Aim Quote by Margaret E. Knight
“My chief aim was to combat the view that there can be no true morality without supernatural sanctions. So I argued at length that the social, or altruistic, impulses are the real source of morality, and that an ethic based on these impulses has far more claim on our allegiance than an ethic based on obedience to the commands of a God who created tapeworms and cancer-cells.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Moral Philosophy, 1978
She argues morality stems from social and altruistic impulses, not divine commands, challenging supernatural bases for ethics.
In simple terms: Morality comes from human empathy, not gods.
Key Takeaway
Base ethics on human compassion.
Themes
morality
secularism
humanism
Mood
analytical
provocative
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- community building
Key Concepts
ethics
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- Can societies thrive without divine moral authority?
- How do altruistic impulses shape law?
A Different Perspective
Religious believers may resist secular ethics.
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