Stem, this passage seem tailored to my perspective at this time and the rest of it is looking spot on as well. Much to think about:) A friend introduced me to the existentialist/determinist question and this is....thoughtful... ** *Responsibility and morality:* From a naturalistic perspective, behavior arises out of the interaction between individuals and their environment, not from a freely willing self that produces behavior independently of causal connections (see above). Therefore individuals don't bear ultimate originative responsibility for their actions, in the sense of being their first cause. Given the circumstances both inside and outside the body, they couldn't have done other than what they did. Nevertheless, we must still hold individuals responsible, in the sense of applying rewards and sanctions, so that their behavior stays more or less within the range of what we deem acceptable. This is, partially, how people learn to act ethically. Naturalism doesn't undermine the need or possibility of responsibility and morality, but it places them within the world as understood by science. However, naturalism does call into question the basis for retributive attitudes, namely the idea that individuals could have done otherwise in the situation in which their behavior arose and so deeply deserve punishment.
On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 2:25 PM, stem cell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > That link will take you to the Point of Inquiry pocast shows. There > are episode titles there to choose from and the episode in question > with Shook is 28th down from the podcast titled "The 12th annual CFI > Houdini Seance". > > stemcell > > On Nov 4, 2:17 pm, stem cell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I was listening to this podcast today and thought it would be a good > > topic to discuss. I would like to get personal thoughts on this from > > Orn. and Aaron. I hope this link goes through. Just FYI. More > > information on this can be found atwww.naturalism.org. > > > > www.pointofinquiry.org/john_shook_naturalism_and_the_scientific_outlook/ > > > > stemcell > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
