Of course not. His "argument" is just a bunch of empty jabber.
IMHO, at bottom, "atheist" is just the polite word for "nihilist." There can be no morality for a nihilist. Isn't that pretty much what this guy readily acknowledges, when he flat-out avers: "morality is an illusion put in place by your genes to make you a social cooperator"? Evidently he is saying we humans are just naturally, systematically duped.... If this is so, how can we say we know anything? How can Ruse say he knows anything?
There is no reason either: "your beliefs and behaviour have no rational foundation, your psychology will make sure you go on living in a normal, happy manner." Reason is just another illusion. Our "psychology" is on some kind of automatic pilot, and it knows how to keep us "happy." How our "psychology" knows this he does not bother to explain.
Jeepers, this entire screed is a misrepresentation of the reality which we experience, in which we actually live; and ultimately is a total denial of it.
Just what one would expect from a nihilist.
The breakdown of society does not come from the failure of genes; it comes from the failure to acknowledge a common moral code. Which the nihilists have been trying (very successfully) to undermine over the past two centuries.
Thank you so very much, xzins, for your excellent observations!
Good points.
Thx for the ping.
Great observation, BB.
My genes give me illusions? I wonder how exactly that works. My genetic code knows what's will be best for the future of humans? What has been best?
I suppose it has a little genetic future-history book approved by the Texas Textbook Commission with appropriate illusory interpretations of human situations that I might encounter???
This makes my head hurt. :>)