Does Atheism Lead to Nihilism?

[Angrboda]

Thus there is no conceivable solution to the Problem of Universals.

[robvalue]

Chad: my question is, if I accept there is a god, what difference would this make to me? What practical changes would you suggest?

[Pizza]

I hate to quote myself from another thread but this calls for it:

Moral realism vs moral anti-realism is a moot point. It is analogous to arguing over whether or not the color red is a primary or secondary trait of fire trucks. Who cares? Such debates between moral realism vs moral anti-realism almost always end up being semantic disputes over the word "exists" or something like that. I really don't care anymore about academic hairsplitting when it comes to morality; I'm sick of the fallacy of the beard and the perfectionist fallacy. I'm going to just pick a set of moral axioms and move on with my life.

[Thumpalumpacus]

If that's what you call it, I suppose. I think of it as assuming responsibility for my own behavior, but we're quibbling words at this point.

"assuming responsibility" implies you have a standard by which you are measuring your (and presumably other's) behavior. Where do you get this standard?

I've already told you. Perhaps you missed this post?

Also, it's the plural, "standards". Assuming responsibility for my own actions is only one value among several that I hold important.

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That's the problem with these discussions: the theist argument only stands if you assume a whole lot of hidden premises to be true. Taken from actually neutral ground, the theist can hardly justify their own meaning any more than the atheist, it's just that they've taken it upon themselves to be the interrogator rather than the interrogated.

It's not just that, though. It's also the fact that theists also derive their morals subjectively. The very fact of choosing their faith is one clue. The fact that no matter the faith, they must cherry-pick the conventions in order to arrive at a coherent moral code is another, much stronger, clue.

The fact is, theists are "guilty" of the exact same moral relativism they disparage in atheists. The only difference is that most are not honest enough to admit as much.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Chad: my question is, if I accept there is a god, what difference would this make to me? What practical changes would you suggest?

If you accept the existence of God then it would make sense to enter into earnest relationship with that God by means of prayer, contemplation of the Word, communion with believers, and meditation. If you do that, then the Lord will tell you what practical changes to make in your life; it's not for me to say.

[robvalue]

Communion with what believers? How do I know they are believing in the right God?

What word?

Prayer is what, talking and hoping God hears me? What method can I use to ensure he hears? Isn't he hearing everything I say anyway?

[Thumpalumpacus]

No problem. It’s just that you, Esquilax, with a tacit acceptance of a naturalism, cannot rationally defend meaning using a metaphysic that dismisses personal identity, intentionality, and universal essences.

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So what "inspires us to live beyond selfish interests and so achieve social coherence...and compels us beyond self-interest, beyond ego, beyond family, nation, and race." Why don't we live only for self-interest like evolution taught us to do?

The unquestioned premise here is that love is outside of evolution.

The rebuttal is to be found throughout the class mammalia.

[Simon Moon]

"assuming responsibility" implies you have a standard by which you are measuring your (and presumably other's) behavior. Where do you get this standard?

The standard is, we all live in the same physical universe, subject to the same physical laws, all of us with very similar bodies and minds.

With my own knowledge of what I need or want to have well being and to thrive, I can extrapolate to what others also need is going to be vary similar to me (within a fairly narrow range), given our similar minds and bodies.

I tailor my behavior towards other people with this in mind. All I have to ask myself is, ""will my behavior be a positive for the maximum number of people, while also not being a negative for the maximum number of people?".

[Esquilax]

Chad: my question is, if I accept there is a god, what difference would this make to me?

Well, you'd be admitting that Chad is right... which is pretty much the entire point of these circuitous, ad hoc assertions.

[Mudhammam]

I was wondering what your collective response is to the conclusion that atheism leads to nihilism.

Life is hard. Realizing that is part of growing up.