Why 'should' atheists be moral?

[abaris]

For those of you that refer to evolution as the basis for morality, do you realize that doing so reintroduces teleology into the process? If evolution leaves us with a human nature and acting contrary to it is not in the best interest of humanity, then “best interest” introduces intentionality, or desired ends, into the evolutionary process, at least where humans are concerned. That’s not a problem for believers but it is for those who think evolution is a wholly undirected process.

You're breaking it down again to humans, which I don't. We are a social species, nothing more, nothing less. So this thing we call morality has evolved. As I say whenever this comes up, there are codes of conduct as well as empathy with other species as well. At least with the ones living in social groups. It's in the best interest of the group for it's members to work together.

You should look at some of the social experiments conducted with animals on that matter. From the top of my head it's at least the great apes, elephants and dogs working together and posessing codes of conduct.