July 27, 2006

Nihilism

It takes some twists and turns of mind-blowing ignorance, but eventually we have this excellent piece of ethical and political reflection:

So why is the religious right so convinced that there is no possible moral code if not codified and handed down from on high? They can’t imagine how a person can act morally if left to “their own devices.” Their evidence is this: Those who believe like us - that there is an external moral code handed down by God - do no wrong. Those who do not believe like us - who get their moral code from other traditions, or from “natural law” - do no right. When presented with contradicting evidence, they ignore it.

And why? Why is it so important that they maintain this fiction? Simply because they themselves are incapable of acting according to an internal moral code other than self-interest - to the extent that they must adopt an external moral code.

No comments: