a tribute to atheism & anti-anthropocentrism: a realistic theory of science

[LessthanJake14]

You also seem to not understand some basic terms such as altruistic. An altruistic action is a purely selfless act. If co-operation means your survival, then it is not altruistic.

Furthermore, you appeal to science and evidence a lot in this video, which is quite shallow. I mean, do you HONESTLY think that the Bible was written literally? Seriously.

[paxtonhume]

@LessthanJake14 Life would be very easy if self-interest and living well always coincided.

[LessthanJake14]

@paxtonhume Living well is not survival. Survival is basic, living well is having much to spare.

I agree with you that they don't always coincide but it's not altruistic to be apart of a community, you are protected under that community as well. I'm not saying we're in it for ourselves but more of a mutual advantage for both parties.

[LessthanJake14]

Science is based on empirical evidence. But you're heavily implying that our experience is accurate to the world; which it obvious is not (look at colour as an example). Religion is based on nothing more than a feeling, but both require faith of some description. Does that mean we should abandon science? Of course not! It explains the human world humanly. Should we abandon religion? I believe that organised religion certainly has had its day but personal faith has just begun.

[SubtleElegance318]

Ide like to quote some of your ideas if that is okay with you. Very profound statements. Would it be okay if I asked for your last name? And if you could give yourself some kind of title as well?

[gabi83tm]

Humanism (secular or otherwise) is an euphemism for anthropocentrism.

Plus: tribal peoples were not secular and still did function efficiently. Would you also want to convert present day tribal peoples to secularism? Why can't you accept diversity? Is this not ethnocentric of you?

Must there be only one right way to live? It's also what Buddha, Jesus and Marx have said.

[paxtonhume]

Atheism is not a religion or prescription for living. Its not a philosophy or anything like that, its simply the non-belief in magical deities.

[gabi83tm]

And how have I implied otherwise? Or are you saying that belief in magical deities has nothing to do with one's lifestyle? If you cancel one's belief, you unavoidably change one's lifestyle.

[paxtonhume]

If you cancel a persons belief you will automatically raise his consciousness...

[gabi83tm]

And how exactly would you scientifically define the act of raising one's consciousness?

[IpostJesus]

i dont think tribal people watch youtube

[budgielover9]

your all satins people, Realy matter can't be destroyed, needs to be supreme creator!

[paxtonhume]

Science cannot disprove something that isn't based on logical facts. Since religion is based on faith and not evidence any such evidence on the non-existence of god wouldn't do any good to begin with. Just because something cannot be disproved also does not increase it's "probability" of existence.

[paxtonhume]

Matter cant be created or destroyed? Well, then bigbang would have never occured. People fail to realize that. They say that nothing existed before the big bang. Well if that's true then what blew up? So either we deny physics its rules or throw bigbang out the window...either way, the bigbang theory doesn't necessitate that nothing existed before our particular bigbang. There are theories which allow for infinite spacetime, with many "bigbangs" occuring all the time (i.e. a mulitverse).

[budgielover9]

You need energy to create matter.

[paxtonhume]

If you believe the laws, it was always here. So god can be interpreted as a form of energy. The Big Bang was not the true moment of creation, but a transition between two cycles in an endless process of cosmological rebirth.

[IpostJesus]

big bang theory actually states that there was a fuck of hydrogen,that is what exploded, much like the forming of a new sun.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

At 1:03 it should be noted that humans aren't the only animals capable of altruism. It was an evolutionary step that verly likely predated mammals.

A proper rejection of anthropocentrism, not only says that man is not inferior or subservient to some god, but it must also look "down" that other traditional hierarchy - towards animals. Can we really claims to have rejected anthropocentrism if we continue to view animals as chattle to do with as we wish? One can't have it both ways.

[carltrollebonde82]

we need protein to build muscles and brain power..., I don't see why we can both reject anthropocentrism and have a decent meal. Yes, we are animals, yes we are not special but we still have faculties for abstract thought and ability to manipulate and control our environment, why not take advantage of that? We can be selfish together.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

Protein is in everything. Everything that's alive. It's basic biology. How do you think cows get so big on clover?

[carltrollebonde82]

Did you know that the grizzly bear in Alaska is the same species of brown bear as the ones in Scandinavia. Do you know why the grizzly is so much bigger? Because he snacks on salmons which are filled with proteins.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

Your bear facts leave a lot to be desired. The bears, seperated by countless generations vary due to factors other than Salmon.

Do you honestly believe that eating fish makes one larger?

You assume that high protein intake is healthy and that large size is inherently good. Like people who think high iron intake is healthy. Your nutritional education is sorely lacking.

Goo google protein with either the words kidney or osteoporosis. Too much of certain things is unhealthy.

[carltrollebonde82]

"..we, and our large brains, may be the evolutionary result of selection that specifically favored meat-eating and a high-protein diet, i.e., a faunivorous diet."

"What made meat an important resource to exploit was not its high protein content, rather, its high caloric return..."

Everyone who has studied biology knows that the human brain evolved much faster under a high-protein diet (i.e. when we stopped eating leaves and berries). I believe your general knowledge is painfully deficient.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

So now you change your argument from protein to calories. And then back again.

What you claim as biological truth is fallacy. Eating something will not make your brain grow bigger, nor will eating a chicken make you grow wings. Eating rhino horn won't give you a better erection either. Nor does shark cartilage cure cancer. If you really think meat is so appropraite how do you explain vegetarians tending to both live longer and do better on IQ tests?

[carltrollebonde82]

I think you are just supporting a "nonviolent diet." (as was the main point of our discussions). Vegs also have major deficiencies in iron, calcium and vitamin B12.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

I don't suppose you'd like to cite a peer reviewed journal to support your wild claim, now would you?

I encourage you to especially check the Colombia U. B12 study from the early 90's. Giggle. That's my favorite.

[paxtonhume]

I really enjoyed "A Pale Blue Dot" speech, could you recommend something else by Sagan?

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

Our (semi-official) version of The Pale Blue Dot homage is the #1 rated on Youtube. Lang Kasnarov has a super-long version IIRC.

I would recommend anything that Carl Sagan has ever written/done- with his later works (1980 onwards) probably being of most interest. We have many Sagan vids in our Favorites, and COSMOS is available on Google video, or piecemeal here on YT. The VHS and 2000 DVD versions are slightly different so those differences will be reflected online, depending on the source.

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

The book "The Pale Blue Dot" has a companion audiobook, which was spoken (mostly) by Carl before he died. Hearing his voice read his actual words is always an extra treat. You may also find our "Human Conceit, Dominionism" upload interesting.

[paxtonhume]

where do I find Lang Kasnarov has a super-long version IIRC?

[sonykroket]

5-star, my friend.

Never surrender.

[CousinoMacul]

I am also an anti-anthropocentrist. Nice video!

[ekmanpeter]

I agree..

[carltb82]

GREAT!!!!!! very profound insights...

[blaziermissy]

The songs are so worth listening to that I decided to sit back and listen to the songs, then watch/read the video. 5 Stars

[gronis9]

Hear, hear.

[windham666]

excellent!