I’ve heard this claim before that it is not possible for atheists to have “objective moral beliefs” because many moral claims are based on religious authority, which atheists do not believe in.

Thus atheists are subjectivists when it comes to morality: each atheist may disagree with the other about what is moral. Obviously this opens atheists up to problems of disagreements, with some who might believe very conventionally “immoral” things are acceptable for them.

This is not of course to say that atheists may not choose to live lives that are some what “moral” (moral, as is often defined by religions)

So, what’s the status of the idea of “objective morality” and atheism?

You are viewing a single thread.
View all comments View context
2 points

So to illustrate the point maybe: are you saying atheists are generally in agreement abortion is wrong and that taxation is theft and all governments should be abolished?

permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points

Nope, abortion isn’t wrong because a fetus is not a person.

Taxation is not theft because you are, through taxes, contributing to the larger operation of society, from which you are directly benefiting.

permalink
report
parent
reply

Ask Hilarious Chaos

!askhilariouschaos@hilariouschaos.com

Create post

A place for questions.

Community stats

  • 74

    Monthly active users

  • 182

    Posts

  • 732

    Comments