For atheists: Are atheists moral?

Question

Can atheists be moral if morality can't be derived via formal proofs?

If the only basis for morality is some sort of game theory, then won't you "cheat" when no one is watching?

scifiguy: It looks like you don't really understand game theory. Cheating and getting caught isn't in your best interest. Cheating and getting away with it is to your own advantage--EVEN IF THAT CHEATING HURTS EVERYONE ELSE. In game theory, all a player is presumed to care about is his own costs and benefits.

Kjelstad: Incorrect. You are reasoning fallaciously.

People might break the rules while they are being watched. But if there were a poerson who didn't want to be caught, he would still be more likely to break the rules when not watched.

platypus: But the ancient Egyptians and the Aztecs were not atheists. You seem to be using the word "atheist" to mean "non-Christian". I didn't ask about Christians at all. I only asked about atheists, i.e. people who deny the existence of God.

Zhimbo: I don't recall saying morality was simple.

Answer 1

Well, I only cheat when it won't hurt someone else... but you are damn right I will cheat if it suits my ends as long as no one is watching and I am not going to get caught.

"Take what you want." "Give nothing back." Jack Sparrow and Mr. Gibbs.

Answer 2

Yes. Atheists in most part are just like other people except that we don't have a god belief.

Morality can be based on enlightened self interest.:) When you're honest you don't have to worry about lies catching up to you and other people know they can trust you. Abiding by the laws of the land is the only rational and logical way to go.

Being an Atheist, a Christian or what have you is not what makes you a good person if you are one. Basically what makes the difference is a love for your fellow man.

Answer 3

Socities such as the ancient Egyptians and the Aztecs had 'morals'. The 'Golden Rule' has been around everywhere, it's not just an Xian concept. So, some are but some aren't. Depending on the person-not their religion.

Answer 4

well if your theory held water the Christians that believe they are always being watched would never break the laws or sin, would they?

I do not have a desire to cheat. My moral set may be different than yours though. Things that are only immoral in the church do not affect me in any way.

Answer 5

morality and ethics are not based on a religion. they are based off of how you were brought up, what your mentors taught you, what you learn in school. There is also some proof that morality and ethics have much more scientific meaning. The only morality that comes from religion, is praying and voting for bush, and those are not morals. we can still want to be good people and not believe in god. in fact, i find atheist, agnostic...to be much more moral. if you think about it, the only reason religious people have their so called morals, is so they wont go to hell. Atheists simply want to be good people. so you tell me who is more morally and ethically sound.

Answer 6

Just because you dont believe in god doesnt mean you aren't moral.

You can learn ethics without the belief of god.

I am an atheist and I feel I have very good morals - perhaps stronger than some religious people.

Answer 7

As a rule, atheists that I have known live far more ethical lives, and behave much more 'morally' than most so-called 'Christians' that I have known. In other words (behavior-wise), the atheists are more 'christian' than the Christians.

It is very sad (and scary) to know that religionists are incapable of behaving ethically as a matter of self-realization... and need some imaginary supernatural force to ensure their proper behavior, for rear of some kind of eternal supernatural punishment. I dread to think of what their lives will be like... and the lives of everyone around them... should they come to realize that all of their controlling beliefs are the product of the myths, superstitions, fairy tales and fantastical delusions of an ignorant bunch of Bronze Age fishermen and wandering goat herders.

Cooperation and altruism are inate properties of human existence... a more sophisticated version of the social organization that you can see among pods of orcas, packs of wolves, lion prides and troops of chimpanzees. Moral consensus, moral conscience and mutual empathy are evolved survival traits. These are social constructs... the social lubrication that allows people to exist together. People come away with the misconception that they don't exist, absent religion. The religious puppet masters try to perpetuate that idea, in order to protect their conduits to wealth and power... but that is a canard. This has to do entirely with human nature.

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"With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." ~ Steven Weinberg
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Answer 8

The proportion of Christians and Atheists in the prison population is slanted more heavily towards Christians than the general population, and less towards Atheists/Agnostics.

So apparently morality isn't as simple as you think.

Answer 9

If they can't be, then the 20% of the population for whom religion is completely irrelevant must be wreaking havoc on society, and countries dominated by Buddhism must be the most chaotic places on earth.

The game theory assumption ignores the social animal instincts most of us have. But you are correct that for those for whom such instincts are recessive, game theory suggests they will cheat if they think they can get away with it. We actually observe such behavior, but it isn't limited to atheists.

Answer 10

There is no morality, but there is such a thing as doing the right things in life.

Not only that but free-thinkers (don't call us atheists) do the right thing with out having some delusion that you are going to get some kind of reward or be punished after you die.