Excavating The Empty Tomb

[Pandas United]

Once again, if morality is only the byproduct of the evolutionary process, then why should I be moral? It's only a survival mechanism that was adapted into the human psyche. There's no objective basis for thinking I need to be a moral person.

Did it occur to you that you answered that question yourself, immediately after having asked it (albiet only in a modified way - you may want to be a moral person because-)? But why would it matter, no one -should- have to provide you with any explanation for this at all. On the other hand, I think you and I might both agree that anyone who does offer up an explanation ought to at least try to make sure it's an accurate one, eh? Whether or not morality evolved as a survival mechanism (which appears to be the case) that won't tell us that we -should be- moral creatures - at least not without invoking a fallacy.

Morality has clear evolutionary benefits in the sense of community and promoting the well-being of the species. This is fairly well known in up-to-date evolutionary biology. My point is, as conscious beings that can make our own decisions and that realize the genesis and reasoning for morals, there's no reason for me to be a moral creature without an objective compass for morality. As someone that realizes "morality is probably just a byproduct of evolution," obligations for following those morals get thrown out the window.