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
The question has evolved into a broader cultural inquiry about how we navigate a pluralistic society:
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. ГЋn ce cred cei care nu cred?
(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 .
It explores whether points of commonality can exist between polarized groups—such as "neoliberals and neomarxists" or "believers and seculariists". Originally published as a series of exchanges in
The discussion centers on the possibility of a "secular ethics"—a moral framework that does not rely on divine revelation but still upholds the dignity of life and common good.
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. (translating to "What do those who do not
Some commentators suggest that those who "don't believe" often simply have a different, perhaps more "sophisticated" or "schematic" image of what faith should be, sometimes confusing it with strict obedience to dogma.