Quote:
Originally Posted by Interesting Ian  Chris,
What on earth are you talking about? I don't understand either your post or link. Explain please. |
I am reacting to your and OpenMind's assertion that your particualr metaphysical beliefs are a necessary requirement for morality.
You share this arrogant claim with fundamentalist Christians.
I don't need a belief in the supernatural, psi, dogs that know, intentional chocolate, karma or the Judeo-Christian God to be moral. Basic principles such as "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" predate all of these beliefs and are independent from any supernatural belief.
Your caricature of evil physicalism is exactly the same as they way fundamentalist Christians caricature "Darwinism". The only thing you forgot was to claim that physicalists eat babies and that physicalisms lead to Nazism.
The analogy with Santa Claus was meant to provide some perspective. I would imagine that if you did an experiment with children that involved one group reading a passage describing how Santa Claus watches their moves and gives presents to only the good children and another group that read a passage where they are told that it is their parents who give them presents and that they will probably get them presents no matter what their behaviour is then you might find that their is a difference in the amount of cheating behaviour. Perhaps the children who believe in Santa Claus are better behaved but this can never in itself justify the belief in Santa Claus.
It is far better for children to learn morals that are developed independently from supernatural entities such as Santa Claus, God or Karma.
Other people may be just a "pack of neurons" but so am I. I experience pain and happiness and I am fairly sure that other "packs of neurons" experience the same. I don't need supernatural beliefs to feel empathy. I don't need supernatural beliefs to be moral.