tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post9187070184389470095..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: The Year Ahead - Atheist ActivismAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1978078339099938332011-12-27T18:29:56.241-07:002011-12-27T18:29:56.241-07:00Hi Alonzo,
I am starting a blog (probably called ...Hi Alonzo,<br /><br />I am starting a blog (probably called Enlightened Enslavement) as an introduction to atheist values, and want to ask if I can quote some of your writing. The blog has two purposes:<br /><br />1 - To demonstrate that the source of atheist values is our emotions/desires/feelings and that reason has no motivating power but is merely the servant of emotional ends - as per David Hume's comment "reason is ... the slave of the passions" (from where the blog title comes from). Complete atheism is thus: emotional values and rational beliefs.<br /><br />2 - To give an introduction to the range of desire-based philosophies/ideas out there.<br /><br />The blog is non-partisan and is merely an introduction to the foundation of atheist values. I will quote from both ends of the political spectrum: liberal and conservative, so long as the ideas are not too far out there. I'm not delving far into philosophy or neuroscience. I want to be a starting point on atheist values, not the last word.<br /><br />The blog is aimed at readers of average intelligence and is offering a common sense view on the relationship between reason and emotion, as a starting point.<br /><br />Normally I wouldn't ask if I could quote someone but your old website is gone and since your podcast with Luke has stopped I'm not sure where you now stand.<br /><br />I'll probably quote you in two instances (1) to give an introduction to desire utilitarianism and (2) to demonstrate that reason has no motivating power e.g. from your old website "Chapter 9: Reason and Emotion" (still available in archive.org) ...<br /><br />"A creature that lived by reason alone would do nothing but sit and rot. Reason cannot tell him to do anything, not even to eat."<br /><br />The blog will mostly be a collection of quotes from desire-based authors, there won't be much ideas of my own. I'm collecting quotes from philosophers, neuroscientists, psychologists, and bloggers as far and wide as I can. Many atheists irrationally eschew emotion, as if it should have no role whatsoever in decision making. So I aim to educate atheists about the relationship between reason and emotion.<br /><br />I may also make a few simple videos on the same topic.<br /><br />I'm still weeks/months away from launching, so I can give you a more concrete idea when I get closer.<br /><br />Thanks.Enlightened Enslavementnoreply@blogger.com