how do atheists establish right from wrong.?

Question

genuine q.

no yoda it IS a genuine question - thats why i went to the bother of typing "genuine q" - im genuinely curious if thats okay with you.

if i wanted to use rhetoric i would have just gone ahead and done that, i have nothing to lose by doing so.

sigh - tombollocks - another hypersensitive.

Answer 1

All social mammals have evolved with instincts for both empathy and altruism. These two, taken together, can be logically interpreted as, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

This is the well recognized Golden Rule.

Of course, this isn't likely to answer your every single specific scenario -- there is room to interpret and apply such a principle. However, it's a solid foundation all the same.

Answer 2

The same way every other social animal does.

* * *

Why Christians Must Steal From Secular Morality:
http://www.caseagainstfaith.com/submissions/steal_morality.htm
[Excerpt]

Christians must steal their moral rules from secular morality. They have no choice, as the Bible does not offer a moral system, it only offers a series of contradictory commands and a supposed threat of punishment in the "afterlife" for not following them - a punishment that is given equally to all violators - whatever the sin.

The Bible does nothing and can do nothing towards inculcating moral behavior on its own. Christians must steal from secular moral systems, and then merely graft their 'God threats' on top of this moral system. This is necessary. And the reason for this is simple: there is no morality in the Bible and there can be no morality in the Bible, because the Bible holds that 1) ALL 'sins' are equivalent (destroying any moral sense) AND 2) all moral behavior is immaterial, because works cannot save a person, AND finally all people are damned from birth.

In reality, Christians realize that some actions are more moral than others. They realize that moral actions exist in a hierarchy, and that rape is far worse than stealing a pencil. Yet the Bible holds that all 'sins' are equal, as all deserve the same punishment.

Christians also realize that humans can be moral agents... they expect moral behavior from others, and they view their own children as something to value. Yet the Bible holds that man is worthless, that he cannot be a moral agent, and that his sole salvation comes from grace. However, since Christians realize, implicitly, that all of these these points are obviously, prima facie false, they must steal from secular systems, that hold that 1) man obviously has a value 2) all 'sins' are obviously not equivalent and 3) a person cannot be held to be doing anything 'immoral' without intent.

* * *

Origin of the 10 commandments:
http://www.atheistalliance.org/outreach/news-2002_spring.php
http://www.rationalrevolution.net/articles/ten_commandments.htm

Morality Without God:
http://www.atheists.org/Atheism/cohen.html

Morals Without Gods:
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=sharris_26_3

Evolution of Altruism:
http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/~strone01/altruism.html

If It Feels Good to Be Good, It Might Be Only Natural:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/27/AR2007052701056.html?nav=rss_print/asection

The Subtle, Lethal Poison of Religion:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2007/09/hitchens_1.html

Answer 3

Consequences and thinking it through. Do I need religion to tell me it wouldn't be great to go through life as a substance abusing, veneral disease ridden whore in and out of jail? Also, respect for the fact we need societies that function to live in peace, prosperity, and safety. If I am not willing to deal with others ethically then I can't expect they will deal with me ethically. I also want to make the world a decent place for my kids to live in after I am gone. If I'm living a debached, totally hedonistic, predatory, violent life with no regard to society, others, or the environment it doesn't take much imagination to see how the world ends up if the majority do this. Its also been shown to not lead to happiness for the individual who lives like that. I don't want myself or children to have to live in such a world.

I guess it boils down to enlightened self interest. The knowledge that sometimes helping other people's interests and society's also benefits my own desire for a decent life and world.

Answer 4

Oh that's easy. We do the opposite of what religious people do!

We are generally kind and pleasant, and we tend to behave that way to everyone. We don't hate due to superstition, and we usually aren't xenophobic. We do get nasty at times when people try to shove belief systems down our throats, otherwise, it's live and let live. Have a good day.

Genuine answer.

Edit: I'm not really hypersensitive. I am feeling a bit playful today, though!

Answer 5

Common sense. Empathy for our fellow humans.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you wouldn't want something done to you, then it's wrong to do that same something to someone else.

It benefits us ALL to live good lives. (Personally and as a society.) Anyone who has done bad things quickly learns that life becomes more difficult and more miserable when you choose the wrong path.

Answer 6

Hi there!
I just genuinely know what is right from wrong I do not need a book of any description to tell me this.
I hope I have answered your question good enough.
Good day to you.

Answer 7

They use the instinctive moral sense possessed by all social animals.

How do you think chimps do it? Or meerkats?

Without that instinct, no society could operate. The idea that morality requires divine instruction is ludicrous, and is certainly not borne out by the appalling immorality describes in the Bible.

CD

Answer 8

No, it's not a genuine question.
It's more rhetoric, nothing more.
One does not need to adhere to a bronze-aged cult in order to tell right from wrong. Simple cause and effect, coupled with common sense, is more than enough.

Answer 9

atheists are also members of society. they know that what is against the law of the country and the society is bad. also any action the consequences of which are unjustifiably bad to any one is bad. this is the criteria of distinguishing bad from good. there is nothing relevant about being a believer or atheist in this regard.

Answer 10

Right is profitable and builds good will that you can collect on later.
Wrong is not profitable and costs the goodwill of your neighbours, as well as opening you up to the possibility of prison time.

I know, it is not always easy to decide.