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To: jwalsh07
Morality can be an evolutionary advantage or disadvantage and if only the force of natural selection were in play, it should have been selected out long ago.

Biologists disagree with you. Reciprocal altruism is key to the survival of a social animal. And a moral sense is essential to reciprocal altruism.

302 posted on 12/12/2005 3:23:44 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: Right Wing Professor

The idea that might makes right is reprehensible unless it is coupled with the concept of the good.


303 posted on 12/12/2005 3:25:07 PM PST by cornelis
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To: Right Wing Professor
Biologists disagree with you.

:-} I imagine some sociobiologists disagree with me. I sincerely doubt that all biologists disagree with me.

Reciprocal altruism is key to the survival of a social animal.

Reciprocal altuism is just another way of saying that morality is an allusion. What mechanism directs the individual to rationalize an altruistic act by saying to himslef. Ah, this is beneficial to the species so I will lay down my life for my fellow soldier?

And a moral sense is essential to reciprocal altruism.

Hardly, in fact they are mutually exclusive in some sense. That sense being that there is nothing inherently moral in an altrusistic act if one expects reciprocity.

312 posted on 12/12/2005 3:40:50 PM PST by jwalsh07
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