Recent Responses
Why should I be concerned about torture? As a middle class, white atheist living in the UK, neither I nor anyone I know is likely to suffer from it. I consider my aversion to it to be mere sentimentality. Bill Foster
Jyl Gentzler
December 10, 2005
(changed December 10, 2005)
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I wonder what you believe is the relevance of the fact that you are an atheist. Perhapsyou believe that in the absence of God, nothing really counts as goodor evil, and so, for you, the only practical question that suchpractices as torture raise is whether you (or those close to you) arel... Read more
Is it possible to determine whether the laws of Physics as they are currently perceived will last indefinitely? Is there anything to prevent the nature of the universe changing so much tomorrow that reality as we know it breaks down?
Andrew N. Carpenter
December 10, 2005
(changed December 10, 2005)
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Kant thought he had a strong answer to Hume, but this answer requires embracing a strange metaphysical doctrine of transcendental idealism that few have found palatable. Kant' s best discussions of this occurs in his Critique of Pure Reason.
Suppose, however, that we reject "strange... Read more
I was reading up on the study of whether biologists who accept the evolutionary theory believe in God(s) and other theologistic happenings. Many of them say that they find no conflict between the two whatsoever. How is this possible? Isn't the theory of evolution itself based on random, natural selection?
Richard Heck
December 10, 2005
(changed December 10, 2005)
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If I can add a little, I guess I find myself puzzled about why anyone would think there was a conflict between belief in God and evolutionary theory. Some Christians, Jews, and Muslims (and, perhaps, adherents of other faiths about which I know less) do find there to be a conflict, but tha... Read more
I was reading up on the study of whether biologists who accept the evolutionary theory believe in God(s) and other theologistic happenings. Many of them say that they find no conflict between the two whatsoever. How is this possible? Isn't the theory of evolution itself based on random, natural selection?
Richard Heck
December 10, 2005
(changed December 10, 2005)
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If I can add a little, I guess I find myself puzzled about why anyone would think there was a conflict between belief in God and evolutionary theory. Some Christians, Jews, and Muslims (and, perhaps, adherents of other faiths about which I know less) do find there to be a conflict, but tha... Read more
How useful is Kantian ethics when discussing an issue like abortion? Is it easily applicable in real life situations and does it leave any room for meaningful discussion on the issue?
Bernard Gert
December 9, 2005
(changed December 9, 2005)
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To talk about Kantian ethics is an example of a new kind of relativism, as if there were many and varied kinds of ethics: Kantian ethics, consequentialist ethics, virtue ethics, contractualist ethics etc. Kantians, consequentialists, virtue ethicists, and contractualists should not be though... Read more
I begin a selfless task with no thought of reward. While working, the possibility of being rewarded for my task occurs to me. Does this new thought invalidate the selflessness of my action, even though I began with "pure" motives? If I am able to drive thoughts of reward from my mind until I am done, does my action become selfless again? If the thought of reward spurs me on to do an even better job, does that tilt the scales even further away from my selflessness, or does it remain steady, because the task was only begun with "pure" intentions?
Bernard Gert
December 9, 2005
(changed December 9, 2005)
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The new thought does not invalidate the selflessness of your action, but it is morally unimportant whether your act was completely selfless or not. Most actions are done from mixed motives, and all that is morally significant with regard to how the action reflects on your character is whethe... Read more
If no one ever loves me during my lifetime - if I don't ever have a relationship - will I have not lived properly? Is love that important to life, or is it something you can choose to engage in if you like? Thank you.
Richard Heck
December 11, 2005
(changed December 11, 2005)
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I wonder whether the deeper question isn't one to which Nicholas alludes: Can I have lived a good life—not if I've never been loved but—if I've never loved?
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Why is sex (a legal act) censored to a much higher degree than extreme violence (an illegal act)?
Nicholas D. Smith
December 9, 2005
(changed December 9, 2005)
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I agree with Joseph Moore's insight, but have some reservations about the question itself. As squeamish as our own culture is about sex, I think it would not be wise to generalize this fact about our culture to all others at all times. The varieties of practices and taboos across cult... Read more
Is the existence of God more important than the existence of religion?
Nicholas D. Smith
December 9, 2005
(changed December 9, 2005)
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Important in what sense? Religions, in one sense, are more important in the actual lives of people--for the obvious reason that they influence people's lives whether God exists or not. But if God doesn't exist, then much of what religions say is based upon falsehood. Truth is sometim... Read more
How does one respond to the argument that the danger to our troops is misguided because a citizen of Washington D.C. has a greater chance of being fatally shot than an American soldier does of dying in Iraq?
Andrew N. Carpenter
December 9, 2005
(changed December 9, 2005)
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That there are problems in Washington DC by no means undermines our reasons for caring about the Iraq war and its dangers.
With respect to caring about people in danger: Shouldn't we have concern for the welfare of those involved in the Iraq war (Americans and others) as well as thos... Read more