Intellectual Bankruptcy (ritual, reject, contradiction, beliefs, creation)

[Nick Soapdish]

Since the enlightenment, we have seen a fascinating development of Western philosophy. The landscape is dominated by the transition from Christianity to deism, to naturalism, to nihilism, to existentialism, to postmodernism.

We are now left in a world where the dominant philosophy tells us the greatest virtue is to be tolerant of everyone and that everyone's beliefs are equal.

It is a world in which we are discouraged from any sort of confrontation by taking a stand for what you believe in.

It is a world in which the value of a belief or idea is measured by how useful it is.

These ideas are predicated on a deep philosophical development that started with the rejection of special revelation (the idea that knowledge can be given to us directly from God). It seems that once special revelation is rejected, we are left with these conclusions:

- No one owns the truth--absolute truth cannot be known. Yet, how can we know this?

- All notions of metaphysics are fantasies--stories that are useful for making us feel better. Yet, that is a metaphysical statement.

- People believe what they believe because it suits them. Yet, a person can only believe that if it suits them.

What a pit of contradiction and inconsistency.

Has philosophy reached a state of intellectual bankruptcy? What happened to having a philosophical bedrock from which we can build our lives with the bricks of reason?

[BFD_Zayl]

whooooweee!! I have no idea what you just said but MAN it sure did sound smart!! I'm last of a dying breed i'm afraid...I take a stand for what I believe in,if someone challenges it.

[OneoftheLost]

Wow. Im not going to lie here. I only faintly understood what you just wrote. As such I will try to post a response.

You suggest Phillisophical Bankrupcy...I think that you are referring to the fact that we seem to have stopped looking for phillisophical truths because society deems it worthless due to the fact that certain people see that people like socretes said something along the lines of absolute truth cannot be known. I dunno, Im tired and it doesnt really make sense to me, but if that is what you mean, I believe its because modern society sees it as useless, why sit around and philosiphize (Wow, I butchered that....) when you can be doing something?

Again, that is my tentative answer, maybe someone with a bit better knowledge on the subject can translate this for me?

[Nick Soapdish]

I'm sorry... there are some complex ideas in this argument and it is really tough to try to summarize them in a forum post that isn't too long for people to read. Please let me know if any statement needs clarification.

[Papersock]

I hope I'm understanding what you're saying.

Originally Posted by atofel

Since the enlightenment, we have seen a fascinating development of Western philosophy. The landscape is dominated by the transition from Christianity to deism, to naturalism, to nihilism, to existentialism, to postmodernism.

We are now left in a world where the dominant philosophy tells us the greatest virtue is to be tolerant of everyone and that everyone's beliefs are equal.

As long as they are not hurting anyone, or hinder someone else's free will.

It is a world in which we are discouraged from any sort of confrontation by taking a stand for what you believe in.

We are? Are you saying no one is allowed to stand for what they believe in?

It is a world in which the value of a belief or idea is measured by how useful it is.

Or how logical it is or based on actual evidence, or reality.

These ideas are predicated on a deep philosophical development that started with the rejection of special revelation (the idea that knowledge can be given to us directly from God). It seems that once special revelation is rejected, we are left with these conclusions:

- No one owns the truth--absolute truth cannot be known. Yet, how can we know this?

It kind of depends on what you mean by "the truth." There are certain facts of reality that exist no mater what you believe is true or not.

- All notions of metaphysics are fantasies--stories that are useful for making us feel better. Yet, that is a metaphysical statement.

And doesn't it make some people feel better?

- People believe what they believe because it suits them. Yet, a person can only believe that if it suits them.

I'm not so sure we choose what we believe or cannot believe. To a dagree, I suppose. But for me, I can't believe in something that doesn't have good evidence.

What a pit of contradiction and inconsistency.

Has philosophy reached a state of intellectual bankruptcy? What happened to having a philosophical bedrock from which we can build our lives with the bricks of reason?

It seems to me that we do still have a philosophical bedrock and reason, only its based on observation of what works and what doesn't. History, and logic...

Bleh, I'm having a hard time putting words to my thoughts.

[PeaceSeeker]

Originally Posted by Papersock

Bleh, I'm having a hard time putting words to my thoughts.

You've expressed yourself very well...and logically.

In this 21st Century, the Age of Technology, we are still plagued by religious beliefs that are a contributing cause toward terrorism, killings and wars between nations. Belief in a deity, who keeps causing catastrophes, punishes people, and created the universe out of nothingness as if by magic was brought about by hysteria and superstitions. This thought process needs to be reassessed and brought up to date. Open-minded people must use common sense to determine whether this so-called deity was incorrectly perceived, misinterpreted and misunderstood by the masses of a bygone era.

If belief in God goes against God's laws of nature, its creation was based on superstitions. True spirituality conforms to the laws of nature.

[PeaceSeeker]

Originally Posted by atofel

What a pit of contradiction and inconsistency.

Has philosophy reached a state of intellectual bankruptcy? What happened to having a philosophical bedrock from which we can build our lives with the bricks of reason?

Ahem...Do you consider Christianity the philosophical bedrock from which we can build our lives with the bricks of reason?...the Christianity that promotes prejudice?

[Ody]

**** continental philosophy.

That is all.

[Aasimar]

Not a very useful contribution, but someone may find this humorous. I always wondered about the term metaphysics, and why it isn't applied to only selective branches of science. I personally would like to meet a someone versed in metageometry. Just playing with English

[Ody]

Originally Posted by atofel

It is a world in which we are discouraged from any sort of confrontation by taking a stand for what you believe in.
Wrong.

It is a world in which the value of a belief or idea is measured by how useful it is.
How useful it, APPEARS TO BE!

What a pit of contradiction and inconsistency. Similar to most of modern theism.

how i shot red?