Single Idea 7399

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / b. Euthyphro question]

Full Idea

Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, though religion were not.

Gist of Idea

Even without religion, there are many guides to morality

Source

Francis Bacon (17: Of Superstition [1625], p.52)

Book Reference

Tuck,Richard: 'Hobbes: a very short introduction' [OUP 2002], p.52


A Reaction

One might add to Bacon's list 'contracts', or 'rational consistency', or 'self-evident human excellence', or 'natural sympathy'. This is a striking idea, which clearly made churchmen uneasy when atheism began to spread.