TheOtherDave comments on Consolidated Nature of Morality Thread - Less Wrong

13 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 15 April 2007 11:00PM

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Comment author: Vivi 25 March 2012 11:49:24PM *  0 points [-]

Sigh, from your last comment. I presume that you are of a religion? Anyway, if you want the Darwinian origin of morality, here it is:

Protohumans that had adapted an altruistic nature had a higher likelihood of survival than those that did not. Over time, this caused morality to be biologically hardwired into the gene pool. I'm not quite sure what you mean by faith, however. If you mean belief, that is, a concept not proven by evidence, then I don't see the correlation between faith and morality. If you mean religion, then I disagree. That would suggest that humanity is by nature amoral, which I do not believe. If you'd prefer factual evidence, then I will add that there is no correlation between a lack of religion and immoral behavior. I think history has shown us that fear is not a good source of morality. Edit: Religion tends to be a detriment to societal morality. In a vein similar to racism, unfounded beliefs will inevitably cause conflict. The moral benefits are only observed in a microcosm.

Comment author: TheOtherDave 26 March 2012 12:31:58AM 1 point [-]

Note that the user you're responding to hasn't posted on LW since 2008, so is unlikely to read your reply.

Comment author: Vivi 26 March 2012 02:18:31AM 0 points [-]

Valid point. Thank you.