Martini questions how a secular morality can remain absolute without a transcendent foundation. He challenges Eco to explain where a non-believer finds the strength to sacrifice themselves for a higher cause if there is no eternal life or divine purpose.
The question has evolved into a broader cultural inquiry about how we navigate a pluralistic society: ГЋn ce cred cei care nu cred?
In modern philosophy, this often leads to discussions on "negative" vs. "positive" atheism—the difference between simply lacking belief and explicitly asserting that no deity exists. Martini questions how a secular morality can remain
(translating to "What do those who do not believe, believe in?" ) refers to a profound dialogue between two of Italy's greatest intellectuals: the late semiotician and novelist Umberto Eco and the former Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini . Core Themes of the Dialogue Eco argues that
Originally published as a series of exchanges in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera , it was later compiled into a celebrated book. Core Themes of the Dialogue
Eco argues that a "non-believer" (an atheist or agnostic) can still possess a deep moral sense. He suggests that morality can be rooted in the human body and our shared vulnerability. Because we all feel pain and require the recognition of others to exist as social beings, we can derive a "natural" ethics of empathy and respect without needing a God to enforce it.