Atheists: What basis do you have for humanitarian morality?

Question

Why should you respect/love/honor a man when he is nothing more than a cosmic accident, a bag of chemicals twitching to the dictates of his DNA, no more than an animal who became self-aware?

You know our sun will go red giant and the universe will peter out into nothing due to entropy, so what does your morality matter? What does your behavior matter? What do your accomplishments matter?

What value do you place on mankind that would cause you to treat him decently, and why?

The question was "why" and "what basis" do you have for valuing other humans, I don't doubt that you do.

Also, to those who mentioned the golden rule - you know that was something Jesus taught - but my question is why? What's the point? A hope of reciprocation from others who think similarly to you?

Answer 1

Because I value other humans. Life would be difficult and less interesting without them.

Morality is basically for living amongst other people. If you're a hermit, you really don't need a morality. A hermit doesn't deal with anybody else.

So, if you enjoy the company of others and value other humans, you'll tend to treat them well. Societies have evolved various types and degrees of morality. Those that have developed good ones tend to survive better. However, if you put any three people inj a room long enough, they'll make up rules for interaction. Humans are a congretory animal. We like to form groups, and our instincts tend to favor the forming of groups.

Because of this, our morality is generally based on our country, culture, friends, family, our own experiences and even our instincts. Ultimately, though, we determine, for ourselves, what role we take in society.

Answer 2

You respect man b/c he is a person and has feelings. Also it's because we are self aware that we don't kill each other and we try to treat each other with respect. As for our accomplishments--just b/c we know the world will end doesn't mean we stop dreaming and quit attempting to accomplish our goals. It's our human nature to try to do the things that make us happy or accomplished.

I try to respect mankind because not only does it make your life so much easier but because I expect that same respect that I give others. The way I see it mankind is a destuctive but aweinspiring thing that can both create and destroy life. Men go to war to fight for Gods, countries, and ideas. Man is a crazy and intriguing thing. Some people don't understand that man is all these things and don't act like society feels they should but that doesn't mean they act as though they should. That's what makes us human--the ability to be different and create our own disiplines. And that is the reason I treat people decently because it is in my set of morals to treat everyone well.

Answer 3

I have no trouble treating people in the fashion I'd like to be treated. It's called common sense.

EDIT:
"Also, to those who mentioned the golden rule - you know that was something Jesus taught - but my question is why? What's the point? A hope of reciprocation from others who think similarly to you?"

A hope, yes, and also the fact that it WORKS, as evidenced by actual real life. That doesn't mean I EXPECT it, only that I prefer it. What I EXPECT is for people to live down to their lowest impulses, which is why I live life hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

Answer 4

Because I believe in the Golden Rule: treat others as you wish to be treated. Also, because I need to live and interact with them on a daily basis.

There are no cosmic accidents by the way, because there is nothing to cause such an accident. Accident implies a causer of accident. Just as a note. Coincidence is a better word.

Answer 5

I don't kill because I don't feel the urge. One has to wonder if the only thing keeping you from killed is Big brother in the sky.
I love because it feels good. I also don't kill because as social creatures it would be detrimental to me being part of the group. You need to do some research on the human condition.
Let me ask you why is life so important to you when compared to eternity it is nothing? This is all I got, why in the universe would I want to make it worse for anyone else, its called empathy.
When I see a child who grows up being beaten by its horrible parents? I truly am ashamed when someone says its OK your next life will be better. You have no proof of a next life and you devalued this child's life. I think it is in all our best interest and sentient being to help other sentient being live their only life to its fullest.

Answer 6

I choose to behave morally because, for better or worse, this spin around the sun is all I get. In the grand scheme of things, you are correct. I matter about the same amount as my goldfish does. However, in the small scheme I can matter a great deal. I choose to live my life trying to make things better for those who come after me. I choose to treat other people with the love and acceptance and respect I deserve to have.

Big picture? We're not that important. We're tiny, and we're not in control of or the purpose for the universe. That doesn't mean we should all cave in to nihilism.

Answer 7

I am an atheist. I love. Simply put. I have emotions, be they some freak of chemical nature. I love, and I love strongly. I do it not out of some fear of what would happen to me if I didn't. I do it not because I want to live everlasting in a heaven that you defined for yourself. But, I do love.

Why? Because emotions have a chemical and electrical nature. As an atheist, I can accept that it is nothing more than the scientific explanation for emotions and feelings...I do not spend a tremendous amount of time on the why. I just live to maximize my emotions and self-peace, because if feels good.

Answer 8

That is like asking why a mother cares for her child even when she didn't want to have a child. I think it is tragically sad that people feel they need a belief in a divine being to have humanitarian morality. Even if you believe in a higher being, that still is no reason to have humanitarian morality, because why would this being create anything, for his/her amusement? Some people just care, I don't see why that is so hard to understand.
BTW I'm not an atheist.

Answer 9

Atheists place a higher value on life than do religious people, We don't be nice to people, or help others because we will be punished by some mythical god if we don't. behaviour matters simply because society wouldn't exist if we didn't all behave in a civilized , caring matter. You might try it some time, instead of being rude to people just because you can. .

Answer 10

We have evolved to live as a communal species.

Therefore we understand and strive to live with people who share our feelings of love, empathy, compassion and unity.

How does the fact that I know a movie is fiction or that it will end take away from the enjoyment of watching and being entertained?

How does the fact that I will die, and the universe will end take away from the grandeur, mystery, and wonder of the universe? How does it make life meaningless?


You choose to see life as meaningless, I see it as amazingly special and unique.