Where do morals come from? (ft. Cosmic Skeptic) 👼

Where do morals come from? Today I team up with Alex J. O’Connor (Cosmic Skeptic) to tackle the question of where morality comes from, how we determine what’s moral, what the origin of morality is, and what the nature of morality is.
For Part 2, head to Alex's channel, Cosmic Skeptic:
bit.ly/2lYH1WZ
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L I N K S
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COSMIC SKEPTIC:
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+ Website: www.cosmicskeptic.com
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HOLY KOOLAID:
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+ Website: www.holykoolaid.com
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+ Facebook : / holykoolaid
+ Instagram: @doubtandabout
+ Snapchat: doubtandabout
S U B S C R I B E
+ Subscribe to Cosmic Skeptic: bit.ly/2lVYi6f
+ Subscribe to Holy Koolaid: bit.ly/2iq2HtL
M U S I C
+ The Assassins
+ audionautix.com/
+ Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD? You Are NOT Alone!
Join the Holy Koolaid Community Newsletter to get plugged in: www.holykoolaid.com/newsletter/
Stay skeptical. Science is greater than Dogma.
THANK YOU!
Thanks so much to Alex for collaborating with me on this. Thanks to my viewers for helping me reach 15,000 subscribers in just a few short months. And that's to my Patrons for your regular support! Y'all rock!
Have feedback on this video? Tweet it to us using #cosmickoolaid. I try to read my KZbin comments, but due to sheer quantity & comment length, I'm 1000% more likely to see tweets.
P.s. Don't forget to give this video one thumb up (unfortunately, KZbin only lets you give one...).

[@HolyKoolaid]

Go subscribe to Cosmic Skeptic. He has freaking amazing content! I've made it easy for you. This link literally makes the subscribe button pop up, if you're not already subscribed: bit.ly/2lVYi6f For the other half of this collaboration: bit.ly/2lYH1WZ

[@DJH316007]

Already did before you made the video :)

[@XeniteBlackthread]

Holy Koolaid :: subscribed to you both a while ago. 😀

[@theomnidegenerate5236]

Holy Koolaid I've been subscribed to you both for a while now and I'm not sure if you did this collaboration because I suggested it or because others did or just on your own I don't care it's awesome and I love it hope you never stop_👍😀

[@Ekkie101]

Holy Koolaid

[@Questron71]

Actually i knew and subscribed him before i did Holy Koolaid :P For 22 he's incredibly eloquent and well researched in his clips. If only more twens were so! Oh and the intro cartoon was adorable. Wonderful nod of the head to Cosmic.

[@CosmicSkeptic]

This was great fun to make, thanks for the collaboration Thomas!

[@elishoglind3444]

CosmicSkeptic gr9 vid m9

[@HolyKoolaid]

Oh neat! It's Cosmic Skeptic. Y'all should go check out his channel. I've even saved you a step by making a link where the subscribe thingy pops up once the page loads (if you're not already subscribed). If you're not sure what to do, just click the red thingy once there: bit.ly/2lVYi6f

[@AdamTec]

CosmicSkeptic hey Alex, do you have a list of books on biology or philosophy that any atheis/skeptic should read ?

[@merry8647]

Adam he did a video about that right?

[@SawtoothWaves]

Your cartoon self looks fabulous, Alex.

[@SawtoothWaves]

The thing is: morality _is_ If it has a naturalistic explanation, that doesn't diminish its power or put civilization at risk like so many claim. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

[@emerydo5937]

The Brony Notion Oh hey I'm subscribed to you

[@Reverend_Salem]

Sup

[@chillwill361]

It does because morality doesn’t explain the meaning to life?

[@juanmartinvk]

You should've drawn Alex's freaky drawers in the intro

[@HolyKoolaid]

Damn! I should have. Maybe next time. :)

[@lucasAA927]

My two favorite channels together!!!!

[@declanmckenna9389]

Quem sou eu? Não é da sua conta I

[@ttrev007]

This is how i viewed morality as a teenager. Trying to explain it would only get me in trouble. I thought is was a really cool way understanding why morality was good.

[@iisadragon]

Two of my favorite Atheist KZbinrs collaborating. Nice.

[@emerydo5937]

same

[@AdamTec]

perfect collab

[@HolyKoolaid]

Thanks! Alex is really easy to work with. 10/10 would do it again.

[@incompetentmonkey6880]

Please do! I love it when small KZbinrs help each other out. Great content for us, exchanging of subscribers for you brilliant content creators. It's a win-win scenario!

[@godkingathleticsllc4218]

Alex is so well-spoken, well-versed, poised, and articulate. I imagine that these traits, as well as others, will propel him to great heights!!!

[@simon7107]

Nah, in the free market to get to great heights you need to be a narcistic fucking douchebag....

[@godkingathleticsllc4218]

@@simon7107 sad to know that your experience has brought you to that perspective. I, on the other hand, stand by my words.

[@SpaceCaseZ06]

ecstatic at this collaboration. was already subscribed to both

[@larabee1058]

SpaceCaseZ06 me too ^_^

[@SalamanderMagic]

SpaceCaseZ06 same

[@jackg9091]

When I realized that by collaborating on these two videos you actually demonstrated altruism (i.e. you helped each others' channels in hopes that the action would reciprocate and you'd both gain followers), it felt like I discovered the meaning of life

[@laszlo3832]

I love how depressed Alex looked in the intro.

[@NicholasLawrance1]

But he had a nice smile at the end :)

[@HolyKoolaid]

Lol. That's the "neutral" face in the template I use.

[@amadiolivas1405]

Loving both of your video collaborations!

[@HolyKoolaid]

Thanks! I'm really lucky I got to work with Alex. Make sure you subscribe and watch the rest of his videos too.

[@amadiolivas1405]

Holy Koolaid | I've BEEN Subscribed to both of you! For a while now actually.

[@TorkildKahrs]

@CosmicSceptic Not quite sure if i buy your argument: "... evolution works at the level of the jean, not the level of the organism. And this makes a world of difference when it comes to explaining altruism. As Dawkins puts it: 'Organisms are just vessels for jeans. Jeans travel within us and within every animal through multiple generations, surviving on the basis of how well suited they are for their environment'. In other words: you are evolutionarily programmed to protect the survival of, not necessarily yourself, but your jeans" If so, the garment industry wouldn't be very profitable, would it?

[@portalenthusiast823]

Torkild Kahrs really? also i encountered this comment right as he started talking about it XD

[@Gordon_Freeman_PhD]

Torkild Kahrs It's hard to tell on the internet. Don't judge him.

[@DanksterPaws]

O MY gaaawd woosh

[@A5traTheSuccubus]

@Kavius Payton Don't feel stupid I fell for it until the end.

[@GhostLightPhilosophy]

Torkild Kahrs You had me going there

[@HijinxdProductions]

Love watching both of you guys! This collab makes me very happy!

[@maaikefultinga5056]

So excited over this collab!!

[@Rabbit1881]

I like that the 2 of you have teamed up. I think you both ask the right questions and both have great answers to those questions. Keep up the great work and I look forward to the next video.

[@JeyPeyy]

I love both of your channels, awesome colab! Also loved that Alex brought up Peter Singer, probably my favorite philosopher

[@anthonypc1]

This one was a great succinct summary. (Took me years of incrementally figuring this out for myself as a kid, but if I were born at the start of KZbin I could be one of the young people learning this so much more effeiciently from you guys here. Hope to see you guys collab more

[@ryanbolton5992]

Already subscribed to both after a recommendation in an earlier one of Alex's videos. Really cool collab!!

[@Darthartanis]

I came over here because of CosmicSkeptics's channel and found another awesome channel. Thanks for the amazing content.

[@sillifenix2599]

You guys are awesome, keep up the good work!!!

[@richardrichardson5745]

This is a lot to take in. I really enjoy it. Watching it on repeat :) .

[@slimbroski5335]

Great collaboration! I'm subscribed to both of you! Keep making videos please! You both are doing a great job! :) thank you

[@Edwardo160]

Very informative, *God* bless you two xD

[@JordanMuzquiz]

Awesome collaboration guys. Just subscribed to Cosmic Skeptic. Thanks for what you both do.

[@HolyKoolaid]

Yay! Let's see if we can get him to 100,000!

[@sarcastichearts]

what a fantastic collab!! :)

[@LuxLacunai]

This collab is AWESOME

[@ShannonQ]

Great Collaboration! I'm a big fan of both channels.

[@fleotusbing]

Great explanation....very thorough and easily understood. Great video...thanks!

[@HolyKoolaid]

Alex is awesome like that!

[@StormStalker95]

you deserve waaaaaaayyyy more subscribers than this man. keep up the great work!

[@SpaceCaseZ06]

Vakhtang Nodadze they're both slightly different. whom are you referring to as *_"you"_* and whom are you referring to as *_"this man"_*?

[@SpaceCaseZ06]

oh. I think I get it now. it's an example of where proper punctuation would've helped _"you deserve ... more subscribers than this, man."_ emphasis on the comma between "this" and "man"

[@StormStalker95]

SpaceCaseZ06 okay, I get it now. I meant that Holy Koolaid deserves more subscribers than he already has. I think he understood. ^ _ ^

[@jjmisclove]

I love the unique and interesting way that the two you chose to collaborate! I enjoyed both videos.

[@burntartic2239]

thank you for this, holy koolaid. keep up the good work.

[@timpieper5293]

Holy Koolaid *and* CosmicSkeptic? Happy birthday to me!

[@gofast299]

This collaboration is awesome!

[@FlattyMchesterson]

Cosmic skeptic led me here. You earned yourself a subscriber. I love your reasonings and critical thinking.

[@skeptikkabinett2004]

Great video!

[@theDyingAtheist]

Alex, amazing as always, and thanks for turning me on to Holy Koolaide. Great to add your channel to my subscribe list, Thomas. Cheers.

[@proplejeezus6406]

Woooh...Loved it

[@andybee1381]

Wow! I just barely subscribed to both of you, and you did a collab together. What a funny coincidence.

[@davecirlclux]

0:18 your beginning song is amazing

[@timpind.8237]

I love how your face is just always in a natural smile :)

[@robertweekes5783]

Cool segment, I like your enthusiastic intro/outro. Keep up the good work buddy! Not drinking the Kool-Aid

[@teaburg]

I like the way you two teamed up to do the videos.

[@warpo007]

really enjoys Alex's channel. So I've subbed to you too Mr Koolaid!

[@otter4370]

You guys seriously don't post often enough. I'm yearning for more Cosmic Skeptic and Holy Koolaid!

[@cosmicslice7267]

Excellent collaboration guys! :)

[@HolyKoolaid]

Thanks!

[@UltraversePiggyJr]

I like how Alex relates many of the ideas from the selfish gene to morality. good job and keep it up, I liked the colab

[@ironwoman2012]

Just found a great channel, thanks CosmicSkeptic 😊

[@HolyKoolaid]

:D

[@jasonchang2836]

dude you have such a great narration voice

[@gokulbalagopalpayyanur8080]

Great video

[@jcksklngtn1]

@Holykoolaid @CosmicSkeptic I'm so glad that you guys did a video together! You two are my favorite Atheist KZbinrs. I've learned so much from your videos, thank you for all that you do. 👍

[@san4os94]

when i hear Alex talking, i always immagine him with a cilinde, a monocle, drinking some tea :D

[@cosmicslice7267]

Well, you do get the tea part right. He's a pretty wonderful tea expert actually...I can attest to that. :)

[@robyn964]

Cosmic Slice ex tea expert now 😂

[@TheOGPlatypus]

Always great to see two great youtubers joining together to spread truth. :D

[@secularbynature8415]

Nice Holy Koolaid / Cosmic Skeptic tag-team effort!

[@jameslovell405]

I was introduced to your channel through Alex's CosmicSkeptic channel and as a consequence, I subscribed. I have been an atheist for many years, but I generally keep my opinions and observations to myself, as I have had some severely negative consequences for revealing my belief (or lack thereof). I have lost jobs, friends and I cannot enjoy some social activities that I used to enjoy. I ma a veteran and to join many veterans organization they require a belief in a "higher power," a thinly veiled euphemism for theism. As for "morality" I much prefer the term altruism. The term "morality' is inextricably linked to deism and has monopolized it's use to it's own end. I agree with the philosophy that altruism is a biological imperative and the observable fact that it is highly beneficial for a species as a whole. I do not need a fictional cosmic superhero to provide ethics; the benefits of ethical behavior are plainly apparent and are hard-wired into primates by evolution. The other reason I reject theism and deism, is that empathy exists independently of spiritualism, crosses theological and spiritual lines and indeed, crosses species as well. If you have ever had dog as a companion, you see and feel this empathy daily. "Morality" is the observable result of cultural context, empathy and altruism and these two concepts are a direct and verifiable result of evolution. It would be very convenient if an omnipotent Santa Claus in the sky spelled out the right course of action for you, but it is emotionally, ethically and intellectually lazy to expect such. The argument about selfish behavior and selfless behavior is moot because the survival of our progeny is the ultimate imperative, while the survival, comfort and well-being of the individual within a species seems t be the ultimate imperative when, in fact, the individual's needs are secondary. This is evidenced by empathy. When a person finds something that improves his/her circumstance, in most cases an emotionally healthy person will be compelled to share it with their kin and certain members of their respective social network, who will in turn share it to theirs and so forth. It is self evident that these behaviors predate current monotheist ideologies by millennia and, with any luck, will continue long after these ideas have finally been put to rest. My path to atheism is the result of a search for truth that began with my (episcopal) communion. I was asked to commit to Episcopal faith and found that I could not take it on faith when verifiable fact seems to contradict most of what is contained the bible. I studied Buddhism briefly and read some Hindu and Shinto literature and found that all were little more than fictional parables that ultimately discouraged critical thinking, thus limiting the possibility of finding facts that might help define a larger truth. Hence, I believe that the probability of any supernatural deity to be so absurdly remote that such notions are easily dismissed by even the most elementary of free thinkers. Thank you for providing information and a forum for evidenced based critical tinkers to express their thoughts.

[@TalentedLMT]

I have been a subscriber to Cosmic Skeptic’s channel for months now...this young man is brilliant! I watched a debate of sorts where he debated Frank Turek, I think, and this young man pummeled him to a fine intellectual powder.

[@dersitzpinkler2027]

Fantastic collab. Holy Koolaid is underrated and Cosmic Skeptic has known that for a while.

[@4034miguel]

I saw an example of a mother cat completely overwhelmed and fatigue, not able to move anymore but still giving her milk to their kittens that were playful and well nourished. This mother was scarifying herself for the survival of her genes and ultimately for the survival of the species. She was rescued by the people that found her the "end of her rope". this kind of instinctive behaviors that perhaps human sublimate as "morality"

[@Djblois1]

Adam smiths Theory of Moral sentiments is a great source on how morality develops in communities and individuals

[@MarcelNL]

Haha, I had exactly this discussion twice these past few days!

[@sebastiankaczynski5981]

great video

[@Cellidor]

My opinion is that morality is subjective. What's moral or not depends entirely on the subject at hand. If you see a wolf about to eat a fox, from the wolf's perspective it would be moral to allow it to do so so that it can continue living and not die of starvation. From the fox's perspective it would be moral to stop the wolf to save its life regardless of what happened to the wold as a result. There is no objective morality, because the universe _does not care._ You can no more shake your fist at the universe for a lack of justice than you can shake your fist at a hurricane about to destroy your home to stop it. Life isn't always fair. Good things and bad things (subjectively) can happen to those who don't deserve it. You can't simplify morality by pretending there's some objective truths and slapping a label on the one proclaiming them to say they can't be argued with. Morality is a grey area, there is no _perfect_ choice in a given situation, only the _Best_ one you can make with the knowledge you have at hand.

[@stefantherainbowphoenix]

I've already subscribed to him. He brought me to your channel which I subscribed to in an instant.

[@SugarBunsHuns]

This collab is moist and lit af.

[@larabee1058]

I've just been in a discussion about the origin of morality and I enjoyed this immensely.

[@HolyKoolaid]

Make sure you head to his channel for the other part, and subscribe while you're there.

[@larabee1058]

Holy Koolaid I've actually already been subscribed to both of you. ;)

[@oliviadawn9002]

I don’t know why but Alex in cartoon form just makes me giggle so much

[@Orf]

8:27 Great example/point

[@sanmigueltv]

Good job Thomas l, I’ve been a fan of Alex for years now.

[@jungleismasiv4426]

I got a World Video Bible School advertisement on your video.

[@felixcaterson7097]

Lol I'm subbed to both of you so I got both of the notification at the same time

[@TheLoobis]

Look at this smart kid

[@ComradeDragon1957]

Nice to see you make a collaboration with a fellow KZbinr.

[@stevenduvall2549]

Great video. I'm a sub of both of you, BTW. What is the city behind you?

[@kali.9255]

gotta get all those book recommendations in lmao

[@emmymaria6173]

Holy Koolaid and Cosmic Skeptic collab? clearly a match made in heaven ;)

[@mtolman4449]

Alex is so smart. Hard to believe all that wisdom at such an early age. Plus he is the owner of a super funky chest of drawers the simple sight of might make your brain melt.

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

morality is a science. morals are derived of common sense. "don't do unto others..." is all you need. the rest comes from that.

[@gregoryallan3137]

excellent

[@BaztonTV]

I see what you did there. Very good.

[@matthughes2322]

watching this while having a beer. At the end he said "dont drink (instant triggered) the koolaid" ah okay

[@maliciousmikkelbarte936]

greeeeaaat vid!!!

[@LadyUnicornEJG]

Is it recommend another channel day? lol BionicDance recommended two others, hiith mentioned starting a new channel, and this. Not complaining as I'd love to find more good channels on certain topics, just interesting how it all clustered together. Was subbed to cosmic skeptic already, btw, and enjoyed the video (and will watch the other part as well).

[@kassimkhankhan3875]

WOW kid your intellectual capabilities are astounding. Seriously

[@basbruines890]

good day friend watched the other vid first allready subbed

[@freedapeeple4049]

Morals are a set of arbitrary rules of behaviour that change with time and place. There have been times and places in history where even rape and murder were accepted behaviour.

[@Greyscal3Rainbow]

Alex and I have the same shirt. I can't not notice because I'm wearing it as I watch this video. Coincidences are always fun..

[@gabiwilds4544]

I love Alex so much

[@EJ-bn3tc]

Lol two of my fav KZbinrs doing a collab? Has Christmas come early?

[@zNathaniel]

I already thought about this

[@MegaChickenfish]

This makes a lot of sense actually. Even in people unrelated to you like friends, you typically view them *like family.* So perhaps in such cases where you'd endanger yourself for a friend, the fact that you've mentally "adopted" them as friends triggers that same reaction that originally evolved to protect your genes.

[@hunnybadger442]

We are social creatures... living in a world that does nothing but force us apart... If we are alone... we are afraid... if we are afraid... we will gladly sacrifice our freedoms for a false since of security... then we will sacrifice our very morals just to belong... to a group that is only out to prevent us from forming real healthy communities... It is through our fear and need to belong that we are so easily controlled... It is through forced individualism that we get to blame those that are different for being different and blame those that struggle for their suffering... Divide and conquere... The hurt generated by this forced separation... Is used as a fuel for not only the "othering" of certain groups... But also the solidarity of hatred and anger that draws those to groups that only reforce that are righteous in those feelings of contemp... It is humans greatest skill turned against itself... It has always been our ability to come together and function as a cohesive group that has given us our advantage as a species... The communication of ideas and working together to solve our problems was once our greatest strength... Now it has been twisted into this horrific sickness that has pushed some to reject reality itself... Unfortunately it can only be fought by the individual... Rehumanizing themselves to those that have been so conditioned to hate them... It is only through personal interactions that you can break such toxic group think... The only thing that can bring down this insanity of collective rejection of others... Is to reconnect those devoured by hate and fear... One interaction at a time... The only way for those seen as the other to regain their humanity in the eyes of those that despise them... Is to be human together... one on one... Only then can we start to rebuild healthy communities where differences are embraced and similarities are used as a bridge to bring us all closer together... It is through being human that we can become humanity as a whole...

[@blackcatsmith]

Holy Koolaid Batman indeed! What did I just watch?!(it was the dubbed and if I'm being honest-creepy af intro) Was that your voice over another's visage? If so...I don't even need to know why, you're an intelligent person and I'm sure reasons abound... but whoa that gave me the gibblies!

[@zenkim6709]

There's a fascinating, alternate hypothesis as to why altruistic behaviors exist.... *Many* yrs ago, when I was still a kid, I read an interesting article in an issue of "Science Digest" about the nature of morality -- & it began w/ an account of a computer simulation, of all things. According to the article, 1 of the earliest supercomputer projects was a program pitting virtual beings in a simulated environment w/ limitted but renewable resources available for survival (this was WAY back in the 1980s, so the level of "supercomputer" tech then would be laughable nowadays). Each being could choose at any time to either attack or befriend another in the vicinity, & each of them had a randomly-assigned value for a "sociability" trait: a low value indicated a higher tendency towards more aggressive, ruthless behavior (i.e.: using deadly violence to take resources from others); a high value indicated a higher tendency towards more helpful, altruistic behavior (such as forming alliances w/ others, cooperating w/ others when gathering resources & sharing resources). If a "virtual being" had access to sufficient resources & survived long enough, it would reproduce; the more access to resources, the more it could reproduce. At 1st, the most aggressive "virtuals" clearly dominated the early game, slaughtering most of the less aggressive competitors while accumulating large amounts of resources ... but as the simulation progressed thru generation after generation, something unexpected started to happen. Further and further into the simulation, the once dominant super-aggressive Virtuals began increasingly to turn on one another, eventually decimating themselves in cutthroat competition. On the other hand, the most sociable Virtuals were able to hold out by helping each other survive and not attacking each other; as the Aggressive Virtuals dwindled in number, the Sociable Virtuals were able to expand their numbers as they gained access to an increasing share of the total available resources. Eventually, the Sociable Virtuals ended up dominating! This apparently obscure episode in computer science may provide insight into the true nature of morality: instead of a social construct, what we call "morality" may in fact be an emergent biological phenomenon, one made necessary by evolutionary pressures until it led to what we now know as the "social instinct" & "humanistic values" -- empathy, friendliness, loyalty, compassion, forgiveness, helpfulness & protectiveness towards others, even self-sacrifice. Furthermore, zoologists have been observing behaviors in social animals that strongly indicate our so-called "humanity" already existed in one form or another throughout the animal kingdom well before *homo sapiens* existed. Therefore, morality boils down to an instinctive impulse for group survival: moral actions strengthen or otherwise maintain the group's chances of survival, while immoral actions threaten or otherwise undermine the survival of one's social group.

[@keithhunt5328]

You're talking about herd morality. There is such a thing as master morality too.

[@SalamanderMagic]

A collab between you and CosmicSkeptic, a match made in (the nonexistent) heaven.

[@PfEMP]

haha Alex's cartoon version is pretty dope!😄

[@chillwill361]

“If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

[@gwenmarcus3712]

Alec OConner and you are both wonderful. You really do try to present everything evenhandedly and based on rational premises. You never get into religion bashing; you just present your observations backed up by verifiable facts. I am an unconflicted atheist, so I also have no axe to grind or point of view I wish to impose on others. I just want to understand how religious people think. I talk a lot with religious friends and, interestingly, I learn a lot about religion from you atheists, too. Thank you.

[@futilitarian3809]

If altruism is accurately defined as the 'disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others' (Oxford Languages), it is difficult to think of many instances in which it actually exists. The 'ultimate' example of a mother sacrificing her life for the survival of a child/children is likely motivated by at least two selfish interests: 1) The survival of her genes, and 2) To avoid the unbearable guilt, shame and remorse she would feel if she did not sacrifice herself. One might argue that these motivations are unconscious/subconscious; that the elements of 'disinterest' and 'selflessness' are therefore satisfied by the reflexiveness of the mother's act. In actions that are less reflexive, such as volunteering, donating to charity, or simply scratching a mate's back, there is usually an expectation of reward. In the case of a charitable act, the reward takes the form of personal 'moral' satisfaction or the avoidance of guilt. In the case of scratching a mate's back with the expectation they will return the favour, the reward is more obvious. 'Reciprocal altruism' therefore seems like a contradiction in terms. The expectation of reciprocity seems to implicitly deny any claim to altruism at all. Can love be altruistic? Perhaps for any fact to be deemed altruistic, it needs to be examined against 2 things: 1) The rewards made available to the actor, and 2) The consequences for the actor of acting otherwise. My partner has failed an important exam. I believe a hug would make her feel better, because hugs usually make her feel better when she's upset. I hug her. I am not only rewarded by her gratitude, by the pleasurable sensation of holding her, and by the knowledge that I've done the 'right' thing, but I have also protected myself from the shame I would feel should I decide to ignore her distress, and from any anger she might express at being ignored. A response to this scenario might be: 1) What if I gain no pleasure or gratitude from the hug? 2) What if would feel no guilt for neglecting her? If I gain no pleasure or gratitude from the hug, I am still vulnerable to the consequences of not hugging her. If I feel no guilt for neglecting her, and/or relief at preventing her anger, was my hug truly motivated by love? Another scenario: My lover is sitting in a chair, awaiting execution by lethal injection, for a crime she did not commit. I am provided the opportunity to save her by taking her place. I am assured that the drugs with which I am to be injected are almost incomprehensibly painful but rather fast-acting. I accept. Clearly, any reward I feel for saving my partner will be fleeting, and the consequences of taking her place in the chair are dire. Does the fleeting nature of the reward render the reward less significant? Is an excruciating death more severe than the lifelong shame, guilt and remorse I would likely feel should I decline to take her place? Have I behaved altruistically? Do my actions stem from love? A final experiment: You are crossing a busy street with your partner. You notice a semi-trailer hurtling towards the pair of you. Your partner is oblivious. You have time to either shove her from the truck's path to safety or dive to safety yourself. You shove her from the truck's path and you die instantly. You cease to exist. For all intents and purposes your thought process was so fast as to be reflexive. You were not aware of making any conscious decision. Your partner was not pregnant. Your actions do not in any way perpetuate your genetic code. Any reward you might have felt was so fleeting as to be virtually non-existent. You did no have time to imagine in any meaningful way the consequences of your actions. No reward. No consequence. Does the reflexive nature of the act prevent selflessness or enable selflessness? Can such an instinctive act be motivated by love? Did you act altruistically? Does it matter? Note: This comment assumes free will. The author doesn't.

[@bluedragonfly8139]

Two of my favorite atheist KZbinrs in the same video? This made my Friday!