Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to So THAT's why you're always right?

Being an ass doesn't make me wrong, though.
TB — (archived)

Art was theorizing that religion as a basis for ethics is tricky because religious motives can be easily fleeting.

For people who don't use either religion or objective standards as a basis for their moral thinking, their ethics and morality are a matter of individual habit, upbringing, and personal cultural environment. None of these are any more or less mutable than religious convictions, and at least religious traditions are reasonably consistent over time (at least in terms of human lifespans, not in historical terms).

If you believe that there is nothing in objective reality to base these things on, and you reject religious traditions as a solution, you're pretty much left with your own personal background and integrity. This can be enough for a lot of people, if you were brought up right, but probably not for those who have already demonstrated consistent criminal behaviors.

Certain types of military training would probably accomplish the same thing, particularly if things like honor and tradition are emphasized. Installing a moral code into adults who don't have one is not an easy thing.

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