but the basic rules are the same.
2) These values are traits or adaptation that were selected for (at least in
the environment in which our species or its immediate predecessors evolved.)
3) I know from my own life experience that belief in god (or an assortment of
gods) is not a prerequisite for moral behavior. Humans are uniquely in a
position to go against the needs of our selfish genes. We can behave
ethically because we are capable of making sacrifices for a group (our tribe
our country our species) even though it adversely affects our own individual
genes.
