RE: Morality
June 15, 2013 at 1:04 am
(This post was last modified: June 15, 2013 at 1:06 am by max-greece.)
(June 14, 2013 at 9:46 pm)crud Wrote: "Is there an absolute car?"
Well, no there's not. But there is an absolute standard(the laws of physics) that we can use to build/judge the car.
This is a very religious approach to life frankly and as such you are blinding yourself to a massive number of factors.
The laws of physics are not the sole definition of an absolute car. Car Design can change massively without any reference to them. How does the incorporation of a stereo, GPS unit, leather seats, air conditioning, and a thousand other factors affect compliance with the laws of physics?
Does a convertible comply less with the laws of physics than a 4 door saloon?
Suppose we agree that the most beautiful car ever made was the E-Type Jaguar designed in the early 1960's. Why have so many other car shapes been made since then?
(June 14, 2013 at 9:46 pm)crud Wrote: "is there a point that evolution stops"
When all comforts are met, all disease cured, and peace established. I see no reason for evolution to continue.
Well the human back could so with some modifications - we lose millions of days of work to it. Losing the appendix wouldn't be a bad idea. Further development of the higher centres of the brain is likely. Our dentition is overkill for our diet now, accepting that a thicker enamel wouldn't be a bad idea.
Of course if we do go into space our bodies really aren't particularly suitable for zero G conditions so there would probably be a slew of changes that could be made there.
If some people go into space and some stay down here it is highly likely that over a period of time we will evolve into 2 slightly different species. Imagine the host of new moral issues we will have to face then...
What happens if we ever come across an Alien species? A whole slew of new moral arguments follow.
(June 14, 2013 at 9:46 pm)crud Wrote: "Similarly a perfect moral position in one society may not (probably won't) translate into the next."
There is a difference between universal moral goodness, and the rules/culture/preference of a society.
Like I said this is a fairly abstract notion I'm throwing around here.
Hopefully we have just established that in changing environments morality changes. There is no universal moral goodness that could apply. This is a figment of your imagination (not your alone of course). There are far too many morally ambiguous situations in life for such a thing to exist. Lying to protect someone from information that might harm them. Stealing to save a life - you can probably come up with a dozen of your own.
I would hope that by now we have established that the entire concept of an absolute morality is, in and of itself both impossible (and actually probably immoral as a concept). That you are so desperate to hang onto it says more about you than the credibility of the idea.
I don't often advise anyone to go out and find a religion that suits but in your case it would seem to fit you better than atheism.