----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Brin-L
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 7:10 PM
Subject: Re: Contradiction Problems????
In a message dated 9/4/01 12:27:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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.
I have trouble reconciling this with your earlier posts. How is the
immorality of rape and murder of other tribes hardwired in if, as you
pointed out, murder of the men and children and raping the women is an
evolutionarily favored action.
I agree that morality transcends cultures. My view, as I think you know, is
that the statement that there are some "self evident truths" that we take on
faith.
>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.
I agree fully with that. But, can you think of truly moral behavior apart
from a belief in the value of other humans? Take, for example, the humanist
manifesto that had gotten so much bad press. I considered it a faith
statement concerning the value of each and every person. I agreed with most
of it. (As a religious person, I considered much of what the wrote as moral
theorems instead of axioms, but I consider that the subject of a pleasant
theological discussion, not an us vs. them division.)
>Humans are uniquely in a position to go against the needs of our selfish ge
nes. 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.
The real question is "why should we?" As a religious person, I believe that
we are created in the image and likeness of God. Thus, I should because
treating other humans as though their lives are as important as mine. I
know many non-religious people who think we should act that we "just because
its the right thing to do." I think that's a perfectly valid reason, but I
also think that is a faith statement, just like mine.
Dan M.
