Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site uwmacc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois
From: dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (Paul DuBois)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Where do morals come from
Message-ID: <554@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Dec-84 10:26:26 EST
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.554
Posted: Tue Dec 11 10:26:26 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Dec-84 02:17:23 EST
References:  <265@oakhill.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: UW-Madison Primate Center
Lines: 50


> In article <1700@umcp-cs.UUCP> mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) writes:
>>I have a question for the non-theists out there: where does the
>>authority for your moral system come from?
>>
>>I'm particularly interested in whether you feel your system allows any
>>judgement of the behavior of others.

> I wonder why the assumption that a moral system needs an "authority"?
> When I was a child I needed an authority (my parents) since I did not
> have an adaquate world view to deal with the everyday reality about me.
>
> However, as an adult I now have concepts which seem to explain the why
> and wherefor of most things around me and allows me to deal with them on
> a rational basis.  I simply don't seem to need an authority.
>
> I believe it is wrong to "judge" (doesn't the Bible have something to
> say about that?)  Instead, I use the term "descernment".  That is, using
> my abilities to understand that which is going on without comment, rather
> than turning it into a "Good" vs "Bad" contest.
> [Dave Trissel]

First, I do not think that is true to say that there is no
authority in this system of morals, because it assumes the
authority of rationality (which I'm not (surprise!) questioning
here, just pointing out).

Second, without getting into the topic of judgment, it can be
observed that there is, at least, a problem of definition, since a
statement was made about something being wrong (i.e., judging)
followed by a statement that there is no need to turn things into
a good or bad contest.  What is the relation, if any, between
something being "wrong" and something being "bad"?  It seems to
me that there is an attempt to introduce a semantic trick here.

I suppose it might be added that the question "why does a moral
system need an authority" was at least partially answered by
the one asking it:  so that children will accept their parents
guidance.  It was stated that as a child, the world view was
inadequate.  But many children, and probably all children at least
some of the time, feel their world view is adequate to the point
that they ought not have to do as their parents say.  Even (to
stem an anticipated objection) in the presence of rational
discussion of why they ought to do it.
-- 
Paul DuBois		{allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois

"I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live:  I will sing
praise to my God while I have my being."
					Psalm 104:33