Posted by rpcman on June 23, 1998 at 17:57:18:
In Reply to: Ethics in non-Christian societies posted by Hinge on June 23, 1998 at 17:30:15:
However, there is too much to choose from and sometimes I'm looking for something specific.
I don't think I have anything that specifically answers your question. For future reference though, your best bet for searching my site is to use the Infoseek and Hotbot engines on the top of this page.
I currently believe that everything is either science (proven) or science fiction (unproven).
Hmmm... Usually these words aren't used in this manner. Here we go on another definitional post. ;) Science is not necessarily something proven. It is a methodology. Even when something appears correct science still reserves the right to change a theory based on additional evidence. Science fiction usually means fiction based (largely) on the findings (and questions) of science.
Your site has helped my search considerably.
I'm glad it has been of assistance.
What I would like is examples/links of societies that have ethics and yet do not have a heaven/hell punishment/reward credo. I refuse to believe that we are killing machines until threatened with the wrath of God.
It would be difficult to point to societies and make blanket generalizations since societies are made up of fairly diverse groups and individuals. The only societies that I'm very familiar with is that here in the USA and that of Japan. The latter is largely non-religious and is, in many respects, more ethical. (In some areas I'd consider Japan less ethical.) For instance, you can walk into a bank in Japan and see piles of money sitting on the counters. No one is worried that it will be stolen. Likewise, there is no fear about walking alone after dark in Japan. Crime is virtually non-existant. Japan's problems come more from the authoritarian structure which is based on (religious) traditions of the past.