The heart of materialism is the withholding of belief in the existence of certain kinds of entities and certain kinds of phenomena.
There are, is the claim, no gods and devils, no ghosts, no spirits. There is no such thing as Providence, or Luck or Fate.
Reality consists of material things and things that are wholly dependent for their existence on material things.
Their existence is controlled by laws of nature that are independent of Will. The development of the world is not directed by any pre-established pan.
There is no predetermined End, good or bad, to which change is directed.
Materialism believes the vital psychological phenomena of our human and animal existence are wholly dependent on the material nature of our bodies.
Though it remains obscure to human understanding, they emerge, in some way or another, from our material being.
There is no soul independent of our bodies, let alone one that could survive the destruction of our bodies.
There is no afterlife. A human life is a temporary phenomenon, normally encompassing a timespan of less than 100 years.
Epistemologically only through scientific endeavor, we can come to reliable and testable knowledge.
Although there may not be a limit to what knowledge we can acquire, also for materialists psychology in general and consciousness in particular, remain a big mystery.
The fact that we don't yet know everything, doe not disprove our stand. That would imply that eventually, we'll reach a true Theory of Everything, not a reasonable belief.
This philosophical position of course leads to all kinds of questions and objections, which we will deal with in future lectures.
One classic objection is this: laws of nature describe necessary causalities which never change. So, A causes B all the time.
If you assume that the human body is 100% matter, it must be subjected to the laws of nature for 100%,
in other words, all processes in the human body and in relation to that in the mind too must be the result of these causal sequences, controlled by laws of nature.
Here comes the catch: when everything is 100% casually related, isn't the belief in free Will just some product of our imagination?
If we take it one step further, you even could ask the question: how, on earth, can you ever hold someone accountable
for his actions, if they are the result of causal sequences controlled by laws of nature?
Let's not try to solve this issue in our discussion today. This problem of Free Will is so complex, definitely in relation to materialism, it could be worth a project on its own.
We could even dig into our own past here, as we did the project "Existentialism and Free Will, starting 2 Sept 2015 .
Well, this was a whole load of info on where materialism stands. Still, a long way to go.......
Thank you for your attention again.....
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
The Discussion
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good review
[13:25] herman Bergson: thank you Gemma
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): since i missed a few classes
[13:25] herman Bergson: yes...this is all you missed
[13:25] CONNIE Eichel: yes, good one
[13:25] herman Bergson: There comes something to my mind...this free will issue
[13:26] herman Bergson: this causality argument.....
[13:26] oola Neruda: I can't get over the number of things we know because of mathematicians and physicists.... things we can think but cannot necessarily "see"
[13:26] herman Bergson: in a way understandable....
[13:26] herman Bergson: but free will is a feature of our consciousness....
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): speaking of luck how is it that one is always in the right place at the right time and misses bad thigs
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): happenings
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and others are stricken with misfortunes
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): all the time
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it seems
[13:27] herman Bergson: In relation to that Gemma...
[13:27] oola Neruda: concepts of things we cannot see with the naked eye
[13:27] herman Bergson: We really don't KNOW how the brain generates consciousness......but it does....
[13:28] herman Bergson: and if you look at the conscious behavior of animals...
[13:28] herman Bergson: our consciousness transcends that level of behavior
[13:28] herman Bergson: so...
[13:29] herman Bergson: on the one hand this causality argument...but on the other hand....this transcending quality of human consciousness and thence free will
[13:29] herman Bergson: just a thought that just came up in me....
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:30] oola Neruda: do animals have free will
[13:30] oola Neruda: they kill other animals
[13:30] herman Bergson: Which simply means that we don't live in an absolute deterministic universe
[13:31] herman Bergson: I disagree oola...animals kill based on instinct and will to survive
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): instinct yes'
[13:31] herman Bergson: animals dontmake conscious choices about should I kill or should I not....
[13:32] herman Bergson: we do...as homo sapiens
[13:33] herman Bergson: interesting as such :-)
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i would love to look into Putin's mind
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): speaking of choices
[13:34] herman Bergson: The problem with his mind is that it seems to live in another era of history
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes he wants back to the dark ages of WW2 and KGB era
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): even his army lives in the past
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or he would like them to
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): brainwashed
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the KGB way
[13:35] herman Bergson: He seems to believe isn historical facts that aren't historical facts (anymore)
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its unbelievable
[13:35] herman Bergson: His army is the most amazing....using oldWW2 military tactics ...and loses
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I wonder how he connects it all when he is said to be in the church there
[13:36] herman Bergson: But we are digressing here :-)
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and he have planned this for 20 years, slowly brainwashed everyone before striking and no one have been able to see the signs. Well nothing also gets out from russia so
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): is i t?
[13:37] herman Bergson: Hello Al
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we were talking about materialism
[13:37] Al Michigan: hi sorry for me just sitting in...
[13:37] CONNIE Eichel whispers: welcome dear
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hi Al
[13:37] herman Bergson: Well GEmma to some extend you have a point....
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): human consciousness and free will
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): seems to be connected
[13:38] herman Bergson: There is a part of materialism that is called historical materialism...leads us to Marx's theories....and Putin is a child of that history
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah yes
[13:38] herman Bergson: but that is another chapter of this project...
[13:39] herman Bergson: for now we are dealing with the ontological theory of materialism
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): shall hold the thought
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:39] herman Bergson: We'll get back to it
[13:40] herman Bergson: Ever been exposed to materialism, Al??? :-)
[13:40] herman Bergson: Any idea what it means and what the consequences are?
[13:41] Al Michigan: ido not know, what is the definition?
[13:41] herman Bergson: Interesting....
[13:41] herman Bergson: ok
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): is very strange subject Al
[13:41] herman Bergson: it means that we as human beings are just matter and that there exists nothing else than matter
[13:41] Al Michigan: matyerialism?
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we are still figuring it all out
[13:42] herman Bergson: it is a challenge indeed Gemma :-)
[13:42] Al Michigan: oh, but how can you tell?
[13:42] oola Neruda: I must go... no choice.... see you all next time
[13:42] herman Bergson: How can I tell?
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok oola
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki oola
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu ㋡
[13:42] herman Bergson: Simple...just by using my senses....
[13:42] Al Michigan: ?me waves
[13:43] Al Michigan: Is a sense a matter?
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the lecture you missed is good to explain what we have been dealing with
[13:43] herman Bergson: Sense organs are material things yes....eyes, eardrums, tasting tongs...
[[13:43] Al Michigan: ah,.. i did not know...
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Herman can give it to you
[13:44] herman Bergson: Discussing it with Al...makes a lot of sense.....
[13:44] Al Michigan: pls dogiveitto me,proffesor?
[13:45] bergfrau Apfelbaum: http://thephilosophyclass.blogspot.com/
[13:45] Al Michigan: ok
[13:45] herman Bergson: Solo hablo español, no hablo italian
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is English put together
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): do give it to me
[13:46] herman Bergson: lol
[13:46] herman Bergson: ok
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): took a minute to see
[13:46] herman Bergson: funny :-))
[13:47] herman Bergson: But let's continue in a socratic way with AL....
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:47] Al Michigan: ok
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): would love to Aristotle in a discussion with a materialist
[13:48] herman Bergson: MAterialism means thence, that there are no gods, spirits, ghosts, fate, luck, destiny....
[13:48] herman Bergson: Hottest debate issue with materialists is always atheism.....
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:49] herman Bergson: IN a next lecture I'll tell you my stand on that....spoiler....I find it a nonsense debate :-))
[13:49] Al Michigan: oh, yeah, atheists are soo agressive in their debating..., you just start to wonder why...
[13:50] herman Bergson: INDEED, Al....hit the nail right on the top
[13:50] herman Bergson: so ridiculous and a waste of time
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): because they believe as strongly as the Pope does in their beliefs
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:50] herman Bergson: But there is an explanation for this behavior....
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:51] herman Bergson: ok....one thought to take home for today....
[13:52] herman Bergson: if there is atheism.......why isn't there amartianisme too???
[13:52] CONNIE Eichel: :)
[13:52] bergfrau Apfelbaum: it was very interesting as always Thank you Herman and class
[13:52] herman Bergson: See you on Thurstday again :-)
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): homework
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Think
[13:52] CONNIE Eichel: good, hope i can join again, missed being here
[13:52] Al Michigan: a martianism? what is that?
[13:52] herman Bergson: Loved to see you all again...especially my old friend CONNIE:-)
[[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): has been a while
[13:53] CONNIE Eichel: yes, been long time, Herman
[13:53] herman Bergson: Good question all....leads to the answer what is a theism?
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh another class
[13:53] herman Bergson: But we are still here CONNIE ^_^
[13:53] herman Bergson: Class dismissed....
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): see you Thursday
[13:54] CONNIE Eichel: good :)
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): if not before
[13:54] bergfrau Apfelbaum: clap clap
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
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