Ethics without divine foundation

What it is: Many atheist currents hold that it is possible to ground ethics without God.

How the position understands it: Morality can emerge from reason, empathy, social coexistence, human rights, well-being, reciprocity, or normative contracts.

Argumentative basis and context: This position appears in secular humanism, utilitarianism, secular Kantianism, contractualism, and other philosophical traditions.

Debates and variations: There are deep internal disagreements about which ethical theory is preferable.

Supportive

Humanist Manifesto III

atheism,humanism,secularism,manifesto

A contemporary document of secular humanism.

Reference: Humanist Manifesto III.
Content: The text affirms human dignity, ethical responsibility, reason, and the pursuit of well-being without normative theism.
Use in debate: It is central to contemporary secular humanism.

Kai Nielsen on ethics without God

atheism,kai-nielsen,ethics,morality

Essays on secular morality and ethical justification without theism.

Reference: Kai Nielsen, writings on ethics and atheism.
Content: The author argues that robust moral systems can exist without a transcendent divine foundation.
Use in debate: It is important for ethics without a divine foundation.

Paul Kurtz and secular humanism

atheism,secular-humanism,paul-kurtz,ethics

An ethical and public formulation of non-theistic humanism.

Reference: Paul Kurtz, humanist manifestos and essays.
Content: The material articulates secular ethics, human rights, science, and public life without a theistic foundation.
Use in debate: It is central to ethics without God and to secular humanism.

Contrary

C. S. Lewis's moral argument

theism,cs-lewis,moral-argument,against

An important theistic source in defense of morality rooted in transcendent reality.

Reference: C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity and related texts.
Content: Lewis argues that an objective moral law points to a foundation higher than contingent human preferences.
Use in debate: It is a classic theistic source objecting to self-sufficient atheistic ethics.