Comment

Comment by Jeff King on May 2, 2012 at 6:32pm

  Thanks for the response!

   I agree Mike.  Categorizing is what makes us what we are.  There would be no reasoning if we didn't have mental files to group things in.  There would be no understanding.  Additionally, being social creatures, we thrive in the comfort of a group.  While I'm at it, I may as well concede how much I enjoy our cultures current (and hopefully future) expanding knowledge of our natural world.

 

   I believe you've helped to hone my actual question.

  

   I've recently spent a few months in some of the more remote parts of Africas interior, and made what I thought to be an interesting comparison between our cultures.  Granted, there are monumental differences in technology, and knowledge, and every culture I encountered had been influenced by colonialism. But, at no point did anyone feel the need to consider themselves anything but their tribe. 

   They live within the means that nature allows, sustainably (minus over-hunting in some areas thanks to shotguns), but far and away more natural than the "greenest" Americans.  I guess after all that, my question would be better worded as: "Are we better off knowing it or living it?" 

 

Comment by Mike Layfield on May 2, 2012 at 6:12pm

Hi Jeff and welcome. Names and categories (concepts) are essential to human cognition and language. We can't think, let alone speak without them. I agree that we humans have been loosing our connection to our natural earth which is a shame, but science (methodological naturalism) has in my opinion radically increased our understanding of nature.

Everyone has a top concept— a category that includes all one's categories. For some it is God, or Dharma, or the spirit world. My top concept is nature. But I don't worship it or pray to it or get angry at it. I just want to better understand it.

So long as I don't spam it, I don't think messaging about naturalism can make me what I oppose.

Comment by Jeff King on May 2, 2012 at 5:27pm

I have a question.  Don't get me wrong; I have no intention of undermining anyones motivation for categorizing themselves into a group of like minded people.  I too share the same ideals expressed in/through Naturalism.  What really intrigues me is the need for a name, and a category.  It's like the saying, "If sense was common, they wouldn't have a name for it."  I realize for thousands of years, we've been evolving our culture towards our current way of thinking, all the while loosing our connection to, and understanding of, our world.  I also understand how uncommon this way of thinking seems to be, but it seems like we are idolizing something that should just "be".  How do you get a message or point across without becoming what you oppose?

Comment by Alice on April 28, 2012 at 12:20am

Welcome :)

Comment by Mike Layfield on April 27, 2012 at 3:17pm

Hi Tabitha. Welcome to naturalism. In a nutshell, philosophical naturalism is the view that nature is probably the ultimate order of being, and that nature is enough to account for all of the order and complexity that we experience.

Comment by Tabitha McCoy on April 23, 2012 at 7:37am

Hello, all! I'm new here :) I'm also new to the naturalist philosophy in general, growing up in a theistic household my whole life. I look forward to our conversations :) the vids were great! :D

Comment by Alice on February 23, 2012 at 3:28pm

Come and like this Page:

This Facebook page has been set up in anticipation for the new book currently being written - The Free Will Illusion - a book about the Naturalistic Worldview - the implications of naturalism and ideas about how to integrate the naturalistic worldview into your life - please come and have a look - the links posted are all related to research done in writing the book.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Free-Will-Illusion/1957892338548...

Comment by Alice on January 10, 2012 at 6:33pm

Very sad news: http://www.facebook.com/groups/nirmukta/

Comment by Raina R. on November 15, 2011 at 6:59pm

Check out my blog>> http://rhoadestoreality.wordpress.com/

Comment by Richard Lawrence on August 19, 2011 at 12:09pm

A good article on the genetic basis of intelligence:

http://the-scientist.com/2011/08/09/heritability-of-intelligence/

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