Comments on: To Be or Not To Be… Skeptical http://consciencebound.com/2010/02/04/to-be-or-not-to-be-skeptical/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=to-be-or-not-to-be-skeptical ... to Leave the Faith Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:33:35 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeff http://consciencebound.com/2010/02/04/to-be-or-not-to-be-skeptical/comment-page-1/#comment-1534 Jeff Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:11:03 +0000 http://consciencebound.com/?p=384#comment-1534 Tom, In answer to your questions: - Yes it seems that Human kind is basically an animal given the mountains of evidence available. - are we "basically good"? I think we, and animals, are "basically" ignorant and we become good as we learn about the world and the consequences of our actions. When we have properly functioning mental faculties we understand what "the good" is can discern between it and "the bad". - Since we see clear signs of morality in animals then yes, I think that they see a what good and evil is. The more developed the animal brain, the more they seem to know good from bad and the more they act accordingly. Primates for instance have social structures and are altruistic based on similar codes of good and evil that we have. Tom,
In answer to your questions:

- Yes it seems that Human kind is basically an animal given the mountains of evidence available.

- are we “basically good”? I think we, and animals, are “basically” ignorant and we become good as we learn about the world and the consequences of our actions. When we have properly functioning mental faculties we understand what “the good” is can discern between it and “the bad”.

- Since we see clear signs of morality in animals then yes, I think that they see a what good and evil is. The more developed the animal brain, the more they seem to know good from bad and the more they act accordingly. Primates for instance have social structures and are altruistic based on similar codes of good and evil that we have.

]]> By: Tom http://consciencebound.com/2010/02/04/to-be-or-not-to-be-skeptical/comment-page-1/#comment-1531 Tom Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:15:51 +0000 http://consciencebound.com/?p=384#comment-1531 I too seem to break it down to absolute truths. That is where the trouble lies. Some people call it faith. I think that FAITH is just a word, it holds no absolute truth. Or does it? Back in our earlier math classes we learned that anything divided by zero is undefined. Later I learned that as the divisor approaches zero, ex: 1/0.000000000001 becomes infinitely large as we let the divisor become infinitely small (zero). So does 1/0 = infinity absolutely? The simplest question I can break it down to is: Do you believe human kind is basically just an animal? Next is that "animal" basically good or bad? Does an animal believe in good and evil? I too seem to break it down to absolute truths. That is where the trouble lies. Some people call it faith. I think that FAITH is just a word, it holds no absolute truth. Or does it? Back in our earlier math classes we learned that anything divided by zero is undefined. Later I learned that as the divisor approaches zero, ex: 1/0.000000000001 becomes infinitely large as we let the divisor become infinitely small (zero). So does 1/0 = infinity absolutely? The simplest question I can break it down to is:
Do you believe human kind is basically just an animal? Next is that “animal” basically good or bad? Does an animal believe in good and evil?

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