by The Berean 105 Replies latest jw friends
See I have an internal voice called a conscience ........ Trouble mind
Do not animals act on instinct ? Humans have a pretty consistent conscience at least for most obvious
rights and wrongs . Is there not an inner code written on ones heart ?
To me there must be a source for this !
Even theists/Christians use their own conscience to filter out the good from the bad in the bible.
Yes. But they think/believe/state/imply that their moral code is completely objective and from God -- and how superior it is to the subjective morality of man.
Humans have a pretty consistent conscience at least for most obvious rights and wrongs.
Absolutely, because these are obvious moral issues... the ones that are very black and white.
Is there not an inner code written on ones heart? To me there must be a source for this
The source is our brain. Our cognitive ability allows us to understand why the obvious moral issues are obviously right and wrong.
Caliber
I wouldn't argue against their being a source. The issue is the certainty with which that source is painted by theists when in discussion with atheists on this matter. Believe what you will, it certainly isn't relevant to what is behind ethics and morality, as demonstrated by atheists.
Sorry to agree with you so much drwtsn32 (lol) but our cognitive ability to interpret data is key to understanding the source. We don't need to be told that stoning kids or rape victims that didn't scream is wrong. Yet it is in the very same book that other moral teachings are found, such as stoning theives and committing genocide as a conquering army. (those poor Philistines)
Point being, you have to accept all of it or none of it (the bible). You have to accept that morals exist or not. You don't have to attribute them to what is not established or factual.
If one wants to justify faith, there are better arguments for that then the existence of good and evil, right or wrong.
Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.
”
We seek knowledge... but what of the universal force of wisdom , is it of any ones individual making ?
Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.
”
As with learning to ride a bike me must adapt to the preexisting laws to meet success !
Hypothetical:
As a US Soldier, you kill a suspected terrorist in a marketplace in Baghdad. Across the street a shopowner straps a bomb to his wife who blows up your fellow soldiers. Do either have a guilty conscience? Are either or both wrong?
We seek knowledge... but what of the universal force of wisdom , is it of any ones individual making ?
The interesting thing about wisdom, is that it is readily apparant. Unlike JW's for example, I don't need an entire WT indoctrination session to tell me what is wise.
Wisdom doesn't need a trumpet, only expression. Any odd action or activity that has to be overexplained as wisdom is sure to not be wise.
As a US Soldier, you kill a suspected terrorist in a marketplace in Baghdad. Across the street a shopowner straps a bomb to his wife who blows up your fellow soldiers. Do either have a guilty conscience? Are either or both wrong?
In a terrorist's mind (and perhaps also in his society's mind), he is doing "right". A soldier that kills the terrorist is "wrong."
From the soldier's point of view, it's the other way around.
Moral relativity in action.
Caliber
Define code of conduct.
Define instinct in animals.
S;)
We as human beings can try our best to predict whether our actions have positive impact or not. Morality is objective because either our behavior has positive effects or it doesn't. To say that we as humans don't rape, pillage and steal just because of a supernatural being is to insult the entire human race. Solidarity is part of our development. And morality comes from desire to bring about positive impact and our sympathy for other humans.
