I don't think so. Morality requires free will. If there is no "ghost in the machine," as some antitheists refer to the soul, we are nothing more than the sum of our genetic parts and environmental interactions. We brought neither into existence.
Francis Crick says that our choices seem "free will to you, but it's the result of things you are not aware of." The ideas is that all our thoughts, emotions and actions are merely the results of material causes.
2007-11-02 14:54:43 · 7 answers · asked by spaintola 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please give me arguments for why we can have morality without free will or free will with nothing more than material components and interactions.
2007-11-02 15:14:29 · update #1
yair,
fine thoughts, but our internal decision process is nothing more than effects of material causes. That's Crick's point. What's the basis of value judgments for an existence that is nothing more than the interaction of atoms and energy? There is no moral, immoral. It's just matter interacting.
2007-11-02 15:26:57 · update #2
If you're in the land of "let's suppose" sure you can have morality w/o God. You can also have talking monkey wrenches and orange pokey-dot sparrows.
2007-11-02 14:59:01 · answer #1 · answered by Acorn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I, for example, believe the basis of true morality is in beings- You know you exist. You feel bad and good, you understand and get deluded. And so do others, just like you. To do what is best for all beings is to act morally.
If everything is predetermined, then the concept of guilt is in question, but not good itself. One should try to do good- what will happen will happen, but within ourselves there are decisions to make that will effect it.
EDIT-
Let's say that it is predetermined. So what? When one is presented with two options, one good and one bad, choosing the good one will be better. Thinking that the good one is better can be the cause of that effect. And thinking about morality can be the cause of that. Hearing other people's explanations can play a role in this, too...
The cause of the thinking that led to making the good decision isn't that relevant. It can teach something, but It's the results that matter.
2007-11-02 15:10:26 · answer #2 · answered by Yair Jeger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely.
Are you referring to the Christian god? Great moral example, there...
2007-11-02 14:58:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even if there were no GOD, we'd have to have rules.
Otherwise, civilization would devolve into anarchy.
Oh wait, maybe that's already happening.
2007-11-02 15:02:11 · answer #4 · answered by Robert S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is no God then it does not matter now , does it?
2007-11-02 14:59:51 · answer #5 · answered by nettek_trnr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nonsense. Yes there can be, and is.
2007-11-02 15:01:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our fellow animals say.... "NO".
2007-11-02 15:00:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋