Evolution

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
There is no difference. We shouldn't squish bugs.

I see.

But we can butcher unborn babies?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
There is no difference. We shouldn't squish bugs.

So hunters should be hanged?

Originally posted by dj2becker
I see. But we can butcher unborn babies?

No, we shouldn't do that. And we shouldn't kill animals. We should become one enormous happy vegan family.

Originally posted by dj2becker
If evolution has no purpose, then man has no purpose in life.

What differentiates man from animals and plant material?

How did morality evolve?

If evolution has no purpose, then man has no purpose in life.

This does not follow. What do you mean by a "purpose in life" anyway? This seems to me like another phrase which sounds profound and means nothing.

What differentiates man from animals and plant material?

Nothing differentiates humans from animals except that "human" is more specific than "animal". The category "animal" is larger than the category "human" and contains that category. That which differentiates humans from plant material is the same thing as that which separates any animal from plant material.

How did morality evolve?

Morality was probably selected for because it helped humans, a social animal, thrive socially. It's similar to the social instincts of other animals. Many animals will sacrifice their lives to save their young for example.

Originally posted by dj2becker
So hunters should be hanged?

No, they should be gently admonished. Perhaps some educational literature will help shift their perspective. Or perhaps hunting should simply be banned. For the good of all.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Morality was probably selected for because it helped humans, a social animal, thrive socially. It's similar to the social instincts of other animals. Many animals will sacrifice their lives to save their young for example.

Indeed--animals are inherently noble. Think of the lion, promoted to the rank of apocalyptic beast...Think of the moral precepts spelled out in Aesop's fables.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
No, they should be gently admonished. Perhaps some educational literature will help shift their perspective. Or perhaps hunting should simply be banned. For the good of all.

So you think a serial murderer and a hunter have the same status and they should both receive gentle admonishment?

Originally posted by dj2becker
So you think a serial murderer and a hunter have the same status and they should both receive gentle admonishment?

That and an Ayurvedic diet should sort out their emotional imbalances.

Originally posted by dj2becker
I see.

But we can butcher unborn babies?

We don't butcher unborn babies, we butcher unborn fetuses. Get with the program.

Originally posted by dj2becker
So hunters should be hanged?

Yes, by their own entrails if possible.

Originally posted by bbarr
We don't butcher unborn babies, we butcher unborn fetuses.

You're not a slunk merchant by any chance?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
[b]If evolution has no purpose, then man has no purpose in life.

This does not follow. What do you mean by a "purpose in life" anyway? This seems to me like another phrase which sounds profound and means nothing.

What differentiates man from animals and plant material?

Nothing differentiates humans from animals except that "hum ...[text shortened]... ncts of other animals. Many animals will sacrifice their lives to save their young for example.[/b]

This does not follow. What do you mean by a "purpose in life" anyway? This seems to me like another phrase which sounds profound and means nothing.

If evolution has no purpose, it means you are an accident and therefore you have no purpose.

Nothing differentiates humans from animals except that "human" is more specific than "animal". The category "animal" is larger than the category "human" and contains that category. That which differentiates humans from plant material is the same thing as that which separates any animal from plant material.

So should lumberjacks be hanged?

Morality was probably selected for because it helped humans, a social animal, thrive socially. It's similar to the social instincts of other animals. Many animals will sacrifice their lives to save their young for example.

Thus does not follow. Evolution has no purpose.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
You're not a slunk merchant by any chance?

No, but I plan to bind my dissertation with slunk. Anyway, slunk, like liquor and condoms, should be free.

Originally posted by dj2becker
[b]This does not follow. What do you mean by a "purpose in life" anyway? This seems to me like another phrase which sounds profound and means nothing.

If evolution has no purpose, it means you are an accident and therefore you have no purpose.

Nothing differentiates humans from animals except that "human" is more specific than "animal ...[text shortened]... ir lives to save their young for example.

Thus does not follow. Evolution has no purpose.[/b]

No, I can imbue my life with purpose in virtue of the choices I make, the values to which I subscribe, and by acting with integrity. You labor under the misapprehension that purpose is such that it can only be imbued from a force external to a life.

Originally posted by bbarr
We don't butcher unborn babies, we butcher unborn fetuses. Get with the program.

Please explain the difference.