In Jack 588, HAL 9000, I say, “Morality has been infused into the DNA of mankind.” My friend Ann replied to me:
“I disagree about morality is in our DNA. What is actually coded is survival. Morality is a taught method for helping civilization to exist. The only way AI should be used is when we evolve beyond the survival instincts.”
I found this analysis to be quite interesting and reached out to some other friends for their thoughts. My friend Ed replied:
I agree with some aspects of that, but first I think you need some context. The heart of man is set on survival (self-serving, self-centered, self-preservation what the Bible calls sin).
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESV”
Morality is what is taught / learned, but who is the arbiter of that decision? Who do we learn from & what foundation or structure do we learn? I believe the God of the Bible is the beginning of and the final judge of right & wrong, good & evil. Man is broken & fallen (see Romans 3:23). But if you don’t believe in God (Yahweh of Israel) then that’s another discussion.
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:1-3 ESV”
The consensus of opinion seems to be that Morality is learned, not infused. I see their points. But it leaves me with a couple of questions. Are some people born evil and some people born good? Or, when it comes to good and evil, are we all born the same and are solely the products of our environment? These are both interesting questions and I do not have the answers. Perhaps someday, somebody will have the answers, and it will make the world a better place. But for now, the battle of good vs evil goes on.
Written March 27, 2026
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