Atheists Can't Justify Caring About Animals! 

0:04 "Every since my debate earlier this year" Dads around the world: *don't* *you* *mean* *last* *year* *??*

I’ve recently started questioning my religiosity thanks to your videos. Thanks for creating content that allows people to think critically.

"The only reason you aren't torturing your dog is because you're afraid of divine punishment?"

Im ex muslim, living in the middle east. ive been one for 18 years now. You guys have no idea the amount of mental suffering i went through, and still. Im counting the days till i run away and never come back to this sh- hole region. Im retired now and financially secure finally. Wish me luck.

"Yeah, we are 'just' atoms and molecules, but why should that matter?" I don't know if he intended that as a joke, but I thought it was good.

If theists genuinely have this hard a time understanding why people aren't going around being murderous sociopaths without their god, I'm very glad they're behaving for their invisible sky patriarch.

Does the fact that we're just made of atoms actually......... 'matter'? ...Ok, I'll show myself out

Yes, we can justify it. You know why? Because we don’t need a book, we have a little thing called empathy!

Strawman galore from this guy as he has no real arguments against you, great job debunking him Alex as usual.

When he says he had a debate earlier this year, how intense were his new year's celebrations??

Am I the only one who finds it ironic getting morality speeches from a guy who believes it's okay to beat his wife ritually

imagine having the mindset of someone who needs to justify caring about another living creature.

The Muslim dude has designed his argument for the sole purpose of defending his religion, not to provide any insight about objective morality.

Simple question: Why should we care what Allah thinks?

As an exmuslim, the way this dude argues is so typical of apologists. He doesn't have any real arguments, he just strawmans the flaws in yours so that when he presents his, it seems for more reasonable. Also his lamppost comment, I didn't start caring about life until I became an atheist. If that makes me a lamppost, then I'm a happy lamppost.

"I am the light, and I will illuminate your path, for I am... literally a lamp post" - Muslim Dude, 2019

I love this channel, i always recommend it to my friends.

alex youre such a respectful, intelligent and well spoken man. Im so glad youre using your skills to speak out for the victims

“I need to believe I have an imaginary friend, an invisible slave master, in order to feel good about caring what I care about, and holding the moral views I do.”

I laughed so freaking hard at the end of the video when he looked exasperated and just signed off after the man's claim that we're literally lamp posts.

Oh my god, him misunderstanding everything is so frustrating to watch, props to Alex for not losing it.. I know I would

I hear he's appearing in this year's global giant strawman championships.

10:25 “the ways animals are being treated is wrong, immoral, ...” But cutting their throat while awake is perfectly fine? 😂🤣

Nappa: "Vegeta, what does the scouter say about his Straw Man Level?" Vegeta (breaks the scouter): "IT'S OVER 9000 !"

I'm a vegan atheist and I have enough reason and justification for my views. This title is also ironic because it's precisely religious people that so often justify eating meat by saying "all animals were created for our use"

It's funny because seeing a goat getting sent to slaughter in India during Eid was actually what got me to look into animal rights which eventually led me to veganism.

Hi y'all! Your hesitant silence at the end of the video made me shed tears of laughter. Love your videos and the way you explain your toughts. I wish love and happiness to y'all for this new year. Cheers!

After listening to that guy talk for thirty seconds I can gues with 80% accuracy what he’s going to say next, or at least the sentiment he’s going for. Which is to find one little flaw in a position and claim the whole person is wrong about everything. How original.

I think that caring about animals and other people as an atheist is more moral that caring about animals and other people as a christian or as a member of some other religion. Atheists aren't doing it because some higher power told them to.

Your intelligence and your overall features make you bloody attractive. Keep at it you smart hot man

Kudos to you for being calm even after that, I would've been so pissed.

LMFAO Alex, the reaction at the end to the "literally a lamppost" comment was fucking gold. I wish I could like this video twice, because that reaction deserved its own one.

I am a vegan now, thanks you. Your arguments for both ethics and climate change are sublimely persuasive.

Goddamn you're good at this.

Europeans to Native Americans: “I’m asking for you to adopt a useful and practical system of moral rules...”

It's not the belief in god that matters, it's the "belief" in consequences. If you do not think that your immoral deeds will have bad consequences, you can convince yourself that killing and torturing is fine. The emphasize is on CAN. If you believe in an afterlife where your deeds are judged, it should (at least in theory) disincentive immoral behavior.

Don't forget to check the description for relevant links and sources, and further viewing. Watch out for my end-of-year book recommendation video coming very soon! *PLEASE NOTE*: For an hour or so some of the links in the description were faulty. Some have commented that the person I am responding to deleted his video; this is not the case.

Thank you so much for speaking up for the animals, Alex. I can’t thank you enough! So glad that you exist

Alex, I had such a laugh at your stunned silence! Great video, young man. Keep going.

Never ceases to amaze me how many theistic types seem to be suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect. 🙄

"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures." (See al-Sharh al-Mumti', 2/198)..... and thats the level of intelligence we have to deal with.

I would also like to give you a kudos, I'm a bit older at 45, but my father at age 80, gave me that first skeptic nudge....matter of fact both my parents gave me free choice to believe whatever made sense to me. Was never pressured or coerced. Think I had it good. Parenting done right.

When I read religious texts, I see a lot of attempts to justify animal exploitation and asserting humans as a superior being. It seems that the animal rights debate has been going on for thousands of years and religious texts were one of the most insidious ways of trying to win the debate. When theists pull out their ancient texts to try and legitimize their opposition animal rights, I just see that as a lazy excuse to do the wrong thing.

Great video. I’m a little tired of hearing that I have no moral accountability because I don’t have a god.

I find it interesting that the most empathetic, caring and intelligent people I met are always non religious. Talk about irony.

That ending got me laughing even if I'm still pretty hangover cause of last night 😂😂 Alex, you are awesome! Keep up the fine work you do, cause it really helps people seeing the world as it is.

You're such a great voice for our community, Alex. I love the way you communicate logical ideas; it seems a bit weird and kind of disconnected but watching your videos has given me a completely different perspective on life, and my mental health has improved drastically because everything makes a lot more sense to me now. When I first came across your channel I was a Catholic on the verge of leaving the religion, and you played a massive part in making that a finality. I'm bisexual and I was so incredibly ashamed of myself. My entire life was a mess because I wasnt sure what to think of anything; the doctrine was so contradictory and yet I felt ashamed for questioning it. When I came across your videos, I started thinking a lot more logically, and I dont think I've ever had such a sound mental state. The way you explain yourself is so friendly to people who arent quite in the same mindset yet and frankly, I'm so grateful for that, because if it werent that way I might still be struggling terribly in my own mess of a psyche. I'm also vegan now; I'm not quite sure to explain it, but it feels so great to feel right, haha. Thank you.

I think morality is rooted in empathy, and the ability to understand that, just like I myself don't want to experience pain, then others don't want to experience pain either. And when I can see that the reaction of others to pain is similar to my own, that is, the constant attempt to avoid it, I can understand that nobody wants to experience it. So based on my empathy, I will act to try and minimize the suffering I cause others, or eliminate it completely if possible.

Ever since I've experienced that my emotional drives change depending on my logical moral and ethic views, I think that these emotional drives just don't bear enough consitency to really play a large role in moral considerations. For me, going vegan (as example) was a logical, moral decision, and only afterwards did my emotional drives change. I could then, about half a year after I cut out animal products, only feel disgust and sadness when I saw meat.

You and Mic the Vegan have convinced me to be vegan for the past 9 months.

I love the fact that Alex can change his mild. We should all be able to do this regardless of the negative Consequences.

Happy new year! Thanks for the new vid!

I've learned a lot from you, thanks! In addition, you're the "first mover" who threw me into the deep ocean of philosophy ^~^

Thanks for the talks that you do! Rather than closing off ones mind, talks like these allow us to expand our minds and never stop asking questions! Keep up the great work!

That sign off. Just perfect. I actually felt myself mustering the same feelings to his last point. Good stuff. And because of you I've taken the leap and stopped being ignorant to animal slaughter. Not completely there, only vegetarian, it's been 35 years coming so it has to be a start right? Hopefully it helps make a difference in the end and be a voice for those without one. Thank you for this

Great video Alex. Love the way you debate and articulate . From a fellow lamppost

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: You're videos are the best. Thought-provoking, brilliantly worded, and entertaining. What a way to kick off the new year.

We're literally lamp posts THO

Morality is derived from logic, experience and knowledge sharing, not from some supernatural entity.

"The animal must be alive before being slaughtred." That was so fluffing redundant.

Seeing the notification for your videos makes me smile so much.

Smol brain: fIrSt Big brain: happy new years Cosmic brain: comment about the video and subject

Haha that was definitely the best ending to a CosmicSkeptic video I’ve seen yet。

another banger! thank you for your amazing work

18.54 "Jeah, we are 'just' atoms and molecules, but why should that matter?" hehe :p

I always get annoyed when this line of questioning comes up in relation to atheism. It seems pretty obvious that our evolutionary path is the source of our empathy, and human values that we tend to associate with morality. Evolving in family groups, requiring close knit ties in order to survive, and as a result, caring about the well being of those around you as an extension of your own well being. Of course we grew out of the early days of humanity, and into a more philosophical, poetic species that focuses, and cares about the "why" more than our base instincts. For example, it might make you feel better to punch a coworker in the face if they ate your lunch from the fridge. However, the odds are incredibly high that any bystander will respond with the question of "Why would you do that?!" Sure you might feel better, but it's an irrational response to the situation. It doesn't help you in any way, nor does it benefit anyone else around you, so in the end it would be an unnecessary, and unreasonable response to the situation. Our basic instincts, are a blend of self preservation, defending our flocks out of self interest and learned attachments, as well as us vs them responses. Now that we are a more developed people, who have the ability to distinguish base instincts against better judgment, we have the ability to problem solve, and ask "Why? Why would I do that action, and would it be beneficial to myself or those around me, or is it simply an impulse without justifiable cause? And if I were to do that, how would it effect the interactions of myself, and those around me? How would I feel if someone took this action out on _me_ or one of _my_ loved ones?" I feel like explaining these basic concepts might come across as cold, but it's simply the most straight forward explanation I can think of when I'm asked something like this. My understanding is as follows: "Atheists are capable of holding, and following moral beliefs because it is a basic, fundamental response to problem solving. If I were to hurt someone around me, it wouldn't be much different than shooting myself in the foot. All I would be accomplishing is creating a hindrance for myself, and the people I rely on, who rely on me in return. You also wouldn't shoot someone else in the foot, because the thought of having it happen to you elicits a negative response. You wouldn't like it, and more likely than not you might even retaliate as a response. Ergo, hindering someone else, will more likely than not, come back to hurt you as well. So in the end, it would be better to apply a more diplomatic response in most cases, than it would be to shoot yourself in the foot."

I kinda love you for thinking you can get him to understand your nuances. I was also shouting about Halal just before you came back and said it better than I could have. As always: Kudos good work

your final reaction is priceless ! is it just atoms moving ? lol - since the beginning of the response, i had this expression with a lot of face palm.

Love your channel Alex! Keep up the great content! :)

Morality isn't confined to people with religion. In many cases like the Crusades & Spanish Inquisition it means the lack of morality.

Alex. I absolutely love your reaction, after hes little self projection speech... Great video. I hope he responds with some clarifications on your objections...

This kind of rhetoric annoys me, they can't prove their god, so they have to attack those that don't believe in them. Yeah, where do I sign up?(lol)

As an atheist and a vegan, I have to disagree 😂

Tables dont have brains/nervous systems 🤷‍♀️

@14:24 I have a quibble with this statement: Lack of Pleasure & Pain are qualitatively different stimuli! I'm also surprised by your labelling of the goal to maximize pleasure as utilitarianism, rather than the more precise label (yet still imprecise) of "utilitarian hedonism". The essential differences between the many other forms of hedonism and the Epicurean comfortable existence illustrate the Philosophical writings supporting my original point, but also much (somewhat sadistic) psychophysics research on nociception (pain receptors + nerves) and behavioral traumas such as "conditioned place {preference, aversion} offer fertile topics for novel insights!

Does anyone know, from previous videos, what is Cosmic's definition of pleasure? Thank you. update: From the Good delusion; Pleasure what is wanted while being experienced (or lesser definition the avoidence of pain). i wonder could you say based on the definition that striving for it is ones truest reality.

Hey Alex, happy new year! I'm just about to apply for the MSt in practical ethics at Oxford. I really really want to get in. Any tips for the application?

Happy New Year Alex and all. 😂😂😂 at the ending ❤️

I love he starts the video by saying he had a debate earlier this year, and yet this video is posted on January 1st, that's pretty funny, love your content Alex, keep it up

Well refuted. I also don't see how this person that is attacking your non views deals with the fact that his god has also placed evil in the hearts of men, talk about intellectual gymnastics. Is it just me, or is Alex starting to lose his patience, just a smidge, with people who strawman?

Do more videos of this - this is meaningful. I’ve been vegan for two years with my wife

Your courage and dedication in calmly and generously answering the video in question is...well...heroic? Genius? A massive service to humanity? All of these and more? Yes, yes, and yes. As always, thanks seems paltry by comparison. How blessed we are that such a mind as yours is among us.

I havent seen your vids in my subscription feed for almost a year i only found out ur still uploading is that this vid got recommended. Miss ur vids dude

Pause at 0:01. _No, dude, it's the other way around._ Resume.

People often get loud and agitated when trying to defend a thoroughly debunked religion. I used to behave like that when I was less mature.

Apologetic youtuber : makes a response video Alex : ' I'm about to end this man's whole career "

That ending is perfect. Thank you for respecting your audience enough to not respond to that.

You have a very balanced view on things, I really admire that.

EpistemiX: We're literally lamp Posts Alex: Aight, imma head out

My summary: Alex smart, others stupid

Can you or have you already a made a video responding to Presuppositionalism? It is such a headache and play on words when it is used. Just wondered your take on it.

wonderful debate Alex, i'm off to shine my light on the pavement ta-ta!

I'm vegan and atheist and saying that's a contradiction is the dumbest thing ever. I suffer, animals suffer. I don't need a God to tell me to care in order to recognise this! I think *if* you need a God to _care_ then there's something wrong with you! Animals seek to maximise their pleasure and through empathy and from my privileged position of being human and protected from being killed and eaten I feel it's wrong to enslave, harm, kill, and eat animals.

Hey Alex, I’ve been a vegetarian for about 5 years now and I can’t thank you enough for coming out with these videos! Having had to repeat myself over and over again for years, explaining to people that I am both a vegetarian for moral reasons, and am not hateful towards meat-eaters, only their practices, has become super exhausting. Now I can show people your talks for a great synopsis of my points as well as really cool new ones that make me agree with myself even more! Just thanks a bunch.

You are quite the astute lamp-post! Thank you for sharing!

I believe that our emotions have specifically evolved to help us treat each other in a way that maximises the chances of our survival as a species - put simply we need each other and we need to be able to cooperate with each other... the moral code we have intellectually developed - managed to put into language and reason out - attempts to ensure our co-operation through a larger 'justice' system (game theory, etc, elucidates this )

Alex you claim that it is objectively true that "sentient creatures will always desire the maximisation of their pleasure", how is this objectivley true in the same sense that 1+1=2? Surely its not? Pleasure is a subjectivley identifiable quality, not an objectivley identifiable one. Similarly, an individual's motivations are a subjectivley identifiable quality, not an objective one. you might 'believe' that this it is the case that all sentient beings desire the maximisation of their pleasure, but at base you are making this claim based off your own experience. I could counter that "sentient creatures will always desire the maximisation of either; (1) their pleasure or (2) their ability to Love" I could argue that Love is a completely different disposition to pleasure and that the felt quality of each of these dispositions (the 'qualia' in fancy terms) is completely different. That Love seeks peace through mutual connection with that which is other to you. That pleasure seeks self-satisfaction. This claim, just like yours, would be equally based off my own experience and, similarly, it would not be objective in the sense that 1+1=2. So we could not argue that epistemic value is what separate the two claims, only subjective experience, ergo each claim is subjective and not objective, which is fine, so long as we are not trying to mislead people into believing that it is objectively the case. Having agreed that both were subjective, we could then fairly discuss why we believe what we do, how the other could experience things as we do, and why they might want to experience things as we do (e.g. why our belief concerning human motivations is more conducive to a 'better' life), neither of us would be belittling the other with claims at epistemic/objective superiority because both would accept that their claims were at base subjectively founded and the discussion would be more conducive to mutual understanding and not be reduced to a 'he's wrong, no you're wrong' futile philosophical language game, with each party erroneously staking a claim at objectivity.

Haven’t even watched it yet, but I already know this is going to be great!

Could you touch upon the issue of disposable plastics sometime in the future? Dont know how it would fit into your yt channel but I think we should raise awareness, as people are on average massively ignorant on this topic. There are many harmful misconceptions (surrounding recycling especially). IMHO its a more urgent issue than climate change.

Hey Alex, what is your opinion on Islamist who banned Milk Bank in Bangladesh ? One of the arguments presented is they worry about babies will become milk siblings and cannot married to one another