Can morality be taught apart from religion, especially from the doctrine(s) of, say, Lutheranism or Catholicism or even just Christianity in general?

I'm thinking of the sex ed thread in which several posters claimed there can be no effective sex ed classes without moral teaching and others countered that morality doesn't belong in sex ed classes.

So. a second question follows -- can sex ed be effectively taught apart from morality?

Dark_crow

Actually you can teach moral virtue all day and it will not make a hoot of difference. We learn intellectual virtues such as math by teachers but moral virtues are learned by exercising them, by forming habits in them. As I mentioned earlier, it is from playing the lyre that both good and bad lyre-players are produced. The same is true of appetites and emotions; some men become moderate in appetites and good-tempered, others self-indulgent and quick-tempered, by behaving in one way or the other in the appropriate circumstances. Thus, in one word, states of character arise out of like activities.

inthebox

how can one practice moral virtue if it is not taught in the first place ?

Dark_crow

I don’t know about you but I certainly see the results of the different human behaviors, both good and bad; which in turn shows me what is right and what is wrong behavior in accordance with happiness.

Wondergirl

And is happiness always a part of good behavior?

Dark_crow

I don’t believe happiness is ever a part of good behavior. Good behavior is an action and happiness a state of mind.

Wondergirl

So what did you mean by that?

Dark_crow

If you were asked to describe a knife, what would you say about it? In the end you would probably also say that its purpose is to cut things. Humans generally create things for specific purposes. I used happiness in the same way, both good and bad; which in turn shows me what is right and what is wrong behavior in accordance with purpose.

Wondergirl

So if you create a moral code and follow it so that you do good and have good morals, you will be happy?

Dark_crow

You would be happier than you would if you didn’t practice the moral code you believed to be correct. I believe happiness is the “thing in itself,” as Kant called it. That is it is the final goal of humanity as a whole.

Wondergirl

Therefore, the above isn't correct. Happiness is the end result of good behavior.

Thus --