(September 10, 2011 at 7:45 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Sociopath has already been defined. A person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_...y_disorder
It isn't "simply a label created in modern times". It is a clinical diagnosis given to an individual who meets the requirements. Individuals like this existed prior to any test we currently administer to determine eligibility.
Now, moral truth?
It seems to me that morality imposed by religion is like a crutch of rules to follow for anyone with antisocial personality disorder who wants to function after a fashion in ordinary society. It seems a little odd though, that at least Abrahamic religions, and some others, try to dictate that morality through an obviously sociopathic ultra-powerful if not omnipotent being.
I have to wonder about religious people who say that they are moral because God tells them to be so (with these rules), and saying things like, "If we didn't have them, everyone would lie, cheat, steel, rape, murder..." What does that say about the person saying it? If God were proven to not exist for them, would they suddenly become liars, cheaters, rapists, and murderers?
Most of us refrain from antisocial acts as a combination of the general social contract: Don't lie. The fewer people who lie, the lower the chance that you will be lied to. Or Don't murder people. The fewer people who murder, the lower the chance that you will be murdered. As well as empathy, "It wouldn't be nice to lie" or "It would really make (that person) feel bad if they knew (I) were lying to them." or "It might be fun to rape (her), but it would hurt her badly." Then, there's reputation, "If they catch me lying, they'll never trust me again."
It doesn't require the introduction of a big man in the sky listening and watching, and doing nothing to stop evils, to make lying wrong.
