tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post7232500940279343860..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: A Purpose to Life: Instrumental ValueAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-40000235942134808622009-08-12T19:54:35.514-06:002009-08-12T19:54:35.514-06:00I wonder if atheists would be better off forgettin...I wonder if atheists would be better off forgetting about Atheism as such, and focusing exclusively on things like evolution, human rights, the death penalty, due process, science education, or Marxist agitation (for those so inclined.) I was a member of "Dr." <br />O'Hair's group in the 1980s and I got tired of her boundless hatred of learning, her tiresome mocking of professors, and her endless profanity. I deeply resented the fact that I was expected to accept 2 untalented clowns, namely Robin M-O'H and Jon Garth "Elmew Fudd" Murray as <br />"ATHEIST LEADERS" merely because they were related to Pope Madalyn.<br />I ultimately decided to advance the positive values of "science and freedom" most atheists believe in, in other ways besides Atheism 4 the sake of Atheism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-14814339512897123922009-08-05T20:24:23.567-06:002009-08-05T20:24:23.567-06:00Alonzo,
I understand the quotation marks around &...Alonzo,<br /><br />I understand the quotation marks around "purpose" when you wrote, "The "purpose" for all things in the universe is to realize states of affairs in which P is true for those who have a desire that P."<br /><br />But, you know a quote miner could really take that out of context and portray you as a post-modernist, no objective reality-type.<br /><br />I also think your philosophy makes its best and strongest arguments from clearly stating at the outset that there is no ultimate purpose, what should we make of what is here?M. Tullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06056410184615941086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-46046874959808578382009-08-05T10:45:57.954-06:002009-08-05T10:45:57.954-06:00Excuse me, correction:
That does not mean we can&...Excuse me, correction:<br /><br />That does not mean we <i>can't</i> challenge such desires, but that we should maintain their importance.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-91503534182784353702009-08-05T10:44:08.061-06:002009-08-05T10:44:08.061-06:00"Where there is no desire, a purpose-statemen..."Where there is no desire, a purpose-statement is false"<br /><br />"Desire-independent purpose does not exist"<br /><br />Well said.<br /><br />So do we have reason to promote or inhibit the notion that a person's life as a meaning (to them, related to desires, and in some concordance with desires of others, etc.)<br /><br />I make the assumption that humans have a psychological need to feel their life is worthwhile. More specifically, that their experiences of suffering, coupled a fear of their inevitable death, should be endured for the sake of fulfilling their higher desires. These are desires beyond survival such as pain avoidance and pleasure seeking. <br /><br />I am trying to identify the desire that mentally sustains a parent as they suffer multiple low paying jobs and meager living for the betterment of her children. This desire takes a person who is at a great disadvantage, to not give up, but to meet their challenges, and be content with the effort, if not the result.<br /><br />Don't we want people to "believe" as it were? To promote some idea of hope and faith, even though they are arguably irrational concepts? I think these are emotional tools, evolved so humans can persevere when faced with adversity.<br /><br />Even you admit to hoping:<br /><br />"This blog serves the purpose of fulfilling (I hope) my desire to leave the world a better place than it"<br /><br />I know this is territory fraught with conditions and fallacies, but I am arguing that we should encourage people to hope and believe they can achieve their positive desires even if rational indicators would say otherwise, if i am to believe stories of human achievement.<br /><br />The problem is by rationalizing desires of meaning and purpose down to mere projects, I fear takes away their psychological significance and benefit. That does not mean we can challenge such desires, but that we maintain their importance.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-15734043948329100992009-08-05T08:06:27.642-06:002009-08-05T08:06:27.642-06:00This made me laugh: "Such a person views him...This made me laugh: "Such a person views himself as a tool."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com