Prof wrote:Ethical people get beyond tribalism.
I predict that in less than 100 years from now you will witness a planetary consciousness (that the human species is all one family) along with a planetary civilization.
We have less wars than in the 20th century; cannibalism has died out; we still have a little slavery but we are working on it to make it extinct. Things are changing. More changes are clearly in the works. Ethics is catching on. I see evidence of it all around.
I have the same optimism as above with reference to Ethics and also Religion within the next 75-100 years.
There will be a paradigm shift in Ethics and Religion when continuing from past progressive trends, the rate of exponential expansion of knowledge and technology [one need to be up to date on these matters] will converge into a single focus as team human. Then all religions (starting with the Abrahamic ones) will be replaced with spirituality to deal with the unavoidable existential issues. Ethics will then be moving toward a common platform of human-system-based ethics, rather than Abrahamic and religious ones.
Muslims are not as bad as Mystery paints them out to be. They want the same thing we all do: a Quality Life. We could possibly show them how to attain it, but first we have to have our priorities straight. Actions speak louder than words. By our moral actions is the example set. So be true to your own true self. Keep in mind the ultimate purpose -- which is a quality life for one and all. {Go take a look at the Axiogenics web site.}
90% of Muslim are good people, but Islam itself is 10% malignant with 90% criticality (note Pareto). Islam must be weaned off to be replaced by net-positive spirituality.
Those who do not agree with moral absolutes do not seem to understand the systematic approach of Pure and Applied ethics working in complementarity.
-- Updated Mon May 26, 2014 8:37 pm to add the following --
DoubtnThink wrote:I think you attribute a bit too much to the “hard wiring” of the brain as a machine. The human brain only reaches full development at the age of eight – and during this time there is substantial environmental learning. You also presume that this ethical programming is somehow patterned in the DNA of the first cell, and that pattern is imposed from the moment of conception.
The propensity for continuous improvement is programmed in the human DNA. This drive for improvement and adaption is applicable generally, thus will include ethics. Note the trend on ethics within the world since 100,000 years ago to now.
Finally, can an unethical person be taught to be ethical – and vice versa?
Your own case is an evidence that progress in ethics is possible for all humans (unless brain damage).
As a teenager I was coldly logical, somewhat autistic. When a kitten was mauled it was the logical thing to put it out of its misery – although it was also logical to me that suffering is part of life. It was others who insisted that it be put down, and I had little feeling when I drowned it. So where was my empathy? Now I am very compassionate, and very empathetic.
From a neuro-psychological perspective, it is obvious your brain has been rewired and is now different from what it was when you were a teen. In this case, there are significant changes in the activation of your mirror neurons and other relevant circuits that support empathy, conscience and compassion.
One constraint is the detailed mechanics of these circuits are VERY complex to decode at present. Nevertheless humanity is making tremendous progress in this area. Note we have now been able to decode the human genome (once thought impossible) and are moving towards Connectome, i.e. mapping all the connections in the brain (a mammoth task).
Once humanity has understood the detailed machinery of how evil, compassion, empathy and other complex human drives are activated, humanity will (next 75-100) be able to make progress (without side effects) to modulate these impulses for the betterment of mankind and other species.
I anticipate some will counter with the usual 'frankenstein' warning and I can assure this 'danger' will be taken care of before anything is to be implemented.
Finally, can an unethical person be taught to be ethical – and vice versa?
An ethical person can become unethical via brainwashing or due to damage to the ethical circuit in the brain which enable the 'evil' circuit to dominate. The easiest experiment is to subject an ordinary known ethical person to severe, tremendous, continual stress, he will manifest evil in a matter of time.
Not-a-theist. Religion is a critical necessity for humanity now, but not the FUTURE.