ATHEISTS: Are you virtuous? Why?

Question

If there is no promise of eternal reward, nor threat of punishment, why would you behave ethically?
Do you do unto others as you would have done unto you? What if others don't reciprocate?
Do you follow moral guidelines, even when no one is watching?
You don't have to answer every question - pick and choose if you like.
I just want some commentary on how and why people can behave decently without organized religion or 'fear of God' as a moral enforcer.

NOTE TO NON-ATHEISTS: Do you see how it says "ATHEISTS: " at the beginning of the question? That's because I am not talking to you. If you think you have something important to say about your religion or ethics, please hang on to it until someone asks you for your input.

Answer 1

Personally I can summarize it with "empathy" and a sense of "equality". And since I live in a society, respecting others is of interest for the society, to make it a better one. The golden rule is a simple way to understand "ethics" from a pragmatic point of view.

This reminds me of the Ring of Gyges story, used in The Republic by Plato to explain morals. When someone do good just because fear of punishment that person ain't being moral, moral is about doing what is good or right even if people or god(s) can't see you, it has nothing to do with punishment and reward.

And as it's been mentioned before, there are examples of societies that have religions with no gods (or even atheistic/agnostic societies) and yet they don't act in "uncivilized" ways, you don't need a holy book to know what's good or right. Those are my views about morals and ethics, I feel too modest today to use the "virtuous" label on myself. ;)

My worst roommates have been (ironically) christians, I'm not saying all christians are irresponsible or thieves though, just an example of how the "reward" idea can be overlooked when you ain't a moral person at all.

Answer 2

I feel empathy with other people, whether in their sorrow or their joy. When others are joyful, so am I, and when others are suffering, so am I. Doing good is the only thing worthy of being called a religion, and kindness is the only virtue.

Buddhism is an atheistic religion, since they believe in no God (Buddha was most emphatically NOT God), and yet they are among the most kindly people in the world.

Why should it be necessary to fear punishment or hope for reward to be virtuous? If these are the only reasons someone is kind to others, that is not morality, it is only self-protection and narcissism.

Answer 3

1) Why behave ethically? Because it pays off in better relations with your family, your community and the world.

2) The Golden Rule is a good moral yardstick; and if others don't reciprocate, then it's time to end (or at least minimize) your dealings with those people.

3) Unless you follow moral guidelines for your own sake and not just when your behavior is in public view, you cannot consider yourself to be a moral person.

Answer 4

Yes, I am. Now I do not want to make this look an argument, but I am virtuous (well, to a degree) because I can empathise, I can feel pain, I can hurt by seeing others been hurt, I have loved ones and I like to see them as fine as they are and expect it to be a good worls and have removed myself from the bad lot to make world better, i sometimes fear that police will catch me if i do wrong, or retaliation from the wronged party or public humiliation or the revenge or loss of good faith and so on.

Hope this answers your questions. Also remeber there are religions that are Atheistic by nature! such as Buddhism. Also note that some people just dont care even if the did believe in god, as faith is one thing, heart to be good is entirely another.

Answer 5

Empathy and self-respect control my behavior with others and myself. The fear of punishment mostly only affects my speed on the freeway.

Those who wonder how anyone can act morally without the fear of hell to drive them are morally immature. Religion seems to do this to some people.

Answer 6

I was brought up an athiest if you like, yet i was taught to respect people. My parents instilled in me a quality to behave ethically/morally; and i do this by being very honest towards people and by being very tolerant of all types of people.
I do follow moral guidelines, but not by those of say the bible but of my upbringing, my own experiences, my own common sense and my own intellect (i don't mean this in an arrogant way).
My fear if you like, is trying to be the best person i can be, i always try to do the right thing and feel i have let myself down and possibly my family if i have acted in a detrimental way.
In my opinion it comes down to the way people are brought up. A bad parent, even if they believe in God is a bad parent and may well pass on bad habits to their children.
In addition i do treat people as i expect to be treated by them.

Answer 7

Humans are social animals and as such, we develop codes of conduct that allow us to adapt to our environment, including our communities.

Our "morals" are derived from that environment based on our knowledge of what the community expects. The vast majority of communites, irrespective of religion, rely on complying with the standards all animals exhibit.

And that standard generally prohibits murdering our own (murdering people in other nations is okay), stealing, or otherwise engaging in behavior that would lead to dissension within the community.

Morality is determined by the need for survival of the individual, and, of the community and little else.

Answer 8

Interesting factor, nevertheless, it have got to be mentioned that the failure of Christians/Muslims is right down to the failure of the person, no longer the faith. As being a well man or woman in society fairly does not think of one's ideals, as a substitute the elaborate behaviour of that person, so we must expect that every body behave the identical (typically) without reference to religion. God commanded us to have religion and feel in him, and atheists (regardless of how well they're in society) have selected to ignore God. Some folks pray to God for rewards, however no less than they recognize his life. Other folks actively insult God via no longer beleiving in Him. The believer is the extra virtuous.

Answer 9

Empathy is something which most people have along with a need to be accepted and loved. religion does not hold the key to this as its plain and simple nature, a carnal desire. As for morality, being right or being wrong we have to face up to the consequnces set out by the governing law of the land and currently thats what keeps me in cheque. Yes i have broken it on several occasions but only minor instances of alcohol and drug use (not to be mistake with abuse) but I treat people the way in which they deserve to be treated.

Answer 10

All living creatures are selfish. If one believes it would make one better off by doing sth, one will do it. This includes morality and "selflessness". If being "selfless" give u a pleasurable sense of purpose or greatness or whatever good feelings that exceed the unpleasurableness of loss u experience, u will be selfless. If proving me wrong gives u more pleasure(after netting the effect of displeasure of doing sth u do not like to do but that u r doing, just to prove me wrong) than agreeing with me, u will do something u normally deemed unpleasurable willingly.

Generally, maintaining good behaviours and controlling your impulses can reduce friction in society. You can get away by just going up to an old man, punch him and walk away. But most rational people would recognise this as sabotaging the delicate balance of trust in human relationship in society. If I cannot trust that u would not harm me, it'd better I harm and disable u first b4 u harm me. This would create havoc.

how do we define morality in the absence of interaction? Is it immoral to curse, say foul words without anyone hearing it? You are not harming or benefiting anyone. One might look at this as psychological preparation for immoral acts. Say, when u r alone, u immorally think how much u hate someone, how much u want to harm him. This thought would affect your actions when u r around people. It might light up the anger in you, or gave u ideas and urges to do sth. If having evil thoughts with no action when u r interacting with people can be considered as immoral, then, such immorality in solitary is the setting of stage for this immoral actions.

One question is, is not knowing equals not guilty? if one does not see the bad consequence of his action, does this make him immoral? Is he immoral to not think hard enough to see the consequence of his actions? If a man has a weak thinking brain and couldn't think 2 steps ahead no matter how hard he tries, does it make him immoral if his actions bring bad outcome for some people? He honestly does not know the consequence although other people might see it. If it is not immoral to do immoral things unintentionally, does it make weak-minded people more moral? Or is it immoral for them to have not put in the effort to develop their thinking ability to assess the consequences?

I do not think religion or no religion alone determine morality in a person. What induce morality in people is "consequence". I think generally, people who think rationally are more "moralful" as they can see consequences deeper into the layers.

What happen to those people who do not have the mental ability to see beyong their next step?? Religion would be helpful. In religions, it explicitly highlight the ultimate reward and punishment... consequences. It then dictate how one should behave if they do not want to be punished. It takes away the reasoning and rational thinking part in the process of assessing consequence, "helping" those with weaker mind to see beyond 2 steps ahead.... stiching up the "not knowing hence not guilty" loophole.