Could we define good and evil without invoking god? Could we define an objective potential and an evolution path for humans as much as a path from a flower seed to one fully in bloom ?
Are there any absolute, objective moral values similar to laws of physics or logic?
It seems pain and suffering are as real as needed to define good and bad and “do” and “don’t”. A star never suffers. An apple does not get hurt by falling from the tree but we humans do suffer physically, mentally and emotionally. So simply to hurt another human being is EVIL.
Do we need more guidance? May be. Consider the case of prostitution. On the surface there is no pain or suffering involved yet it’s considered demeaning and degrading of human dignity.
Even if we succeed in defining the good and evil how do we get the notion of redemption and punishment? What would be the real, objective difference between those wih virtues and those with vices? Beyond social rewards or punishments which incidently has to be defined in terms of pain and pleasure what else distinguishes between them? Has the one with virtues objectively achived higher values? What do we mean by that?
There are certain derives in man that are instinctive for lack of a better term. For example curiousity! Being curious and search for the truth has nothing to do with morality. It’s just in us. If you know the age of the cosmos it does not necessarily make you a better person in moral terms. Or is it? It may make you a more complete human being nonetheless. So how should we define a perfect human?
