A common good with no objective meaning - Page 9

Sternwallow · 10-18-2009, 05:08 AM

Quote:

supersuper09 wrote

This I understand. This is why I think my question is not simply a reiteration of the 'atheists can't be good argument'. I don't think that it's relevant...if there is a God, religious people still think they are free to be bad. I think we have the evidence as well.

Maybe you could be more explicit what you mean by "common good". If you mean the "preservation of society for a species that craves social interaction", you have answered your own question.

Sternwallow · 10-18-2009, 05:19 AM

Quote:

supersuper09 wrote

rationale, is based on evidence, evidence is based on knowledge, knowledge is arrived at through interpretation of meaning, meaning is subjective.

I think.

I disagree. Knowledge is verified facts (evidence) that have been integrated into the overall body of knowledge yielding improved understanding of the real world. The integration is performed via rational thought. When the integration produces an explanation of the accumulated knowledge, you have a theory. If either evidence or rationality is missing or faulty, no theory is produced.

Sternwallow · 10-18-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

supersuper09 wrote

I agree, that the golden rule is depicted in many worldviews. Yet the reason that legality has rarely equated morality is that it is one thing to believe in the golden rule, and yet another things to practice it universally. Surely there are people that don't actually believe in the golden rule...people we think are unethical, and could influence others to do the same. We may call them crazy sociopaths or unethical "criminals" now...but there is no universally common practice of good, and no guarantee that the dominant sensibility will never change. Could we reach a common practice of good/social singularity without wiping out those who don't have these shared ethics?

btw: I don't usually have these kinds of conversations...drives my friends crazy...so if there is inconsistency with my terms...just let me know. I'm trying not to overthink it...and let the ideas flow freely.

Please explain "social singularity" a little more. It reads like solidarity or mutual support and I do not think, from your context that those are what you mean.