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Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 7:45 am
Richard Dawkins’ assessment of human worth may be depressing, but why, on atheism, is he mistaken, when he says, “there is at bottom no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pointless indifference. . . . We are machines for propagating DNA. . . . It is every living object’s sole reason for being”?
Richard Dawkins, River out of Eden: a Darwinian View of Life (New York: Basic Books, 1996), p. 133 and Richard Dawkins, “The Ultraviolet Garden,” Lecture 4 of 7 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (1992)
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 7:47 am
Still clinging to the elitist ideals Jeff??
You will never be able to accept that you are just another schmuck like the rest of us will you?
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 8:13 am
From the perspective of biology that looks to be fairly accurate. Why is that supposed to be depressing?
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 8:50 am
(This post was last modified: October 17, 2012 at 8:50 am by KichigaiNeko.)
Agreed Rhythm. I do not find it depressing.
Mind you I can understand someone who has been indoctrinated to firmly believe that they are "special", "chosen", "elitist", without "sin" or "criminality" would find such a revelation to be an affront to their tiny little world and so "depressing"; that they are just as grotty as the lowest person on the planet.
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 9:14 am
(October 17, 2012 at 7:45 am)Reasonable_Jeff Wrote: Richard Dawkins’ assessment of human worth may be depressing, but why, on atheism, is he mistaken, when he says, “there is at bottom no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pointless indifference. . . . We are machines for propagating DNA. . . . It is every living object’s sole reason for being”?
Richard Dawkins, River out of Eden: a Darwinian View of Life (New York: Basic Books, 1996), p. 133 and Richard Dawkins, “The Ultraviolet Garden,” Lecture 4 of 7 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (1992)
From a strictly biological point of view this is essentially correct.
The universe at large does not give a rats arse about us.
Which why it is up to us as rational being to find our own meaning.
If you're not supposed to ride faster than your guardian angel can fly then mine had better get a bloody SR-71.
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 10:17 am
OP Why do you want a reason?
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 10:47 am
(October 17, 2012 at 7:47 am)KichigaiNeko Wrote: Still clinging to the elitist ideals Jeff??
You will never be able to accept that you are just another schmuck like the rest of us will you?
I am not a chipmunk. I can make more of myself by pragmatically understanding my capacities as given to me evolution than ever can a Christian relying on the make belief favors of a nonexistent god. Chips can also make more of themselves than if they were Christians, but not nearly as much as if they were me.
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 11:26 am
The universe is indifferent to us.
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 11:33 am
Nothing matters...except to beings capable of having things matter to them. The universe not caring about me does not in any way diminish my capacity to care about myself, my loved ones, humanity, and other living things.
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RE: Human Value Nonexistent?
October 17, 2012 at 11:37 am
(October 17, 2012 at 7:45 am)Reasonable_Jeff Wrote: Richard Dawkins’ assessment of human worth may be depressing, but why, on atheism, is he mistaken, when he says, “there is at bottom no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pointless indifference. . . . We are machines for propagating DNA. . . . It is every living object’s sole reason for being”?
Richard Dawkins, River out of Eden: a Darwinian View of Life (New York: Basic Books, 1996), p. 133 and Richard Dawkins, “The Ultraviolet Garden,” Lecture 4 of 7 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (1992)
You are just dying to be "special," aren't you? You even invent gods to be your friends.
What a loser.
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