Hey /lit/, I recently came across a question that i'm having a hard time coming up with an answer with, so I was wondering if any of you could possibly answer it.
Given that life is terminal(atheist view), and that their is no reward for ethical existence beyond this life, why should people live this life ethically.
Sorry if this is considered a childish question, but I'm really trying to see how an atheist point of view could justify a selfless life.
Guilt transcends all ideology. In fact, it's the foundation of all society.
>>7732626
Well, we have laws that pretty much fuck up your freedom if you don't live ethically.
But generally it's pretty self serving to not be a dick.
I scratch your back, you scratch mine. Makes life less of a drag.
>>7732626
>a selfless life
Doesn't exist.
A selfless life is either brain dead or just dead.
There are various forms of utilitarianism which promote socially positive actions.
There's the argument laid forth in Plato's republic, which is that injustice corrupts man and leads to his decay.
Atheists and non-theists in general struggle with this point, and it is usually the primary weakspot that theists exploit when attacking atheism.
For me personally, it's like with Yossarian in catch 22. '[they] see me as a sucker...and I'm starting to think they're right'. I feel great empathy and follow the rules like a good little moralfag, but it's my nature, I realize it's fucking stupid and pointless but I'm still like this anyway
>>7732641
OP here
so because you feel guilty for serving yourself first, you will willingly help people? So kindness is not derived from a natural good within us, but a feeling that we need to balance our selfish deeds with selfless deeds?
is it just one autist making these threads all the time or was there a collective of autists ushered in by the reddit post
