Morality In the Absence Of God?

[Sunstone]

According to some anthropologists, there are no known societies or cultures that do not have some version of certain moral principles, such as a prohibition against murdering someone who is a member of ones group, or a prohibition against stealing from someone who is a member of ones group. This would suggest that some aspects of human morality are grounded in human genetics. That is, they are in some sense instinctual. So, it would seem that instinct or human nature is also a source of morals.

 

[stemann]

There can't be a morality 'given' by someone (eg, God) that we all 'should' follow, because then it would be obedience and not morality. What reason would we have to follow it in the first place?

The 'common' perception of morality in most of the world, as far as I can tell, is still majorly influenced by religious teachings. Other than that, it is society's expectations, etc.

There is no particular reason why one 'should' or 'should not' do any certain thing; since, when one does something, to say that one should or should not have done it does not change the physical world in any way.

Most people aim for some general goal, like be nice to everyone, or try and make as many people as possible 'happy'. Again, there is no reason to do this, other than that it makes the agent themself 'happy' when they do it.