(June 16, 2009 at 4:06 pm)dagda Wrote: My core programing tells me materialism is individualism. 'What does not benefit the hive does not benefit the bee either' as Emperor Marcus said in Meditations. I associate materialism with individualism and individualism with disaster. How can I then support materialism when I think it is against my own (and that of societies) best interests?
I've not got involved in (or even read) most of this thread ... a bit too philosophical (as in BS) for me ... but I do have to take exception to your view that materialism (which you see as atheism) is individualism. IMO none of these things are the same.
- Materialism has a couple of meanings, it's a consumer oriented term meaning that one covets possessions (modern day tokens of wealth I assume) and it can also mean and kind of methodological naturalism i.e. the belief that what we can see/detect is all there is ... broadly speaking that's my default position.
- Atheism (as you agreed elsewhere) is simply the rejection of claimed deities, a lack of belief in god or gods.
- Individualism is, I suppose, a philosophical position regarding the individual's personal rights as paramount ... it's a bit kike nihilism but I don't think it goes quite that far.
Kyu
Angry Atheism
Where those who are hacked off with the stupidity of irrational belief can vent their feelings!
Come over to the dark side, we have cookies!
Kyuuketsuki, AngryAtheism Owner & Administrator
Where those who are hacked off with the stupidity of irrational belief can vent their feelings!
Come over to the dark side, we have cookies!
Kyuuketsuki, AngryAtheism Owner & Administrator
