Maximizing Moral Virtue

[h311inac311]

So for this topic we will be accepting the premise that God isn't real, okay now what?

My main question is what should we do to ensure that our children inherit good moral values? Also, how should we run society and education so that we can ensure that our communities don't fall apart?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

So for this topic we will be accepting the premise that God isn't real, okay now what?

My main question is what should we do to ensure that our children inherit good moral values? Also, how should we run society and education so that we can ensure that our communities don't fall apart?

Leaving aside for now the thorny question of what constitutes ‘good moral values’, I think probably the best method of ensuring that your children have the values you want them to have is to lead by example.

If you want to make sure your community doesn’t fall apart, get involved in your community and encourage your friends, neighbours and co-workers to do the same.

Boru

[Belacqua]

My main question is what should we do to ensure that our children inherit good moral values? 

First, we have to keep them away from screens as much as possible. 

Also, how should we run society and education so that we can ensure that our communities don't fall apart?

Too late.

[brewer]

So for this topic we will be accepting the premise that God isn't real, okay now what?

My main question is what should we do to ensure that our children inherit good moral values? Also, how should we run society and education so that we can ensure that our communities don't fall apart?

Inherit? Moral values are a learned concept based on group/tribe/community/society.

[onlinebiker]

First - define "morals".

I see it as whatever an individual has decided and can't have their mind changed about.


Right and wrong sometimes are considered - but don't count on it...

[Pat Mustard]

So for this topic we will be accepting the premise that God isn't real, okay now what?

My main question is what should we do to ensure that our children inherit good moral values? Also, how should we run society and education so that we can ensure that our communities don't fall apart?

Let me guess, troll, you're hoping to close off this thread with a "hah! I knew atheists couldn't be moral. This thread is proof of it".

[Ahriman]

So for this topic we will be accepting the premise that God isn't real, okay now what?

My main question is what should we do to ensure that our children inherit good moral values? Also, how should we run society and education so that we can ensure that our communities don't fall apart?

Inherit? Moral values are a learned concept based on group/tribe/community/society.

Not really. A good person will tend to behave in pro-social ways, and a bad person will tend to behave in anti-social ways. Those kids who broke into my apartment and nearly killed me (true story) didn't "learn" that behavior from anyone, they're just naturally anti-social and wicked.

[The Grand Nudger]

Probably true to an extent. Most people don't have to try very hard to be passably decent. In my experience, it's extremely difficult to get people to do Bad Things™. I'd probably even go so far as to say that if we didn't beat and/or starve our children and/or neighbors like dogs there really wouldn't be much human evil to deal with in the world.

[zebo-the-fat]

Try to act with people the way you would like them to act to you (even if they don't)

[The Grand Nudger]

It might be useful if the OP lays out specific areas of moral and civil concern in the absence of gods. Some specific moral value or set of moral values? Some particular sense of not falling apart - as society simply changing for the better or the worse is to fall apart with respect to traditional norms?