Life Without a Net
philosophy
Meaning and Nihilism
A recent repeat of the “meaning discussion” got me thinking on a slightly different track. The conversation was predictable: Theist: But what do you believe in if you don’t believe in a higher purpose? Life is meaningless without it! Atheist: I don’t need “higher” purpose to have purpose. I make my own purpose and so … Continue reading
Spirits
At some point in our evolutionary history, pre-humans made an important leap in cognitive ability. We moved from first order contemplation to second order. That is, we went from thinking to thinking about thinking. Before this leap, we were not very much different than most of the animals we’re familiar with — dogs, cats, … Continue reading
What is Morality?
Yesterday I reposted my account of why the Christian model of morality is unworkable. Today I will repost my article outlining the scientific alternative. As a pre-emptive strike against the accusation that I am not proposing an actual prescriptive ethical methodology — I know. This is a blog, not a compendium of all knowledge. That’s … Continue reading
Is This Really All There Is?
This is an updated, edited, and slightly sexed up version of a piece I wrote two years ago. If you’ve ever stumbled while trying to answer questions about meaning or purpose in life, or if you feel like you can’t defend your right to your own purpose, this is the article for you. Is This … Continue reading
A Parable of Knowledge
avi was born in a small village on a small island in a large sea. His childhood was tranquil and carefree. He learned how to fish and how to farm and pilot a boat, and when he had mastered these trades, he learned how to dance and sing. Life was good. But something tugged at … Continue reading
Moral Development and Owning Emotions
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about moral development, and it’s led me to a place that’s uncharacteristically Zen for me. Let me walk you through the process that’s been at work in my head. If you’re not familiar with Kohlberg‘s scale of moral development, here’s a basic overview, courtesy of Wikipedia. Level 1 (Pre-Conventional) … Continue reading
I am a Process
We’ve all had this happen to us — some problem is wracking our brain, and we can’t come up with a solution. We’re stumped. Then out of the blue, we see or hear something that changes our perspective, and suddenly the whole thing makes perfect sense. The situation is exactly what it was a few … Continue reading
Humanism
I am not a humanist. Yeah, I know that by itself, this sentence is almost meaningless. Ask a hundred people what it means to be a humanist, and you’ll get fifty or so answers. So, as with most topics, I’ll start at the beginning, and tell you what humanism means to me. If you think … Continue reading
The Soul — A simple error
At some point in our evolutionary history, pre-humans made an important leap in cognitive ability. We moved from first order contemplation to second order. That is, we went from thinking to thinking about thinking. Before this leap, we were not very much different than most of the animals we’re familiar with — dogs, cats, … Continue reading
Monkey Morality and the Problem of Human Morality
The New York Times and the Times Online have published stories on primates and the origins of morality. They mention several primate experiments in which monkeys and chimps display prosocial behaviors such as helping others when there is no reward, sharing with companions, consoling companions, and remembering and repaying debts. These results add to a … Continue reading
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