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Humanist Discussion Group
Our next meeting is January 28, 2013. It’s been a long time since we met last and I bet we didn’t give
much thought to the Humanist Discussion during the Holidays. And, I hope everyone had a great
Holiday.
We had agreed that the January 28th meeting topic would be “Morality.” It certainly has been an
eventful couple of months, which leads me to believe there’s plenty to talk about that could fit under
the Morality banner.
Here are a few thoughts regarding our discussion.
First, I think we should clarify the difference between Ethics and Morality. For the fun of it I looked it
up in Wikipedia as well as the Dictionary, and have included some parts of the definition of Ethics and
Morality on the next page.
We can discuss the origins of Morality. Can we prove with any certainty that:
1) the origins are in Divine Revelation – that they came from God. OR,
2) Ethics and Morality are (were) a part of our evolution. Are they unique to Humans?
3) Both or neither?
Are Ethics and Morality imposed on the masses by the strong and leaders of our race?
Well, that just a few thoughts and I suspect you all will have many different approaches to the topic. I
hope you can sent reading material that we can share with the rest of the group and any other
thoughts you will have. Send them to Al Veilleux ([email protected]), Dan Thompson
([email protected]), or Jerry Lusa ([email protected] ).
Morality & Ethics
Wikipedia: Ethic, According to Tomas Paul and Linda Elder of the Foundation for Critical Thinking,
"most people confuse ethics with behaving in accordance with social conventions, religious beliefs, and
the law", and don't treat ethics as a stand-alone concept.[2] Paul and Elder define ethics as "a set of
concepts and principles that guide us in determining what behavior helps or harms sentient
creatures".[2] The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy states that the word ethics is "commonly used
interchangeably with 'morality' ... and sometimes it is used more narrowly to mean the moral
principles of a particular tradition, group, or individual."[3]
According to The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary the Definition of ETHIC :
1)- plural but sing or plural in constr: the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral
duty and obligation
2)- A: a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values <the present-day materialistic
ethic> <an old-fashioned work ethic> —often used in plural but singular or plural in construction
<an elaborate ethics> <Christian ethics>
B:plural but sing or plural in constr: the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group
<professional ethics>
C: a guiding philosophy
D: a consciousness of moral importance <forge a conservation ethic>
3)- plural: a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness) <debated the ethics of human cloning>
Wikipedia: Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behavior") is the
differentiation of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are "good" (or right) and those
that are "bad" (or wrong). The philosophy of morality is ethics. A moral code is a system of morality
(according to a particular philosophy, religion, culture, etc.) and a moral is any one practice or
teaching within a moral code. Morality may also be specifically synonymous with "goodness" or
"rightness." Immorality is the active opposition to morality (i.e. opposition to that which is good or
right), while amorality is variously defined as an unawareness of, indifference toward, or disbelief in
any set of moral standards or principles.[1][2][3][4] An example of a moral code is the Golden Rule which
states that, "One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself."[5]
According to The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary the Definition of MORALITY:
1)- a: a moral discourse, statement, or lesson
b: a literary or other imaginative work teaching a moral lesson
2)- a: a doctrine or system of moral conduct
b plural: particular moral principles or rules of conduct
3)- conformity to ideals of right human conduct
4)- moral conduct : virtue