How to Behave and Why

Posted by Siamang on: 03.26.2007 /

Atheists can get their morals from a book!

Cover
By Siamang

I’ve often run across people on the internet who seem to think that atheists don’t have a firm foundation for their morality. I try to explain that we get our morality from our relationships with others, and from philosophical foundations. Often I attempt to explain that we are moral creatures because we are social creatures, and that morality is exactly what we should expect from a darwinian model in societies which have to get along to survive.

But all that is, well, kind of abstract, and a bit hard to understand.

Well, I have found the solution. It’s the single best book on morality I have ever seen. It’s called “How to Behave and Why” by Munro Leaf, the author of “Ferdinand the Bull”.

It’s a kids book, from 1946, but MAN is it ever the most clear, most succinct and most charming book about, well, WHY we should behave like we should.

Listen to this:

No matter where you are or who you are, there are four main things that you have to do if you want to make good friends and keep them.

You have to be HONEST.
You have to be STRONG.
You have to be FAIR.
You have to be WISE.

And there is no good in trying to fool yourself. All that isn’t so easy.

Leaf’s simple prose and charming illustrations slice right to the heart of the matter: If you are dishonest, people will not trust you. If you are greedy, people will not like you, and you won’t have good friends.

I recommend it wholeheartedly, to atheists and believers alike.

-Siamang

5 Responses to "How to Behave and Why"

  • Comment by: Mike C

    1 03/26/07 11:29 AM | Comment Link |

    These seem to be very similar to Aristotle’s Four Cardinal Virtues: Moderation, Courage, Justice, & Wisdom.

  • Comment by: Ir (Helen)

    2 03/26/07 7:34 PM | Comment Link |

    Thanks Siamang - I like this too, from the description of the book:

    The two biggest questions to ask ourselves in life, [the author] says, are “Are most of the people I know glad that I am here?” and “Am I glad that I am here, myself?”

  • Comment by: Karen

    3 03/26/07 9:38 PM | Comment Link |

    That’s great. I love old children’s books, and it’s wonderful to find those that stand the test of time.

    Looks perfect for the littlest monkey! :-)

  • Comment by: Jim Henderson

    4 03/28/07 8:13 AM | Comment Link |

    I think all of us woulb better people if we used either this book or (for those so inclined) the picture bible (thats why I added for those so inclined :-))

  • Comment by: NCxian

    5 04/3/07 5:29 PM | Comment Link |

    Throughout my own childhood and my children’s little kid years, I somehow missed Ferdinand. I recently stumbled across it at work, and it instantly became one of my very favorites.

    These are definitely books with agendas, by the way, which is something that was being talked about on another thread, I recall.