Can Atheism ground objective morality?
Moderator: Moderators
- The Tanager
- Savant
- Posts: 6300
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2015 11:08 am
- Has thanked: 94 times
- Been thanked: 280 times
Can Atheism ground objective morality?
Post #1In my exploration and discussions, I have not seen an atheistic worldview be able to logically account for morality being objective. The closest I've seen is an atheistic platonic kind of moral system, but while that seems to be able to account for the existence of 'good' and 'evil', it still doesn't seem to account for why humans would be obligated to choose Good over Evil. I'd love to hear cases from those who think atheism can account for objective morality to make sure I haven't missed (or misunderstood) thoughts in my exploration.
- bluegreenearth
- Guru
- Posts: 2343
- Joined: Mon Aug 05, 2019 4:06 pm
- Location: Manassas, VA
- Has thanked: 1108 times
- Been thanked: 733 times
Re: Can Atheism ground objective morality?
Post #71Are you defining "objective" to mean something that exists in reality such that its properties are not contingent on a mind?The Tanager wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:02 pm In my exploration and discussions, I have not seen an atheistic worldview be able to logically account for morality being objective. The closest I've seen is an atheistic platonic kind of moral system, but while that seems to be able to account for the existence of 'good' and 'evil', it still doesn't seem to account for why humans would be obligated to choose Good over Evil. I'd love to hear cases from those who think atheism can account for objective morality to make sure I haven't missed (or misunderstood) thoughts in my exploration.
Are you defining "morality" to mean a set of behavioral standards that consistently distinguishes conduct valued as "good" from conduct valued as "evil?"
"This new learning amazes me, Sir Bedevere. Explain again how sheep's bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes." - King Arthur, Monty Python & The Holy Grail
- Bradskii
- Apprentice
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2021 8:07 am
- Has thanked: 15 times
- Been thanked: 69 times
Re: Can Atheism ground objective morality?
Post #72Hey, back the damn truck up, please. You can cut out comments such as the ones above. I'm quite willing to have a polite discussion with you, but I really don't like my integrity being questioned.Vilferatus wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2026 10:15 am ...if you are not allowed to cheat...you are not willing to be intelectually honest...
And note the term 'with you'. Do I have to repeat myself yet again? I'm not the slightest bit interested in arguing with whatever app you have on your laptop. Either make an argument yourself or deal with someone who doesn't mind discussing things with AI.

