If we are nothing but matter and we are doomed to decompose in a relatively short time, what is the purpose of morality?
If human beings are merely atoms, what makes them any more important then a pile of stones?
2007-05-15 17:23:22 · 21 answers · asked by Bud#21 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
The thing is, no one knows if there is life after death.
We have choices, to live with faith or without it. Let's say there wasn't anything when we die, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the life we have.
The thing is, we aren't stones, we live and breathe, and if the society we live in is going to work; we must have rules and that includes morality.
We are intelligent beings, so we have the ability to think about the best way for society to work. Clearly, all must agree that some moral rules should be sanctioned, against unjustifiable killing, assault, theft and protecting minors from exploitation
The purpose of morality is so we can live together without anarchy. x x x
2007-05-17 08:55:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Who claims that we are nothing but matter? I don't think any respectable scientist would say that. There is clearly more to it than that and just because nobody has a clear answer, doesn't mean that more doesn't exist. But even if we do decompose in a relatively short time, there are plenty of reasons for morality before that happens. First, acting immoral makes enemies and puts you in jail. For some, a certain pride and well being comes in the satisfaction of living a moral life. Probably, even if you don't see a reason for morality, you sleep better when you have it. Some people act moraly just in case there is life after death...after all, nobody can prove there isn't. Maybe, even if there is no life after death, your final minutes may seem like a million years and whatever you did right or wrong during life is played out in these eternal minutes.
As far as the pile of stones question, for one, we aren't merely atoms, but even if we were, the answer is simple: if you could find a pile of stones that could even ask these questions, who even care about them and wonder and have feeling about them, than that pile of stones would be no less important than you or I.
2007-05-16 00:57:35 · answer #2 · answered by alan p 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The truth is that if there is no life after death, nothing does matter. Perhaps that's why humans invented religion; because it was/is a way to enforce morality and govern behavior. But, to some people, we are no more important that a pile of stones. Everything is composed of subatomic particles and physics laws (such as E=mc^2) apply to humans and rocks equally. In order to be "nice" we place a greater value on life than rocks in MOST cases. But not all; think of blood diamonds. Lives have been taken for those stones, but that doesn't make the rocks more important than humans. "Important" is just an opinion. Depending on your belief system, nothing maters. NO MATTER WHAT WE OR FUTURE GENERATIONS DO, the Earth will continue on its orbit, the Sun will burn out, our solar system will fall apart, and cosmic events & life will continue to happen just as they always have and always will. Pretty crazy, huh?
2007-05-16 02:17:30 · answer #3 · answered by lizzyj 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Who told you human beings are merely atoms? You are neglecting the power of human mind, the feelings, the conscience. See it this way: Rocks and physical environment is also made of atoms, but they don't go about inventing stuff and thinking, do they? They don't feel, they have no relationships. They are self-satisfied. Now, if there is no difference between us and them, why do we feel, think and use our brainpower? That makes us different. And that is why we came here. To use our brainpower, to better the world for the next generations. If you believe in God, we have come here to live and enjoy life, the life that is between birth and death. Death is never an end. After death there is life that is different from this life. You live to attain and enjoy the truth. Here in our lives, we seek the truth.
Ok. You know that you are gonna die one day. Then why eat food today? why drink water? why go about ur routine? Hello, you ARE gonna die one day, this all doesn't matter. Why do you do it, then? why love ur parents, ur gonna die. See how absurd these thoughts are? We are here to live, and its ur duty to live and make others live too. Death shall come and all we can do is hug it... :-)
2007-05-16 00:38:00 · answer #4 · answered by Swathi Rao 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Your question is related only to physical personality; whereas human being is having another important personality, which is *MIND*. The union of these two is called a man or human.
All the moral science is to train the *MIND*.
So your question stands invalid.
The following instruction concerns the science of union of mind and body.(Pathanjala Yoga)
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This union is achieved through the subjugation of the psychic nature and the restraint of the mind.
When this has been accomplished, the yogis know themselves as they are in reality.
Up till now the inner persons have identified themselves with their forms and with their active modifications.
The mind states are five and are subject to pleasure or pain; they are painful or not painful.
These activities are correct knowledge, incorrect knowledge, fancy Knowledge, sleep and memory.
The basis of correct knowledge is correct perception, correct deduction and correct evidence.
Incorrect knowledge is based upon perception of the form and not upon the state of being.
Fancy rests upon Images which have no real existence.
Sleep is based upon the quiescent state of the Senses.
Memory is the holding on to that which has been known.
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You are perfectly right to acess the nature of the body.
Body is nothing but matter and doomed to decompose;
it is merely bulk of atoms or pile of stones.........
2007-05-16 07:21:17 · answer #5 · answered by Shripathi Krishna Acharya 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A belief in the afterlife makes life worth living and gives meaning to those that mourn the ones that have died.
Some religions take this to the extreme by preaching punishment far worse than anything on earth. This is only the church's historic attempt at "crowd" control. Organized religions is one of the greatest evils, and causes of war.
I believe that there is no hell, not for anyone - not even Hitler. Most people want to have a hell, they just don't want to go there themselves - they want others to go to hell. It makes people feel the there is a justice beyond the grave and we feel better by thinking of evil people "rotting in hell".
I believe that Earth is spiritual "bootcamp", to teach us things we cannot learn if we stay in spirit form. Everyone who dies is not judged by some spiritual panel - we judge ourselves as we review our lives. We can also help those here on Earth while we are in spirit.
I also believe that we choose our own parents and can enter our bodies at any time during our mother's pregnancy. We choose the lesson(s) in which we are here to learn while in our earthly bodies.
Every human being is immensely important, and not to be looked upon as worthless. Even the lowliest is valuable.
I'd like to believe that in 'heaven' everyone is 5 years old. There is no body image, no money and no sex - therefore there is nothing to fight over. Everyone goes up to everyone else and says, "Let's play! You're my best friend!"
Just a brief over-view of what I believe.
2007-05-16 00:39:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is a purely annihilistic way of thinking....dont do it! Be positive, enjoy the ride while you can. Don't waste your life wallowing in negativity!!! Get out there, feel the fear and do it anyway, have fun....above all make the most of what you've got!
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day!
2007-05-16 03:11:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
There has traditionally been a human-centric arrogance related to perceiving our existence. If you start at the beginning of the Universe and move forward with energy as it complexifies, you will have a more objective, and quite refreshing, perspective of the meaning of our existence. Rather than see our "purpose" or our "meaning" from merely our FORM, there are amazing possibilities to consider related to our FUNCTION. Think along the line of not the flute, but the air that passes through the flute and what it creates. This Universe is about whatever energy is up to, not about what forms it assumes along its progessive journey. The "meaning" of it all is whatever there can be for us to comprehend about the agenda of energy itself.
2007-05-16 00:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Every 'matter' matters! From stones beneath your feet to clouds in the sky, and beyond. Morality is the life span we all have to enjoy what matters to us. You just need to find what matters to you!
Sorry Tigger, though you'll find life is like that...people being hurt, children and animals do suffer...though thats morals, not morality.
2007-05-16 19:01:50 · answer #9 · answered by nishkapup 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Life in this Earth you are having now is a reality.Moral values are required for orderly society.Morals are for smooth life for everybody.If there is no morality,there is no law,there will be only anarchy.Morality may not be an individual need but a MUST for any civilised society.
2007-05-16 01:18:34 · answer #10 · answered by leowin1948 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋