Absolutes Quote by PZ Myers
“We godless lack that certainty, and we know the world is a complex place that requires compromise and is not ruled by a moral force - virtue is subject to negotiation, and is found in working together with others to find mutually satisfactory solutions. Good is not absolute, it is an emergent property that arises from successful networks of individuals. It is also something that is measured by evidence: we look at the good that people do, not the promises that they make and never keep, or the lies that dovetail nicely into dogma. Competence is a virtue. Intent is meaningless without action.”
About This Quote
The quote argues that moral certainty is impossible; goodness emerges from cooperative, evidence‑based actions rather than abstract principles.
In simple terms: Morality depends on cooperation and results, not fixed rules.
Key Takeaway
Focus on collaborative, measurable actions.
Themes
ethics
cooperation
relativism
pragmatism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
commentary
reflective
When to use this quote
- team projects
- public policy
- community service
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
emergent morality
evidence based evaluation
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance flexibility with protecting fundamental rights?
- What evidence truly shows good outcomes?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook universal human rights that should not be negotiated.
![“Deeply reluctant to judge a Founder as wanting in moral force, modern commentators retreat to a range of adjectives such as ‘flawed,’ ‘human,’ ‘contradictory,’ ‘paradoxical,’ ‘compartmentalized,’ while preserving for [Thomas] Jefferson what [one] historian...calls ‘a fundamental core of naïve…” quote by Henry Wiencek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/800/henry-wiencek-90790_character_deeply-reluctant-to-judge-a-founder-as-w_1771646.jpg)
![“Their [the U.S.’s] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as ‘their home — their fortress.’ And good for them, I say. Well done!” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec3/vladimir-putin-261_absolutes_their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolu_10791.jpg)
