An atheists guide to reality

[Angrboda]

Doesn't make it any less of a thing though.

To me, it seems it does. It seems it's a false concept if it were the case that it had no metaphysical reality to it. That at the very least, our very selves have to be metaphysical that the qualities we attribute to it have some sort of reality, not just an idea. It seems to me the case the idea of it includes that there is an essence behind it, that the value of it, goodness of it, honour of it etc, are properties of some sort of reality, not just in our minds.

When it was conceded that the sun doesn't revolve around the earth, that we were not the center of the universe, I'm sure some felt that made being human less than it had been when they believed humanity was at the center of the universe. Did it diminish us some from what we had thought? Perhaps. Perhaps our reasons for doing what we do no longer has cosmic significance. But does that mean it has no significance? Some adjustment of our thinking may be involved, but I think it is throwing the baby out with the bath water to suggest that it must be all or nothing. If our meaning doesn't have intrinsic, inherent existence, that doesn't mean it's completely false and worthless.