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Cogito ergo sum

Here in the Philosophy forum we will talk about all the "why" questions. We'll have conversations about the way in which philosophy and theology and religion interact with each other. Metaphysics, ontology, origins, truth? They're all fair game so jump right in and have some fun! But remember...play nice!

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Atheism And Moral Progress

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  • Originally posted by seer View Post
    So biology aims that some should survive and others not? I didn't think biology cared - silly me.
    Of course biology doesn't care. To speak as if it cares is anthropomorphizing, which we all tend to do from time to time.

    Comment


    • Originally posted by seer View Post

      But your team has a mental intention to win. There is no such intention in biology.
      Which is completely irrelevant. Do I have to (again) quote my own earlier statement? "Biology (i.e, natural selection) always aims for survival (as far as a natural process can be said to 'aim' at anything)".
      America - too good to let the conservatives drag it back to 1950.

      Comment


      • Originally posted by Stoic View Post

        Of course biology doesn't care. To speak as if it cares is anthropomorphizing, which we all tend to do from time to time.
        Then we agree that biology aims at nothing.
        Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

        Comment


        • Originally posted by Electric Skeptic View Post
          Which is completely irrelevant. Do I have to (again) quote my own earlier statement? "Biology (i.e, natural selection) always aims for survival (as far as a natural process can be said to 'aim' at anything)".
          So your analogy doesn't work. Biology does not aim or seek anything. It doesn't care, intend or act. Some species just get lucky and others, most, don't.
          Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

          Comment


          • Originally posted by seer View Post

            So your analogy doesn't work. Biology does not aim or seek anything. It doesn't care, intend or act. Some species just get lucky and others, most, don't.
            Still wrong.
            America - too good to let the conservatives drag it back to 1950.

            Comment


            • Originally posted by Electric Skeptic View Post
              Still wrong.
              That is merely an assertion...
              Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

              Comment


              • Originally posted by seer View Post

                That is merely an assertion...
                A correct assertion.
                America - too good to let the conservatives drag it back to 1950.

                Comment


                • Originally posted by Electric Skeptic View Post
                  A correct assertion.
                  How exactly? How is it anymore than some species get lucky and others don't? What else is there?
                  Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by seer View Post

                    So your analogy doesn't work. Biology does not aim or seek anything. It doesn't care, intend or act. Some species just get lucky and others, most, don't.
                    If by "some species just get lucky" you include that some species just happen to develop adaptations that make them more likely to survive in the environment they inhabit, then I guess that's true.

                    (Of course, some just get unlucky, and have their environment destroyed by some catastrophe, like asteroids, massive volcanoes, or humanity.)

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by seer View Post

                      How exactly? How is it anymore than some species get lucky and others don't? What else is there?
                      Do you know nothing about evolution? About Darwin's theory? About survival of the fittest? About Malthus?
                      America - too good to let the conservatives drag it back to 1950.

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by seer View Post

                        And why isn't intellectual capacity just as instinctual as anything else?
                        “Intellectual capacity” has evolved in some species for the same reason that Natural Selection has favored every other successful mutation over the eons. Namely, to promote survival . Cockroaches have done particularly well.

                        Well obviously it didn't work well for 99% of all species. It is more correct to say that some species get lucky and others don't. There is no over all biological aim for survival.
                        It works well enough for as long as conditions on Earth are able to sustain particular life forms. After all, life has evolved to fit the prevailing conditions, NOT the other way around. Conversely, it doesn’t say much for ‘Intelligent Design” that 99% of all species have gone extinct. What a failure. for your creator god.

                        The question is why is that immoral? It certainly isn't for the tribes that win.
                        It’s “immoral” because society says it is. You seem to think that there are absolute moral values floating around in a realm of Platonic forms that have to be adhered to. There is no good reason to think that ‘morality’ exists separate from man-made communal rules of behavior. Morals have demonstrably evolved and varied from culture to culture over time – including in religious cultures.


                        “He felt that his whole life was a kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.” - Douglas Adams.

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by Stoic View Post

                          If by "some species just get lucky" you include that some species just happen to develop adaptations that make them more likely to survive in the environment they inhabit, then I guess that's true.

                          (Of course, some just get unlucky, and have their environment destroyed by some catastrophe, like asteroids, massive volcanoes, or humanity.)
                          Good we agree...
                          Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

                          Comment


                          • Originally posted by Electric Skeptic View Post
                            Do you know nothing about evolution? About Darwin's theory? About survival of the fittest? About Malthus?
                            Yes, and I know that there is no direction in evolution, no aim, no decision for or against survival. Some species just get lucky and other don't.
                            Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by Tassman View Post

                              It’s “immoral” because society says it is. You seem to think that there are absolute moral values floating around in a realm of Platonic forms that have to be adhered to. There is no good reason to think that ‘morality’ exists separate from man-made communal rules of behavior. Morals have demonstrably evolved and varied from culture to culture over time – including in religious cultures.

                              That makes no sense, the society or tribe that defeats the other tribe and takes their stuff does not believe their acts are immoral. You saying otherwise has no meaning.

                              Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...

                              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by seer View Post

                                Yes, and I know that there is no direction in evolution, no aim, no decision for or against survival. Some species just get lucky and other don't.
                                I'm sorry but, again, you're wrong. There is always a 'decision' for survival - again, as far as 'decision' can be applied to a natural biological process.
                                America - too good to let the conservatives drag it back to 1950.

                                Comment

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