1. What is prime reality? (What is real)?
To whom? My reality is probably very different from that of an electron. I'm guessing you mean our reality here which basically covers everything we can observe with a primary senses first and then with the tools we have built to extend those (be that ultrasound sensors, x-rays etc. etc.)
2. What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us?
Its not really a proper question in the light of my answer above.
3. What is a human being?
The latest in a line of hominids that stretch back around 7 million years to a common ancestor with chimps/bonobos.
4. What happens to a person at death?
I presume you mean having died. Nothing. They rot in their graves or sit in an urn after being cremated.
5. Why is it possible to know anything at all?
We are intelligent products of evolution. We are made of star stuff. There is no reason for our intelligence not to be compatible with the universe that made us. We can know many things. Some of those will change as we learn more so, for example, Newtonian physics gave way to Einstein.
6. How do we know what is right and wrong?
We have evolved as a social species where it appears to be in our interest to cooperate with one another. We developed rules for doing so. These rules got more complex as our cultures developed. Right and wrong are rather black and white in terms of describing most of the problems we face - generally its all shades of grey (not the book).
As history unfurls the rules change and so, often, does our sense of what is right and what is wrong. Homosexuality in / slavery out, for example.
7. What is the meaning of human history?
Its the foundation of our moral compass in as much as it is anything - but it is also our road map of how we got here. Other than that - why does it have to have meaning?
8. What personal, life orienting core commitments are consistent with this world view? (What do you do for your religion).
I am a humanist I suppose and my conscience is my guide.
To whom? My reality is probably very different from that of an electron. I'm guessing you mean our reality here which basically covers everything we can observe with a primary senses first and then with the tools we have built to extend those (be that ultrasound sensors, x-rays etc. etc.)
2. What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us?
Its not really a proper question in the light of my answer above.
3. What is a human being?
The latest in a line of hominids that stretch back around 7 million years to a common ancestor with chimps/bonobos.
4. What happens to a person at death?
I presume you mean having died. Nothing. They rot in their graves or sit in an urn after being cremated.
5. Why is it possible to know anything at all?
We are intelligent products of evolution. We are made of star stuff. There is no reason for our intelligence not to be compatible with the universe that made us. We can know many things. Some of those will change as we learn more so, for example, Newtonian physics gave way to Einstein.
6. How do we know what is right and wrong?
We have evolved as a social species where it appears to be in our interest to cooperate with one another. We developed rules for doing so. These rules got more complex as our cultures developed. Right and wrong are rather black and white in terms of describing most of the problems we face - generally its all shades of grey (not the book).
As history unfurls the rules change and so, often, does our sense of what is right and what is wrong. Homosexuality in / slavery out, for example.
7. What is the meaning of human history?
Its the foundation of our moral compass in as much as it is anything - but it is also our road map of how we got here. Other than that - why does it have to have meaning?
8. What personal, life orienting core commitments are consistent with this world view? (What do you do for your religion).
I am a humanist I suppose and my conscience is my guide.
