BS: Thank you Bobad

Subject: BS: Thank you Bobad
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 05:17 PM

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/morals-without-god/

I was just rereading a thread I had started last fall about morality and religion I had started last fall and stumbled upon this link you had provided. It answers my queries rather nicely I think. Thank you for being thoughtful enough to provide it then. I am sorry that I am just now getting around to reading it.

I would like further discussion to begin here without rehashing the previous thread.

Here is the summary. and conclusion.

"But science's contribution to a moral society, if any, remains a question mark.

Other primates have of course none of these problems, but even they strive for a certain kind of society. For example, female chimpanzees have been seen to drag reluctant males towards each other to make up after a fight, removing weapons from their hands, and high-ranking males regularly act as impartial arbiters to settle disputes in the community. I take these hints of community concern as yet another sign that the building blocks of morality are older than humanity, and that we do not need God to explain how we got where we are today. On the other hand, what would happen if we were able to excise religion from society? I doubt that science and the naturalistic worldview could fill the void and become an inspiration for the good. Any framework we develop to advocate a certain moral outlook is bound to produce its own list of principles, its own prophets, and attract its own devoted followers, so that it will soon look like any old religion."

Subject: RE: BS: Thank you Bobad
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 05:21 PM

Can anyone recall a reconcilliation initiated by neighbors to bring two other neighbors together?


I concur with all the above remarks and sentiments, but it made me wonder if humans are as good as chimps when it comes to arbitration.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank you Bobad
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 05:41 PM

Yes, It happens all the time. Not in big cities like metro DC were people don't really know their neighbors. But where I grew up and where I live now, certainly, yes.

Humans are better than chimps at just about everything, including arbitration, including murder.

They are not better at picking fruit while hanging from a limb by their feet.

Subject: RE: BS: Thank you Bobad
From: Lox
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 09:02 AM

I have to confess that I'm a bit out of practise at picking lice and fleas out of my friends hair with my finger nails ...

... I have, on the other hand, had plenty of experience whooping, screaming and waving my arms about when excited ...

Subject: RE: BS: Thank you Bobad
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 10:18 AM

Male humans don't do a lot of mutual grooming.
Teen aged females do. Or at least they did in my day.

"I have, on the other hand, had plenty of experience whooping, screaming and waving my arms about when excited."

Sounds like any group of men when their team scores.

Are chimps dim reflections of ourselves? From our point of view maybe. But to them, we must look like weak slow, inhibited versions of them selves.