In the previous lecture I stated my position: get down to earth and focus on this material world as our habitat.
I am likely to be admonished for partiality, selectivity, over-simplification, and subjective bias, and I am likely guilty as charged, to a greater or lesser extent.
Nonetheless, in this case, it is important to do this project because of all topics in epistemology (theory of knowledge) and metaphysics,
which lie at the heart of philosophy it is at this moment maybe one of the most important subjects in a world
where you see on the one hand religious fanaticism and on the other hand a steady decline of traditional churches.
In much contemporary discourse, the word "materialistic" refers to a way of life".
The Cambridge dictionary defines it as "believing that having money and possessions is the most important thing in life".
If you could call the followers of such a way of life "materialists", then it is important to emphasize, that this is exactly NOT the meaning of the word "materialist" that is meant here.
I am dealing with philosophical materialism, which at heart is a theory about the kind of things that exist.
To adopt such a philosophical stance has no necessary connection with any particular attitude about how life should or should not be lived.
The basic idea here is that we can not deduce "ought" from "is". This means, that when you give a factual description of a situation,
there is no way to deduce logically what, for instance, has to be done, what you ought to do.
When you go outside and you say: "Oh my, it is raining cats and dogs", in this observation there is nothing that tells you that you "ought" to use an umbrella.
A short sidetrack: The is-ought problem is a philosophical problem of how knowledge of the present world does not necessarily lead
to the knowledge of how the world ought to be. It was David Hume (1711 - 1776) who brought this issue to our attention.
The is-ought problem has become prominent in matters of ethics. Simply put, it deals with an apparent logic gap
between statements of what "ought" to be, following statements regarding what "is". The first often follows the second without any kind of explanation regarding why they are logical or correct.
Furthermore, it argues that just because someone has knowledge of how the world is (descriptive statements),
this doesn't automatically prove that they know how the world ought to be (prescriptive statements) and it is in fact impossible to derive the second based solely on the information of the first.
It may be a side-track, but nevertheless yet related to our theme. In our definition of materialism, we assume a certain ontology, a certain idea of what really exists.
The religious schools derive much of their teachings on ethics from their religious doctrines, which of course include a narrative about what exists.
With no religious beliefs to turn to as the bedrock of philosophical materialism, we point at the real world around us as the goal of life, instead of pointing at all kinds of afterlife and reincarnation.
So maybe one of our questions will be: how do we manage without a religion?
Thank you for your attention....
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
[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): seems like we stopped in the middle of the definition
[13:24] herman Bergson: A world without religion.......
[13:24] oola Neruda: do you have an answer to that question???
[13:25] herman Bergson: What do you mean Gemma?
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): materialism is
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): a theory
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): of
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): existance
[13:26] herman Bergson: well...materialism is the conviction that there is nothing more than us...a bunch of molecules :-)
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and....
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that makes sense
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but then the mind ........
[13:27] herman Bergson: The funny part however is that we, these bunches of molecules, are aware of our existence ㋡
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes that is what i mean
[13:27] herman Bergson: If you look around in nature that is quite na exceptional thing...
[13:28] herman Bergson: however not 100%...
[13:28] herman Bergson: Frans de Waal and others have shown that there are primates that have SOME level of selfawareness..
[13:29] herman Bergson: But not the kind we have...
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and even some other mammels
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): whales
[13:29] herman Bergson: so..it is not an unnatural phenomenon....it is just that homo sapiens got the best of it
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so far we are
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oola asked a question
[13:30] herman Bergson: at least..interpreted it from a pretty egocentric view...yes I like that I am :-))
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): is it a blessing that we are aware of our existence?
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not sure beertje
[13:31] herman Bergson: She asked for an answer to a question indeed...what question, oola?
[13:32] herman Bergson: Well Beertje...as a true existentialist.......:-)
[13:32] herman Bergson: Satre would say that we are condemned to freedom
[[13:32] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): are we?
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hi andrew
[13:33] oola Neruda: I cannot remember the question...
[13:33] oola Neruda: Welcome Andrew
[13:33] AndrewEagle01: Hello Gemma Hello Everyone (sorry i'm late)
[13:33] herman Bergson: yes...we HAVE to choose...Beertje...every day......
[13:33] AndrewEagle01: Hello Aalo
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): [13:24] herman Bergson: A world without religion.......
[13:24] oola Neruda: do you have an answer to that question???
[13:33] herman Bergson: The Eagle has landed, I see :-)
[13:33] AndrewEagle01: Smiles
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right beertje
[13:34] oola Neruda: no... but I imagine that police would be a good start... or a despot
[13:34] herman Bergson: To the question...what about a world without religion?
[13:35] oola Neruda: Trump lives like there was no thought about morality in life... it could probably make him happy
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): very true
[13:36] herman Bergson: Right....
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): only if everyone believes his lies
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh
[13:36] AndrewEagle01: a World without belief is a world without questioning. Religions are the results of different answers
[13:36] herman Bergson: And that is why he is going down at the moment....
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so unbelievable
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh good answer andrew
[13:36] herman Bergson: A world without religion....
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): would be more peacefull
[13:37] herman Bergson: To begin with...
[13:37] oola Neruda: indeed
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not sure about that tho beertje
[13:37] herman Bergson: there is no world without beliefes....
[13:37] AndrewEagle01: The problem is not religions but covetousness. Human beings use religion to satisfy their lusts
[13:37] herman Bergson: former lecture Gemma already said..yea yeah..but science is also a bucket of beliefs...
[13:38] herman Bergson: and yes...she is right...
[13:38] herman Bergson: we really have to believe that tomorrow the sun will rise again....in fact we actually do that every night we go to sleep
[13:39] oola Neruda: is religion a list of "don't do this"..... or is it a search for the mysteries we meet in life.... like... where do we come from... or death
[13:39] herman Bergson: is that a stupid idea...what proof do you have....?
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i'm not that certain anymore about the sun..with Putin in our backyard
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): both i think oola
[13:39] herman Bergson: We just believe it
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh beertje yes
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or do we just hope
[13:40] herman Bergson: that makes this belief not a religion....
[13:40] AndrewEagle01: Smiles at beertje
[13:40] herman Bergson: Stay away fromthat for a moment Beertje
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ok
[13:41] herman Bergson: That the sun will rise again, can only be an expectation of the individual....
[13:41] AndrewEagle01: the idea all first comes from a person. Then, it very often happens that the idea overtakes its designer to become superior to him, and even untouchable.
People in general are willing to die for an ideology they believe in.
[13:41] herman Bergson: we take it for granted, but we never have a guarantee....every day again
[13:42] herman Bergson: There you go Andrew.....
[13:42] AndrewEagle01: example : freedom
[13:42] herman Bergson: we add something to our daily beliefs.....
[13:42] herman Bergson: we add a cause
[13:43] herman Bergson: we believe that the sun rises every day, because.........
[13:43] herman Bergson: and there comes in ....religion
[13:43] herman Bergson: our addition, our fantasy about reality
[13:44] herman Bergson: why?
[13:44] AndrewEagle01: Life is terrifying because it inevitably ends in death
[13:44] oola Neruda: especially that
[13:44] herman Bergson: Because we want to feel safe and secured....
[13:44] AndrewEagle01: Nods
[13:44] herman Bergson: well...you hit the nail on the head Andrew
[13:45] herman Bergson: But this need to fel safe and secure is jsut a basic drive of every living organism on this planet...
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i guess if we did not believe we would be long gone
[13:45] herman Bergson: nothing special or exceptional
[13:46] oola Neruda: I feel there is a need for "justice"... especially when we see the un just
[13:46] herman Bergson: I dont think so Gemma...
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i mean individuals would worry to death
[13:46] herman Bergson: then we would live like the wilderbeast on the savanna in Africa...
[13:47] AndrewEagle01: Smiles
[13:47] herman Bergson: Our existential "problem" is that we experience individuality
[13:47] CONNIE Eichel is online.
[13:47] AndrewEagle01: yes individuality We must give meaning to this life which inevitably leads us to death.
[13:48] herman Bergson: I CAN feel being a member of some group...but I also can alienate from it
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): acceptance of death helps i think
[13:48] AndrewEagle01: Nods
[13:48] AndrewEagle01: acceptance of death is an idea
[13:48] herman Bergson: I dont see deathas a prblem....:-)
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no but many do
[13:49] herman Bergson: that is just a matter of light on/light off
[13:49] oola Neruda: it is when it is your child
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true oola
[13:49] herman Bergson: the problem of death is the problem of the people that stay behind...
[13:50] oola Neruda: true.... and the belief is a balm
[13:50] herman Bergson: they have to LIVE with the fact that you arent there anymore
[13:50] oola Neruda: it is the LOSS
[[13:50] herman Bergson: you are just dead...quiet an simple
[13:51] oola Neruda: that child was innocent....
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i always hate to think of others sorting my stuff
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): glad i will not watch it
[13:51] herman Bergson: there is no guilt in dieing...you just die
[13:51] AndrewEagle01: I'm agree
[13:52] oola Neruda: been there... done that...the child did not get a fair chance
[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): life is not fair
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): is life fair........
[13:52] oola Neruda: nope
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): nope
[13:52] herman Bergson: True Gemma...as long as you life...live it :-)
[13:52] oola Neruda: but you don't have to like it
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): to both
[13:53] herman Bergson: We don't lifre for fun...we are just alive
[13:53] AndrewEagle01: Misfortune reaches without distinction, the good and the bad
[13:53] herman Bergson: that you have fu doing so is your doing...
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): pizza helps
[13:54] herman Bergson: no...sushi tomorrow Gemma :-)
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah
[13:54] AndrewEagle01: Living for fun is an idea from our rich countries
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah yes
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): true
[13:54] oola Neruda: very true...
[13:55] herman Bergson: I disagree, Anrew....
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sustenance is gone for them
[13:55] oola Neruda: although in Africa... I saw people who created their fun
[13:55] herman Bergson: that is what I mean...!
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): can find that anywhere
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): on teh streets of any city or town
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): kids playing soccer
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or kicking sticks around
[13:56] AndrewEagle01: Maslow's pyramid is relentless, I'll let it argue for me
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that should be in the wall here
[13:57] herman Bergson: But that pyramid doesn't say anything about the material circumstances people can live in Andrew....
[13:57] herman Bergson: So it applies to any civilization
[13:57] oola Neruda: some have a better chance at succeeding .... others develop a strength inside them that makes it happen
[13:57] herman Bergson: The basic needs stay the basic needs indeed
[13:58] AndrewEagle01: yes
[13:59] herman Bergson: Well...if we didn't save the world today...we certainly saved our beliefs :-)
[13:59] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I hope to make it Tuesday
[13:59] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): next part
[13:59] herman Bergson: SO thank you all again...nice discussion again
[13:59] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:59] herman Bergson: The beat goes on Gemma :-))
[13:59] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:59] herman Bergson: Thank you all again...
[13:59] AndrewEagle01: Thank you Herman, once again it was very interesting
[13:59] herman Bergson: Class dismissed..
[14:00] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): back to decorating the new sl newser building
[14:00] herman Bergson: good luck with that Gemma
[14:00] herman Bergson: What do you teach Andrew???
[14:00] herman Bergson: If I may ask
[14:01] AndrewEagle01: Philosophy of course
[14:01] AndrewEagle01: smiles
[14:01] herman Bergson: oh my...the competition is in the house
[14:01] AndrewEagle01: laughs
[14:01] herman Bergson: You really do???
[14:01] herman Bergson: Where?
[14:02] AndrewEagle01: no way.. i think you have more wise
[14:02] AndrewEagle01: At School in SL young adult
[14:02] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): can one compete in philosophy?
[14:03] herman Bergson: Well Beertje...if you knew how it is in academic circles.....
[14:03] AndrewEagle01: Competition is about wisdom. And as in wisdom, there is no competition, so no competition
[14:03] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ツ
[14:04] herman Bergson: the fun in philosophy is just that you can disagree with the other :-)
[14:04] AndrewEagle01: indeed the academic circle is sometimes very sneaky
[14:04] herman Bergson: that is all we have...disagreement...and then ...good arguments
[14:05] AndrewEagle01: Smiles i disagree Herman....... no i agree :)
[14:05] herman Bergson: I disagree Andrew..:-))
[14:05] AndrewEagle01: Smiles
[14:06] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): no i agree = een tegenstelling
[14:06] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): don't know haw to say it in english
[14:06] AndrewEagle01: Amazing
[14:06] herman Bergson: lol Beertje
[14:07] herman Bergson: we call is a paradox...NO...I agree :-))
[14:07] AndrewEagle01: Nods :)
[14:08] herman Bergson: Funny girl she is, Andrew...we have to be careful with our words
[14:08] AndrewEagle01: Smiles
No comments:
Post a Comment