OK Crud,
The short answer is that we are an intelligent, social creature that evolved morality as a tool to help us survive as a species. Essentially, having developed intelligence the usual tools to ensure cooperation (chemicals like pheromones) or instinctive pre-programming were not sufficient so we simply evolved to care for each other.
In many ways it is the fact that the system is so far from perfect that tells us this does not come from any kind of deity. This is also confirmed by the existence of sociopaths who are not considered normal as they lack this fundamental evolutionary facet.
I do not see anything nihilist about this any-more than a lion caring for its young in a social group due to instinct is nihilist. Even the fact that there is self-interest in treating our fellow creatures well I find far less revolting than the idea that we are only being nice so some great deity in the sky doesn't fry our asses for eternity.
Does this mean that morality is relative to the time and place you are born? Looking at changing attitudes to Sexual equality, race, sexual orientation, paedophilia, slavery and so on and so forth gotta go with a yes on that one - thankfully.
The short answer is that we are an intelligent, social creature that evolved morality as a tool to help us survive as a species. Essentially, having developed intelligence the usual tools to ensure cooperation (chemicals like pheromones) or instinctive pre-programming were not sufficient so we simply evolved to care for each other.
In many ways it is the fact that the system is so far from perfect that tells us this does not come from any kind of deity. This is also confirmed by the existence of sociopaths who are not considered normal as they lack this fundamental evolutionary facet.
I do not see anything nihilist about this any-more than a lion caring for its young in a social group due to instinct is nihilist. Even the fact that there is self-interest in treating our fellow creatures well I find far less revolting than the idea that we are only being nice so some great deity in the sky doesn't fry our asses for eternity.
Does this mean that morality is relative to the time and place you are born? Looking at changing attitudes to Sexual equality, race, sexual orientation, paedophilia, slavery and so on and so forth gotta go with a yes on that one - thankfully.
