People today are affiliated with diverse religions and beliefs. There are Catholics, Christians, Buddhists, Baptists, but some individuals are Athiest. Atheism is “ the view that God does not exist” (Shafer-Landau 64). Within our society today, people all over believe that having religious views is needed to fulfill our duty in life. They believe if we are not religious, then we can not be civilized, generous, and cannot possess a moral compass. The one question that I raised when reading the book, The Fundamentals of Ethics, by Shafer- Landau, was in chapter five, “Religion and Morality”, was why some people believe that just because an individual does not believe in God, then they are immoral, and unable to pursue their duty in life? Why
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If an individual is not religious, it does not mean that they can not fulfill their duty in their lives. Utilitarianism is an example that does not involve religious belief to fulfill their duty in life. “Utilitarianism is the doctrine that the rightness of actions be judged by their consequences” (Smart 78). Utilitarians are groups of individuals who believe in the theory of helping others and making our world a better place, no matter what religion one is. Ethical egoist are another group of individuals who can fulfill their duty in life without religious beliefs. Ethical egoist are people who believe that their “actions are morally right just because they best promote one 's self-interest” (Shafer-Landau 107). I want to argue that the atheist individuals in our world can be more morally good than those who are a theist, a believer in …show more content…
Extreme utilitarianism is, “For an extreme utilitarian moral rules are rules of thumb. In practice the extreme utilitarian will mostly guide his conduct by appealing to the rules (“do not lie,” “do not break promises,” etc.) of common–sense morality” (Smart, 79). An extreme utilitarian is one who believes that the rules are good, but they do not always tell us what we should do. Extreme utilitarianism explains the “right” or “wrong” emphasis in an action depends on if the good outweighs the bad or the bad outweighs the good. A religious belief is not required in order to be an extreme utilitarian, you just have to be aware of the consequences of your actions. Restricted utilitarians are those who believe, “In general the rightness of an action is not to be tested by evaluating its consequences but only by considering whether or not it falls under a certain rule.” (Smart, 78). Restricted utilitarianism expresses that people believe rules should be followed at all times. Just because an individual does not believe that God was the creator of the world, does not mean that the individual would not follow the rules that are
If an individual is not religious, it does not mean that they can not fulfill their duty in their lives. Utilitarianism is an example that does not involve religious belief to fulfill their duty in life. “Utilitarianism is the doctrine that the rightness of actions be judged by their consequences” (Smart 78). Utilitarians are groups of individuals who believe in the theory of helping others and making our world a better place, no matter what religion one is. Ethical egoist are another group of individuals who can fulfill their duty in life without religious beliefs. Ethical egoist are people who believe that their “actions are morally right just because they best promote one 's self-interest” (Shafer-Landau 107). I want to argue that the atheist individuals in our world can be more morally good than those who are a theist, a believer in …show more content…
Extreme utilitarianism is, “For an extreme utilitarian moral rules are rules of thumb. In practice the extreme utilitarian will mostly guide his conduct by appealing to the rules (“do not lie,” “do not break promises,” etc.) of common–sense morality” (Smart, 79). An extreme utilitarian is one who believes that the rules are good, but they do not always tell us what we should do. Extreme utilitarianism explains the “right” or “wrong” emphasis in an action depends on if the good outweighs the bad or the bad outweighs the good. A religious belief is not required in order to be an extreme utilitarian, you just have to be aware of the consequences of your actions. Restricted utilitarians are those who believe, “In general the rightness of an action is not to be tested by evaluating its consequences but only by considering whether or not it falls under a certain rule.” (Smart, 78). Restricted utilitarianism expresses that people believe rules should be followed at all times. Just because an individual does not believe that God was the creator of the world, does not mean that the individual would not follow the rules that are