Monday, November 28, 2022

1031: The Next Step....

 My approach to Homo Sapiens is mainly pure biologically. We are a species among many others and we surpass all other organisms in our abilities because of our complete self-consciousness.

   

That has had enormous consequences throughout our history and it still has. To begin with, we have overturned the entire food chain as it has been for millennia over the past 40,000 or more years.

  

If we had stayed primates like chimps and bonobos the mountain lion had hunted us. Nowadays we can hunt any living creature we want and always win the fight.

   

Another thing is, that we, as the only species on earth, are able to destroy really everything. We have the technology to do so. Have you ever wondered about the total disrespect this shows for all other organisms on this earth?

  

But if we not yet have used all these mechanisms of destruction, we just destroy the environment and in the process maybe ourselves in the long run by our unrestrained need for economic growth, production, and consumption.

  

As I stated in previous lectures, Homo Sapiens is easily inclined to believe in a description of his reality, which cannot be tested in any way. One calls it faith, and the other calls it fairy tales.

   

A smart guy will say, yes wait a minute, but what you call science is also based on unprovable assumptions. He has a point there. The big difference with fairy tales, however, is that I can derive hypotheses from those assumptions and test them.

  

The people who believe in the stories of some books have the same possibility. It has been tested: praying for the sick makes them better, for example. Several studies have shown that this is not the case. 

  

Another is that the Lord will punish sinners. I don't want to say anything, but sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, for example, has been able to exist for decades without God's punishing hand.

   

So, if we look at Homo Sapiens as a biological organism that is 100% self-conscious, which gives him huge advantages over the other inhabitants of this earth, we really need to ask the question.........?

   

Here stopped my thoughts....yes, what question should we ask? Why do I think we really HAVE a question? Maybe there is a question. If you give it a closer look and love the binary way of thinking of our species, perhaps it is a kind of US or THEM question.

   

Then the question could be: should survival really be a matter between us and them, all other living organisms on this planet? We have to accept one clear fact. WE can change. The rest of nature can't by itself. It simply lives the life it lives.

   

This brings me back to the words of Bertrand Russell, which I quoted in the previous lecture: "The value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very uncertainty."

    

I have no problems with this uncertainty. I have no need of believing in all kinds of stories and fairy tales to fight my uncertainty, which simply is another word for "NOT KNOWING".

    

Science may answer all kinds of questions and within the contexts of its subjects, be it biology, neurobiology, medicines, mathematics, or chemistry, science offers within these contexts levels of certainty.

    

But the most fascinating fact in all this is, that it doesn't offer us any certainty about ourselves. That is what the fairy tales, which many love, do and because of our existential uncertainty, there are so many different fairy tales to believe in.

   

For me, however, life is nothing more than the next day after the previous day, and the time that it gives us, gives us the responsibility to design ourselves and our world over and over again,

   

where the facts teach us that it is better to live in harmony with THEM = Nature, than to live like leeches on the surface of this planet.

   

Thank you for your attention again....

   


Main Sources:

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
R.G. Brown/J. Layman, "Materialism", Routledge (2019)
TROUW, Rik Peels en Kees van der Kooi 4 november 2022


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

[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman

[13:21] Al Michigan: thnk yuou too!

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Well It is my belief that we who have not graduated from this class already knew all this of you

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Don't forget certain maniacs (Putin, Kim Jong ect) threatening to blow everyone and everything up with nukes

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and your thoughts

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that is also a thing only we are capable of, creating doomsday devices like that

[13:21] herman Bergson: Thank you, Gemma...or do you mean I am repeating myself? :-))

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no

[13:22] Al Michigan: do not forget certain maniacs provoking russia to defenditself

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it was evident

[13:22] herman Bergson: I have no philosophical secrets :-))

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): All the philosophies we have studied and cant even remember

[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and we managed to struggle through them still getting an idea of what tthe Professor believes

[13:23] Al Michigan: But mr bergson, i miss   some thing,  what... is the ... the meaning off life?

[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): He showed us his meaning

[13:24] herman Bergson: the meaning of life is very simple , AL.....

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): to be happy and feel good and .... don't destroy everything around you

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): more or less

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i would say

[13:24] herman Bergson: it is being an organism on this planet....

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its a complex question for sure

[13:25] herman Bergson: that implies everything you said Bejiita :-)

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Live and Let live if it is not damaging anyone

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or anything

[13:25] herman Bergson: There isn't a single organism on this planet that destroyed its habitat.....

[13:25] herman Bergson: except ONE....

[13:25] herman Bergson: that should make you wonder

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm

[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not only our habitat but the habitat of other creatures

[13:26] Al Michigan: is it being an organism on this planet that would make gods say like: who , what God had created this wonderfull  beings... look how thankful and respectful they try to be living a good live, a beautiful life and see how they overcome all their troubles with a belief in their powers to overcome any obstacle?

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): pollution, rainforest devastation, manufacture of nukes and other weapons, poisons ect

[13:27] herman Bergson: Would you olease sick to the debating rules here Al....?!

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): only we do these things

[13:27] Al Michigan: ah sorry...

[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): homo sapines is like a virus

[13:27] Al Michigan: but i could not be shortened

[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sapiens

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well poisons nature is capable of too but unlike nature we tend to spread poison around us

[13:27] herman Bergson: Some say that indeed Beertje...and in a sense I agree

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wow almost beertje

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): pumping chemicals into lakes ect

[13:28] herman Bergson: that you could not be shorter is your problem Al, not ours and don't make it ours

[13:28] oola Neruda: Bejita... because not everyone sees this the same way

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed

[13:28] oola Neruda: thus you get starvation in some places where nobody cares if you die... etc... etc.....

[13:28] oola Neruda: ME FIRST!!!!!

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm

[13:29] oola Neruda: SHALLOW BELLY BUTTON WATCHERS

[13:29] Al Michigan: is it being an organism on this planet that would make gods saylike: whow, what God had created this wonderful  beings...

[13:29] oola Neruda: OR... LETS GO TAKE THEIR FOOD AWAY... OR THEIR...OTHER THINGS

[13:29] herman Bergson: not an issue at the moment Al

[13:30] Al Michigan: oh, i was looking for the meaning off life...

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we wish

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we all do

[13:30] herman Bergson: The inequality in this world is a huge problem....

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as said, its complex

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:30] oola Neruda: THE MEANING.... ME ME ME ME

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but still

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well

[13:30] Al Michigan: why is thata problem? inequality?

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is hard to put together

[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): some are more equal than others

[13:31] herman Bergson: take a weekend to think that over , Al....

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we believe basically all are good

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): because everyone have the right to a good life and we are created alike

[13:31] oola Neruda: when you live on the down side of that.... then you know... all too clearly

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): byt there are so many that are not

[13:31] Al Michigan: but if we allhave a right, does not that equal no has a right?

[13:31] herman Bergson: Indeed , oola

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa

[13:31] theo Velde is online.

[13:32] Al Michigan: oola, that makes it a problem for poor ppl, not for insecurity.

[13:32] Al Michigan: or inequality

[13:32] oola Neruda: that IS inequality

[13:33] Al Michigan: ?

[13:33] oola Neruda: greed fits in too.....

[13:33] herman Bergson: The climate conference and its results is an interesting example.....

[13:33] oola Neruda: i want what he has

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:33] herman Bergson: Western greed plundered the world, polluted it by its industries and now we equally should pay for the damage....

[13:34] herman Bergson: And the poor exploited countries say...NO WAY....YOU should pay us....

[13:34] oola Neruda: money money money

[13:34] herman Bergson: THAt is a matter of equality

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah again the unequal

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and one thing is for sure, we cant save this with VR ect (I heard of a project involving saving some island by making a VR copy of it after its going under water). We have to save our actual real world first

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it does take money tho

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm money is a big issue in all these cases

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): big money

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): make more money, refusing to fix things cause its too expensive even it is possible and so on

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): funny thing is the longer it is put off the more money it takes

[13:35] herman Bergson: There is plenty of money in this world, Gemma.....

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): exactly

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i know

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but in one place

[13:35] herman Bergson: If some idiot can buy Twitter for 44 billion dollars...?!

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like repairing something early = cheap, fixing it later = exponentially more expensive, this applies both to a car engine and the entire world after destroying it

[13:36] herman Bergson: He could have spent it on soooooo many better issues

[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thing is he does that too

[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): cant stand him but

[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): he does a lot with his money

[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): space travel coming

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed, als also Marks metaverse, what did he do with all that money, it looks like CRAP

[13:36] herman Bergson: complete waste of money

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): 100s of millions of dollars onto that

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep

[13:37] Al Michigan: but i .... i descent from safardic jews, chased from protugal by catholics,..I want reparations?

[13:37] herman Bergson: Good luck, Al

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): maybe you should get them to

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): tho

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so many should

[13:38] Al Michigan: rutte has apologized recently, but van Agt did that 40 years ago as well...no end?

[13:39] herman Bergson: ok..

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thinks of all the Americans who are displaced from somewhere but also displaced the Native people

[13:39] herman Bergson: Well...this was my first step to the end....:-)

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah

[13:39] oola Neruda: I've seen the people in Peru... cover a valley... living in boxes and any kind of surface that can be a guard against the weather... many just sleeping on the streets

[13:39] herman Bergson: not the end of our class!!!!

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah yes oola

[13:40] oola Neruda: In Africa... they lived in hiomes created with mud

[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what end Herman?

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa

[13:40] herman Bergson: But the end of describing my view on homo sapiens....

[13:40] Al Michigan: i know lotsa  dudes that wandered on the snow in holland, with nomoneyor roof

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): here too

[13:40] oola Neruda: i lived in a chicken house with my family as a child...

[13:41] oola Neruda: i have a very dim view of people who just think of themselves

[13:41] herman Bergson: I still have one or two lectures to go to complete my story and expose it to you

[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah ok

[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): more to think about

[13:41] Al Michigan: the meaning offlife,.. how can that be making fun, doin ''good''?

[13:41] Al Michigan: ar we boyscouts?

[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we try to be women scouts

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): there is a new idea to 3D print houses out of the mud and materials avaible in that particular area, the problem, u  need to get a machine there AND that machine needs power which might be unavailable there, (unless u can power it with solar panels in sunny locations in say africa)

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but i have seen such houses and they look amazing, i could live in one for sure

[13:42] herman Bergson: Good plan Gemma !!!

[13:42] Al Michigan: 17 words!

[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sssss

[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is our women problem

[13:42] herman Bergson: Right AL....Bejiita...BEHAVE! :-))

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ajajajaj!

[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehee

[13:43] herman Bergson: lol

[13:43] herman Bergson: Ok friends....

[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): for those who were not in this class for a looooong time Herman had to throw stuff to get us back in place

[13:43] oola Neruda: maybe more people have to "crash" before they begin to care about others

[13:43] herman Bergson: Let it be it for today

[13:44] herman Bergson: ohh...wait ..Gemma

[13:44] Al Michigan: whow his was so hard!

[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): awk

[13:44] herman Bergson: lol

[13:44] bergfrau Apfelbaum: lol

[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ty]

[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yay

[13:45] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ty herman and class!

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hhee

[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥

[13:45] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Herman

[13:45] Al Michigan: yeah was fun

[13:45] herman Bergson: lol... scripted all these buttons on my pulpit and never used them in almost ten years :-))

[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): remember thursday is thanksgiving in usa

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): shall be stuffing stuffing in my mouth

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): washed down with wine

[13:46] herman Bergson: Ahh Thanksgiving....

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we do al

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we do

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): People need to

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is part of what thanksgiving is about

[13:47] herman Bergson: Peeps....Thursday we have a day off....where we honor all Americans in our class :-))

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): families

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we get together and argue

[13:47] herman Bergson: Coming Thursday NO CLASS

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): shall be here Tuesday

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I think

[13:47] Al Michigan: see you tuesday, dr Bergson!

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki ㋡

[13:48] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ok

Friday, November 18, 2022

1030: Let's continue on Materialism...

 My basic philosophy of life is, that Homo Sapiens is a biological organism as there are so many of us on this earth. He is driven by the will to survive. If you turn that 180 degrees, you also could say, he is driven by his fear of dying.

   

Closely related to this survival instinct is the behavior of seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. It is maybe a rather simplistic description of Homo Sapiens, but this is what it all comes down to in my opinion.

   

Many may object to this image of man, pointing to our culture, art, music, and literature, our ability to discern right from wrong. That makes us more than just biological organisms, doesn't it?

   

Of course... What we see is that in evolution we are the only species, in which the light of 100% self-awareness was turned on. We see it too in other animals, but not to the degree we enjoy it.

   

This has enabled us to create the word "WHY?" It can be used for really everything, from completely nonsensical to absolutely relevant. form "Why is a circle round" to "Why does the apple fall from the tree?"

   

And with this word we enter a twilight zone. Sometimes we don't seem to know for sure, whether a why-question refers to something relevant or is simply meaningless.

   

And here we are back at the beginning. Suppose you get as an answer to your question "WE DON'T KNOW". Big chance you are hit by fear. "What is around the corner?"...."I don't know....!" Oh my, suppose it is the killer......

    

We can take refuge to two options: one option is to take a small mirror and unobserved peek around the corner. Option two is, you proceed and are convinced that The Force is with you and will protect you.

   

Of course, again you can object that I simplify things, but from a materialist point of view, I'd say, we only have option one. Option two is this peculiar inclination of Homo Sapiens to believe in unprovable theories.

    

In the previous lecture, we noted that conspiracy theories have the same form as religions. 

  

A conspiracy theory is an unprovable belief in a reality that rules man and the world. Most religions fit this definition, with unprovable claims that many believers believe to be true. 

   

That seems to be the way out for us to deal with our fear. We only can survive when we kick out the communists, destroy the pedophile network, 

    

have the Lord on our side, do what Jesus taught us....... This approach to reality is deeply rooted in our brains, it seems.

  

Today I can only end my lecture by quoting Bertrand Russell: The value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very uncertainty. 

  

The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, 

  

and from convictions that have grown up in his mind without the cooperation or consent of his deliberate reason. 

  

To such a man the world tends to become definite, finite, obvious; common objects rouse no questions, and unfamiliar possibilities are contemptuously rejected. 

  

As soon as we begin to philosophize, on the contrary, we find, (...), that even the most everyday things lead to problems to which only very incomplete answers can be given. 

  

Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts that it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom. 

  

Thus, while diminishing our feeling of certainty as to what things are, it greatly increases our knowledge as to what they may be;

  

 it removes the somewhat arrogant dogmatism of those who have never traveled into the region of liberating doubt, and it keeps alive our sense of wonder by showing familiar things in an unfamiliar aspect. -end quote- ("Problems of Philosophy", 1912,1943)

   

Thank you for your attention again....

   



Main Sources:

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
R.G. Brown/J. Layman, "Materialism", Routledge (2019)
TROUW, Rik Peels en Kees van der Kooi 4 november 2022


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



   

   


Saturday, November 12, 2022

1029: The Counter Arguments....

 In the previous lecture, I claimed that the narratives of religions have in fact the same structure and scheme as the arguments of conspiracy theories.  This fact fitted perfectly into our theme 'Materialism'.

   

The observation was based on an article in my newspaper. This newspaper originated from Protestant ideas but is now a very open-minded newspaper with still those Christian roots.

  

So, the article was pretty daring and of course, there had to show up comments telling the reader that the equation of the conspiracy theories with religion was unjust.

   

OK, to refresh your memory, the definition of a conspiracy theory:  "A conspiracy theory attempts to provide an explanation for reality based on the belief that there is more than ordinary people can perceive. 

   

Behind the things that happen would be something greater, that affects and even controls our world.

     

Our world is a make-believe world, we ordinary people are just puppets in the hands of greater powers, such as reptiles or IT millionaires. 

  

A conspiracy theory is an unprovable belief in a reality that rules man and the world." -end quote-

   

The counterarguments were typical. Let's see if they are really able to refute the equation conspiracy - religion.

   

The first opposition came from two academic theologians. They attack the correctness of the definition in relation to religion. 

  

They claim that the statement "A conspiracy theory attempts to provide an explanation for reality based on the belief that there is more than ordinary people can perceive. " does not apply to religion.

   

They argue thus: "Two crucial things are missing here. A conspiracy theory requires – surprise, surprise – belief in a conspiracy, that is, a secret conspiracy of several persons 

  

who – and that is the second – want evil, such as enslaving ordinary citizens. Both elements are evidently absent from the major religions.

   

But that is not the only difference between conspiracy thinking and belief in God. Faith in God has directly inspired people to build hospitals, 

  

found universities, care for the poor, peerless music, build cathedrals, and formulate human rights. That flowed directly from the plot of their big story." -end quote-

  

Two crucial things are absent from the major religions. That surprised me. Take "several people that want evil".... 

  

well, what about the Inquisition, the burning of so-called witches, what about the centuries of obstruction of science to begin with Galileo?

   

I see there are lots of people wanting evil, but calling it The Good in the name of the Lord and justified based on their (conspiracy theories). 

  

Let's look at the second part: " Faith in God has directly inspired people to...." Sure...and also inspired to murder, kill, exterminate and excommunicate thousands of people.

   

This inspiration to do good things is not a prerogative of religion. Because science is freed from the joke of religious oppression many scientists have been inspired 

  

to do wonderful things: developing medicines, methods of treatment of all kinds of diseases, improving food production processes, and so on....you name it.

   

My conclusion: this argumentation is preaching to one's own parish and does not refute the equation of religion-conspiracy theory.  

   

The two theologians finish their argumentation as follows: "The question remains what led to this alienating comparison. 

  

Is it a secular prejudice to lump everything that is or thinks differently into one? Or is it just unfamiliarity with religion?" -end quote-

   

This is begging the question: we say that conspiracy theories and religions are the same. That is not a prejudice but a factual and logical observation and I think I have still proven my point here,

    

The second part of this ending is a bit mean. If you close-read what these theologians say, you hear what religious people always say to the infidels: 

  

what you say stems from the fact that you are biased and stupid, ie. unfamiliar with the subject.

   

What you may conclude is that I totally disagree with the arguments of these theologians and I still agree with the idea, 

  

that religion and conspiracy theories and their social effects have a lot in common.

   

Thank you for your attention again....

    



Main Sources:

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
R.G. Brown/J. Layman, "Materialism", Routledge (2019)
TROUW, Rik Peels en Kees van der Kooi 4 november 2022


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   

   


[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman

[13:21] herman Bergson: De nada, amiguita :-))

[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ツ

[13:21] oola Neruda: i see religion as an arm of policing ....

[13:22] oola Neruda: encouraging people to behave with love rather than.... ego

[13:22] herman Bergson: Well....in a way it is , I agree....it is a way to keep the masses in check

[13:22] oola Neruda: yes

[13:23] herman Bergson: IS the same as whatI said of monotheism vs polytheism.....in a previous lecture

[13:23] oola Neruda: you teach your children to play fair.... be kind... etc

[13:23] herman Bergson: it is way more easier to have to deal with one god than a dozen...

[13:23] oola Neruda: it is very "social"

[13:23] herman Bergson: to control the masses

[13:23] oola Neruda: yes...

[13:23] oola Neruda: and the bullies

[13:24] oola Neruda: like trump

[13:24] herman Bergson: yes oola...for that you don't need religion....just being what you are....a social being

[13:24] oola Neruda: only he does not listen

[13:24] oola Neruda: that is where I'm at... just a social being

[13:25] herman Bergson: we are a group animal...like wolves

[13:25] herman Bergson: or chimps

[13:25] oola Neruda: having been directed to a logical way to live in peace if possible

[13:26] herman Bergson: there is one big issue here in relation to  social animals like wolves or chimps or other primates....

[13:26] herman Bergson: Homo Sapiens does not only live by instinct like all other animals, but is also self aware and can use rationality

[13:26] oola Neruda: nods

[13:27] herman Bergson: in relation to living a natural life our brain is in fact the biggest handicap ever :-))

[13:27] oola Neruda: and communicate more freely... think about more abstract things than "will that cow we killed have to be shared with the rest of the wolves

[13:28] oola Neruda: what can we do about it if big wolves come in a pack and want a piece

[13:29] herman Bergson: from a neurobiological point of view I wouldn't have problems with concluding that we are an anomaly in the evolutionary development of the nervous system :-)

[13:30] herman Bergson: from my experience though...a pleasant anomaly :-))

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:31] herman Bergson: That is how a materialist talks about human existence and reality, I'sd say

[13:31] oola Neruda: and when there is war or conflict....

[13:31] herman Bergson: Well..at least I do :-))))

[13:31] oola Neruda: little children... love one another

[13:32] herman Bergson: Yes oola....it is not all that simple...human behavior is a complex all

[13:33] herman Bergson: Among social animals like wolves and chimps life is the same every day

[13:33] herman Bergson: they have their politics too...but always within  limits

[13:33] herman Bergson: We transgress all limits ...

[13:34] oola Neruda: war

[13:34] oola Neruda: greed

[13:34] herman Bergson: for instance...

[13:34] herman Bergson: although...chimps fight wars among each other too

[13:34] oola Neruda: power

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:34] herman Bergson: one group against another...fights about territory and food

[13:35] herman Bergson: there are power struggles among chimps too....who will be the leader of the group

[13:36] herman Bergson: the conflicts include murder and killing too

[13:36] oola Neruda: true... like the monkey Trump

[13:36] oola Neruda: get a grip.... learn to value others... LOVE ONE ANOTHER

[13:36] herman Bergson: He has fallen from his tree, oola :-)

[13:36] oola Neruda: he needs to fall into a pit....

[13:37] herman Bergson: working on it :-))

[13:37] oola Neruda: preferably one with fire in it

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or sulphuric acid

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or something equanlly nasty

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well

[13:37] oola Neruda: you tell 'm Particle

[13:37] oola Neruda: I'm not speaking with love, am I?

[13:37] herman Bergson: here you see what kind of murderous species we are....wanting to kill an opponent in such a way :-))

[13:38] oola Neruda: na na na..."he started it"

[13:38] herman Bergson: It is just metaphorical.....isn't it? ^_^

[13:39] bergfrau Apfelbaum: but not 100 ++ die innocent among the apes. in a fight

[13:39] oola Neruda: right

[13:39] herman Bergson: I still agree with the idea that religions are quite similar to conspiracy theories in their narratives

[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): are they based on fear?

[13:40] herman Bergson: and that was our point today

[13:40] oola Neruda: in the abstract

[13:40] oola Neruda: not the "language"

[13:40] herman Bergson: Based on fear?

[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes, religions are based on fear?

[13:40] herman Bergson: I think it is an important component indeed Beertje...

[13:41] oola Neruda: like "who can you trust?

[13:41] oola Neruda: "

[13:41] herman Bergson: Religions promise that we will survive our death for instance....

[13:41] oola Neruda: hmmm

[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes, the biggest fear humans have

[13:41] oola Neruda: right

[13:41] herman Bergson: most of them, yes

[13:42] herman Bergson: As a materilist there is nothing to fear about death

[13:42] herman Bergson: Matter begins and matter ends in a human body...period

[13:42] herman Bergson: what is there to fear?

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what about the mind?

[13:43] herman Bergson: simple...no brain no mind as I said before...light on...light off...simple as that

[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): but why would we have to learn a lot, study a lot

[13:43] herman Bergson: so..what is there to fear in death.....

[13:44] herman Bergson: We don't have to, Beertje,, but many of us like to....

[13:44] oola Neruda: leaving your children and loved ones.... without whatever you might be providing for them

[13:45] herman Bergson: You can't provide anything when you have died oola

[13:45] oola Neruda: exacty

[13:45] herman Bergson: you even don't need to, because you aren't there anymore

[13:45] oola Neruda: can they take care of themselves

[13:45] oola Neruda: my father died when I was four....

[13:46] oola Neruda: turned out that wicked people came into my life and he would have been able to defend me

[13:46] oola Neruda: i don't want to abandon my child or such.... to "fate"

[13:47] herman Bergson: That he would have been able to defend you is only hypothetical oola...

[13:47] oola Neruda: no.... he was capable... he was simply .... dead

[13:48] herman Bergson: when you are on your own,, you are on your own....

[13:48] herman Bergson: yes..that is what I mean...

[13:48] oola Neruda: yup

[13:48] herman Bergson: it may sound hard....but it is as it is

[13:48] herman Bergson: or do you say harsh?

[13:50] bergfrau Apfelbaum: happy on

[13:50] oola Neruda: back

[13:50] herman Bergson: Maybe we can discuss this issue after the next lecture when I present to you another objection

[13 [13:50] oola Neruda: try alcoholics beating you up.... and more

[13:51] oola Neruda: as a child

[13:51] oola Neruda: ain't life grand?

[13:51] herman Bergson: Sometimes, oola....sometimes not unfortunately

[13:52] bergfrau Apfelbaum: mhm

[13:52] herman Bergson: THAT is our problem

[13:52] herman Bergson: Let's save it for a next discussion :-)

[13:52] oola Neruda: exactly

[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki

[13:53] oola Neruda: foster homes...

[13:53] oola Neruda: multiple

[13:53] herman Bergson: Time to get ready for a pleasant weekend :-)

[13:53] herman Bergson: Thank you all again...:-)

[13:53] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Thank you herman and class -:)

[13:53] bergfrau Apfelbaum: :-)

[[13:53] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...

[13:53] oola Neruda: death ain't so bad

[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman it was very interesting

[13:54] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yes!

[13:54] herman Bergson: no, oola, just a natural event

[13:54] oola Neruda: yes...

[13:54] oola Neruda: it is bad for those who depend on you

[13:54] herman Bergson: It is just that I am not in a hurry to die :-))

[13:55] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yay

[13:55] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Herman