Origins

[close] Morality without religion? A couple of years ago, I wrote an essay for John Brockman's Edge.org site, focused on the question of what kinds of morality are possible in the absence of religion. Here is the key piece in that essay, the part that I am eager to discuss: "Where I intend to be divisive is with respect to the argument that religion, and moral education more generally, represent the only — or perhaps even the ultimate — source of moral reasoning. If anything, moral education is often motivated by self-interest, to do what's best for those within a moral community, preaching singularity, not plurality. Blame nurture, not nature, for our moral atrocities against humanity. And blame educated partiality more generally, as this allows us to lump into one category all those who fail to acknowledge our shared humanity and fail to use secular reasoning to practise compassion. If religion is not the source of our moral insights — and moral education has the demonstrated potential to teach partiality and, therefore, morally destructive behaviour — then what other sources of inspiration are on offer?" I am particularly interested in this issue as I will soon be publishing a book on the nature of evil entitled "Evilicious."

[close] Have you read any of Sean Hayden's works? Here's your chance to ask all the questions he left unanswered!

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