Natural Order and Science

[Harris]

No, that is the historical reality. There were two periods when the scientific method was discovered - first, the ancient Greeks (circa 300 BCE), and then the Muslims during the Golden Age of Islam (circa 900 CE). But in both cases, there was no continuity, no next generation to carry on that idea due to political turmoil, and so it died out. It was revived during the Renaissance that took place in Italy in the 16th century, and then spread out throughout Europe, then finally to the world.

Archaeological evidences show that civil structures of almost all ancient civilizations were based on some moral traditions. In my previous responses I have argued that morals are not a matter of reason or a matter of sentiment, it is conscience that makes man a moral agent whereas conscience is the natural “inbuilt mechanism of self-correction.” I have also repeated many times that science is incapable of dealing with subjective experiences therefore, the attempt to prove or disprove this innate mechanism by applying mechanical means of science is simply incorrect.

Empirical method was clearly outlined in a previous post. It is a method to investigate evidence that is objective, observable and can be repeated by any other individual or team of people such as lab experiments.

You have tried to explain “HOW” by totally omitting “WHY.” That is all what you have done so far.

The terrorist who've just attacked in Brussels were also acting on their conscience. I think you are very unwise to think that conscience is the measure of all things, when it is the least that anyone should trust. You should heed the words of the great physicist Feynman: "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool."

Feynman is a smart gentleman. If he has said "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool," then he has said it correct.

Throughout my responses that is exactly what I am also saying. Conscience can be supressed and corrupted easily. However, that absolutely does not mean that conscience by nature is contaminated by human desires. Conscience is pure inner voice that critically give analysis to our own deeds without, or against, our will or deliberate intention.

I have also contended the idea of crime by saying that crime is the outcome of corrupted conscience. A person intentionally corrupts his conscience for the sake of seeking more pleasure.

People who have dead conscience are same everywhere. People who are killing innocent people in Europe are the same people who are killing innocent people in Afghanistan. Only a zombie (here I mean a person whose conscience is dead) is capable of killing innocent women and children for the sake of his career or pleasure. Such a person can be anyone atheist or theist. The belief label in this case serves only the purpose of identity and nothing more.

Again, subjective experiences are the least thing you should trust. It leads to wars, rapes, massacres, atrocities -- the worst that we see in humanity.

Tell me, if someone slaps hard on your face just to have some fun, would you take your feelings of humiliation as “the least thing you should trust?” I think you are now confused.

Total nonsense. Conscience is what you acquired from your parents, teachers, culture, etc. It is heavily influenced by the environment in which you grew up. And so your conscience is a reflection of what you have learned, what you have been exposed. And in some cases, your conscience can be a very dangerous thing. Ask the terrorists from ISIS what their conscience are telling them.

This response is an evidence that you have not understood the concept of conscience. Here I give you few quotes that I picked randomly from the internet. These quotes will give you a better picture of conscience.


“Justice is conscience, not a personal conscience but the conscience of the whole of humanity. Those who clearly recognize the voice of their own conscience usually recognize also the voice of justice.”
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn


“Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, 'Something is out of tune.'”
Carl Jung


“THE ROOTS OF VIOLENCE:
Wealth without work,
Pleasure without conscience,
Knowledge without character,
Commerce without morality,
Science without humanity,
Worship without sacrifice,
Politics without principles.”  
Mohandas K. Gandhi


“War is so unjust and ugly that all who wage it must try to stifle the voice of conscience within themselves.”
Leo Tolstoy


“Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing wonder and awe -- the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.”  
Immanuel Kant