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6.1c Consciousness leads to morality Morality cannot exist in space or in the ocean because where there is no consciousness, there is no understanding of consequences. The moon is unaware that its gravity causes tides. The sea is unaware that its waves leads to erosion. Among animals there is little or no understanding of consequences. The lion may be dimly aware that if it does not kill the gazelle it does not eat, but that is not understanding in the human sense of the word. The killing of the gazelle by the lion is good for the lion's welfare and bad for the gazelle's, but in itself it is not a moral or immoral act. Morality only comes into existence with human consciousness and action. Humans are unique because • we are conscious of ourselves and other human beings; • we recognise the consequences of our actions on others and others' actions on ourselves; • we can change our actions to minimise or exaggerate those consequences; and • we can communicate with others to change actions and consequences. In other words: because we are human, we are conscious; because we are conscious, we understand consequences; and because we understand that consequences can help or harm ourselves and others, we have a sense of morality. 6.1d Good and bad, right and wrong, health and happiness Only human beings can identify actions and their consequences as good or bad for themselves or others. Only human beings understand that actions can promote or harm physical or mental welfare. Only human beings have a sense of morality - and morality only applies to human beings. In short: • an action - or lack of action - that sustains or promotes human physical or mental welfare is good / right / moral. • an action - or lack of action - that harms human physical or mental welfare is bad / wrong / immoral. The next step is to define physical or mental welfare. We may disagree on the details, but physical welfare means good health and mental welfare means at least contentment and at best happiness. Not everyone can be always healthy and content or happy, but morality helps us to aim for a state where the most possible people are healthiest and happiest for the longest possible time.
6.1e We are all equal We understand what morality is, but we have not yet developed a moral or ethical code - rules to help us live morally. We will begin to do that in Section Three. Before then, however, we must recognise a basic principle - that all human beings are of equal value, irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability or other condition. Why is this important? For the simple reason that if we discriminate against others, we give them the right to discriminate against us. Taking privileges for ourselves may give us an advantage in the short term, but it sets a precedent that will eventually harm us. (For example, if I decide that taking your car promotes my welfare, you could decide that taking my house is good for you. Rules must apply to all and equally to make sense.) 6.1f The hard part It has been relatively easy to define humanist - God-less - morality but it is much harder to put it into practice. How do we define harm? How do we know what makes people happy? When is sex moral? What about the death penalty? Lying? Eating fatty foods? Abortion? Pornography? Drugs? Treatment of animals? There's a whole minefield out there and we have to tread carefully if we want to formulate an effective moral code. For now let us conclude that morality is concerned with human physical and mental welfare - with our happiness. It's a simple statement that does not need God to tell us that it is true. Next: Chapter Six: Section 2 God's morals 
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If God existed, he would... admire the beauty of a universe that he did not create recognize that eternity is meaningless deny both heaven and hell disown all men and women who speak in his name denounce the harm caused by religious "morality" help the human race to thrive without him If God existed, he would be an atheist. What is the difference between science and faith? science is certain of nothing and requires proof of everything faith is certain of everything and requires proof of nothing Which do you trust? "I know there is no God" or "I believe there is no God" ??? Check the answer |
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