RE: Does Atheism Lead to Nihilism?
March 12, 2015 at 2:39 pm
(This post was last modified: March 12, 2015 at 4:08 pm by Mister Agenda.)
(March 10, 2015 at 10:35 am)SteveII Wrote: I read this letter directed to WLC from Adam, an atheist. In it he claims that while he is not ready to embrace Christianity, his own worldview leads to nihilism.
Quote:"I should have known better too, since the first time I read that paper of yours, I couldn't sleep for two days. It completely shattered my worldview. Let me mention here that I was a huge fan of the New Atheists, but I always sensed something was askew with them. Something seemed off about them because whenever they were talking about meaning, value, or purpose, they answered in such ways that only a person ignorant of the objections in your paper could respond. In short (too late), your paper never left my mind, even years after I wrote a "response" to it. I knew, deep down, that not only did I not, but could not answer your objections to atheism. What you say the atheistic worldview entails is true. There is no escaping the nihilism as an atheist.
He references WLC's paper The Absurdity of Life Without God
I was wondering what your collective response is to the conclusion that atheism leads to nihilism.
If atheism led to nihilism, all atheists would be nihilists. Not all atheists are nihilists. Not even most, in my estimation. Q.E.D.
(March 10, 2015 at 10:53 am)SteveII Wrote:(March 10, 2015 at 10:41 am)Cato Wrote: Existential nihilism most certainly.
Ethical nihilism certainly not.
The problem you typically have in this discussion is someone either conflating the two or insisting that ethical nihilism necessarily follows from existential nihilism.
Can you explain why ethical nihilism does not necessarily follow?
Can you explain why it would necessarily follow?
(March 10, 2015 at 12:02 pm)SteveII Wrote:(March 10, 2015 at 11:44 am)wiploc Wrote: No, it does not.
That does not seem like a defensible position. Can you explain where anything could get intrinsic meaning, value or purpose if there is no god?
If there is a god, can you explain where this god gets its intrinsic meaning, value, or purpose?
(March 10, 2015 at 12:14 pm)SteveII Wrote: Are you saying there is some basis for a system of objective morality not discovered through logic or philosophy?
I can't speak for Cato but yes: observation and experience. Some policies are objectively better than others, given the axiom that a better policy is one that has better results for humans, such as making them healthier, happier, freer, or more informed.
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
