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From: rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: More on materialism
Message-ID: <634@pyuxn.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-May-84 10:50:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxn.634
Posted: Fri May  4 10:50:32 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 5-May-84 01:25:52 EDT
References: <4295@duke.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 41

This should be short and sweet.  Reply to N. Tinkham:

> The claim is being made that materialism does not provide sufficient
> grounds for morality.  To state it personally:  I do not find, in a
> materialistic world view, a reason to judge one act good and another
> bad.

OK...

> Physical and chemical processes are generally regarded as neutral,
> having neither malice nor good will and thus not moral agents;

Fine.  Continue...

> it is thus not clear to me why physical and chemical processes occurring in
> a human brain and body can be termed good or evil.

Nor is it clear to me.  Go on...

> If you know of a good argument for a basis of morality within materialism,
> then present it now and we'll discuss it.  (I may easily have overlooked
> something.)  If not, then this stands as counterevidence against materialism,
> as was requested.  (No, of course it's not *disproof*.  Counterevidence.)

Wait a second.  First, I know of no such argument, and I have no need for one.
Second, this is not even counterevidence, let along disproof.  All you've said
is that there is no basis in the concept of materialism for "good" and "evil".
You have failed to state a reason why there is a need to evaluate notions of
"good" and "evil" as anything but precepts evolving from human intellect (yes,
the biochemical content of human brain processes).  Indeed, you have overlooked
something.

> Note that I have not appealed to the way I wish the world to be.  That
> is not relevant to this argument.

Except that you would like to see "good" and "evil" as concepts external to
material reality, when you have failed to provide any logical need for such
a beleif.
-- 
Pardon me for ...  oh, never mind!!
					Rich Rosen    pyuxn!rlr