Stuart's reply reminds us that "religion" does not necessarily equal belief
in a deity. Buddhism is a major world religion with a utilitarian moral
code but no deity. The religion is based on the notion that nothing should
be accepted on faith, but on experience only--it is empirical. The moral
code is in place because it reduces suffering--that's the long and short of
it. The only "punishment" for bad behavior is suffering--your own and
others'. You may not care about others, but most people care about their
own suffering.
Paul Okami
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stuart McKelvie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)"
<tips@acsun.frostburg.edu>
Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 8:44 AM
Subject: [tips] Re: It's What They Believe
Louis asks:
If you do not accept the existence of a divine entity and thus the validity
of a divinely ordained moral code, what is the source or origin or base or
criteria or root for the moral code you do accept and strive to follow?
Answer:
From the environments to which I have been exposed.
And the codes arose from people's experiences in their environments.
Just simple trial and error and survival of behaviours that led to outcomes
judged to be useful.
I think that is what Skinner meant and I agree with him.
Please, Skinnerians, correct me if I got Skinner wrong!
Stuart
___________________________________________________________________
Stuart J. McKelvie, Ph.D., Phone: (819)822-9600, Extension 2402
Department of Psychology, Fax: (819)822-9660
Bishop's University,
2600 College Street,
Sherbrooke (Lennoxville),
Qu¨bec J1M 0C8,
Canada.
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Bishop's University Psychology Department Web Page:
http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
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