"When tackling a question such as "What is the meaning to life?", it would do us well to understand what exactly we mean by purpose, for every word has multiple meanings in all its different contexts. A person may or may not be cognitive of…"
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Jonathan Chang
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- Rowland Heights, CA
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Jonathan Chang's Discussions
Is perception necessary for conscious thought?
Started Nov 22, 2012 0 Replies 0 Likes
A mind that has never been stimulated has no basis by which it could learn. My theory is that all thought, knowledge, and imagination, and even the qualia of conscious existence must call upon…Continue
The Origin of Senses
Started this discussion. Last reply by Secular Forces 2013 Nov 22, 2012. 2 Replies 1 Like
It is often accepted that the brain interprets perception picked up by sensory organs; yet when a line is drawn in the hand with a finger, it is the hand that feels, not the brain or the back of the…Continue
Most Atheists Are Not Secular Humanists...
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jonathan Chang Sep 19, 2012. 16 Replies 0 Likes
...And most Humanists are not freethinkers. Certainly not the likes of PZ Meyer or the more fervent members of Atheist+, or the radical neo-liberal who follow ideology qua religion. I'm definitely…Continue
Tags: justice, morality, objective, freethought, humanism
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Jonathan Chang's Page
Latest Activity
Jonathan Chang replied to Steph S.'s discussion As An Atheist Can Your Life Have Purpose and Meaning?
Jonathan Chang replied to G's discussion Which is the best ? Capitalism or Communism
"Nitpicker? Rhetorical? No offense, but neither. I didn't ask any questions. You made an assumption in one case where the issue was uncontested but you wouldn't make this same assumption on another case. That's inconsistency. That…"
Jonathan Chang replied to G's discussion Which is the best ? Capitalism or Communism
"Actually, I don't understand this response either, since "for whom" is obvious in the context of the question, or in this forum even. If "Capitalism or Communism: Which is better?" is incomplete, then so must be…"
Jonathan Chang replied to Steph S.'s discussion As An Atheist Can Your Life Have Purpose and Meaning?
"Despite stabilizing conditions, facts remain that we are past peak oil production, water shortages remain a problem, as well as loss of animal and plant habitat due to deforestation -- and this is true even if the population peaks out at 10 billion…"
Jonathan Chang replied to Steph S.'s discussion As An Atheist Can Your Life Have Purpose and Meaning?
"Your Capitalist model of population = productivity assumes that the surface area and resources on a livable Earth are infinite, and that is not the case. Past success do not predict future results, especially since population growth is exponential.…"
Jonathan Chang replied to Steph S.'s discussion As An Atheist Can Your Life Have Purpose and Meaning?
"I'd hate to be the one to break the naturalist party but equivocating "good" with "order" despite its popularity cannot reconcile with the is-ought problem. Although I don't consider myself to be Nihilist, once we…"
Jonathan Chang replied to G's discussion Which is the best ? Capitalism or Communism
"Neither. Realism over ideology. Unlike on paper, human nature is, if anything, unpredictable."
Jonathan Chang replied to booklover's discussion If a "god" did this for any reason, he/she/it is a sick sonofabitch...
"A triangle exists on a 2-dimensional plane by definition so I'm not sure how you mean, but I don't wish to get into an argument about geometry."
Jonathan Chang replied to booklover's discussion If a "god" did this for any reason, he/she/it is a sick sonofabitch...
"Joan, no problem. I suppose I could've used a bit less jargon. Utilitarianism is the ethical philosophy that the value of all actions, the utility, could be calculated, for example to maximize happiness and minimize suffering, such that an…"
Jonathan Chang replied to booklover's discussion If a "god" did this for any reason, he/she/it is a sick sonofabitch...
"I say "I cannot..." because in fact I believe it is epistemically impossible to calculate the utility of any action a priori -- I mean even if you have a quantum computer that somehow knows every relevant factor to instantaneously compute…"
Jonathan Chang replied to booklover's discussion If a "god" did this for any reason, he/she/it is a sick sonofabitch...
"Say that I lack empathy, but you should realize that the calculation of utility is a posteriori. And for the same reason most modern day philosophers reject Utilitarianism as a valid moral philosophy, I cannot reject "Everything happens for a…"
Jonathan Chang replied to Future's discussion The bias where religions begin from
"I think it's a mistake, logic-wise, to go from "X doesn't have to be Y" to "X isn't Y". Why must it be the case that God commands so and so? Well, why not? It doesn't matter one way or another, and lack of…"
Jonathan Chang replied to Steph S.'s discussion As An Atheist Can Your Life Have Purpose and Meaning?
""We give our lives purposes."
Only to the extent that we give our socks purposes. The assigned purposes are imposed for some other goal; they are not inherent purposes or any transcendental concept that people imagine when they refer to…"
Jonathan Chang replied to Steph S.'s discussion As An Atheist Can Your Life Have Purpose and Meaning?
"I reject the common perspective that there is a subjective purpose, in the sense that the semantic idea behind the word "purpose" refer to some metaphysical outcome on a greater scale than simple opinions. There is this sort of cognitive…"
Jonathan Chang replied to Hiram's discussion Where is the Soul?
"lol doh! I missed that. Well, that explains it then."
Jonathan Chang replied to Hiram's discussion Where is the Soul?
"Of course, but if that's just what you believe, then what's the point in presenting some Buddhist doctrine as evidence? I read the title as "Where is the soul?" and I don't feel that you've provided any insight to that…"
Jonathan Chang's Blog
Determinism and Science
Posted on September 5, 2012 at 7:53pm 9 Comments 0 Likes
I just made a post in the forum that I believe is substantial enough to warrant its own discussion. It is a thought experiment meant to disprove "free will"; it is a mind-bending concept for sure, enough so that I spent time unsuccessfully trying to disprove myself thinking there must be something wrong with my logic. But I can think of no other way. Perhaps you guys could let me know what you think, or if you see any failures in this line of…
ContinueComment Wall (2 comments)
- At 3:15pm on June 29, 2012,
Dr. Terence Meaden said… Hello Jonathan
Welcome to this world of rationality, truth and peace, where common sense and science lead to freethinking wisdom --- as you know as an atheist and freethinker like me.
We invite you to make good friends by joining the busy group "ORIGINS: Universe, Astronomy, Life, Earth, Humans, Religion, Gods, Atheism, Evolution, Darwin..." with 700 discussion topics and 3500 members.
http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/originsuniverselifehumankindanddarwin
Terry
- At 9:49am on June 18, 2012,
Steph S. said… Greetings! Welcome to the site!
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