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Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 15, 2016 at 11:31 pm
Being an atheist and NOT a materialist (and so being a REAL outsider!), I have always had an interest in the relationship between atheism and materialism, on the one hand, and between materialism and science on the other. Where as most atheists (and non-atheists) conflate materialism and science, I see religion and materialism as BOTH being non-scientific worldviews.
Before I post my website which is composed of a number of talks where I explain my understanding that the materialist worldview is wrong (which I will do when I reach my quota of 30 posts!) I'd like to ask materialists to explain if and why they believe materialism is either necessary to atheism, or at least an important aspect of the view.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 15, 2016 at 11:41 pm
You certainly don't have to be a materialist to be an atheist. Please explain to me how materialism is non-scientific, though. That's a new one to me. The whole reason my views typically align with materialism for now is because is it scientifically supported. That's what we can test and observe. I'm certainly not saying that there absolutely isn't more to existence, but there isn't evidence to support that yet. If that shows up, I will reconsider my views.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 15, 2016 at 11:58 pm
(This post was last modified: September 15, 2016 at 11:59 pm by Excited Penguin.)
Why don't you try and describe to me a non-material something. Anything at all. I'll wait.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 16, 2016 at 12:09 am
(This post was last modified: September 16, 2016 at 12:13 am by The Grand Nudger.)
(September 15, 2016 at 11:31 pm)Bunburryist Wrote: Where as most atheists (and non-atheists) conflate materialism and science, I see religion and materialism as BOTH being non-scientific worldviews. I haven't seen much of that, but I don't know many atheists.
Quote:Before I post my website which is composed of a number of talks where I explain my understanding that the materialist worldview is wrong (which I will do when I reach my quota of 30 posts!) I'd like to ask materialists to explain if and why they believe materialism is either necessary to atheism, or at least an important aspect of the view.
That gods get caught up in the spray of materialism is an effect of their having been placed there by credulous idiots who thought it was an escape clause . Regardless, atheism is not a statement of belief regarding the immaterial. That methodological materialism is a fundamental and necessary assumption of science, otoh, isn't an open discussion. Describing materialism as "non-scientific" is absurd.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 16, 2016 at 12:22 am
(This post was last modified: September 16, 2016 at 12:22 am by Whateverist.)
Care to say more about what you think makes you a non materialist? I mean, you can call yourself whatever you like but can you break that down for me?
I don't think there is anyone here who doesn't think subjective experience as such isn't real but it certainly seems to be highly associated with the activity of my very material brain. The phenomenology of the experience isn't reducible to the materiality of my brain but the two certainly do seem linked. That doesn't mean the subjective is reducible to the material but if you want to argue it is entirely independent .. good luck.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 16, 2016 at 2:44 am
Hey, looks like I might have a friend.
He'll probably link he webpage and disappear, though.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 16, 2016 at 3:52 am
Quote:Why materialists are predominantly materialists
Materialists are predominantly materialists because that's what materialists are. I may expand on this theme later and discuss why chickens are almost always chickens.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 16, 2016 at 6:11 am
It seems to me that materialism is the metaphysical view which requires the fewest assumptions to support the methodological naturalism of science. Occam's razor suggests that it is the preferable view if you want to restrict yourself to those things which can be demonstrated as true. Beyond that, it doesn't have a direct link to atheism. I suspect many atheists are materialists, not because of any link to atheism, but because of its compatibility with naturalism.
It occurs to me that you haven't given us your definition of materialism, so we're kind of wandering in the dark.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 16, 2016 at 6:49 am
(This post was last modified: September 16, 2016 at 8:05 am by Pat Mustard.
Edit Reason: Swapped physical for philosophical. It's what I meant to rite
)
(September 15, 2016 at 11:31 pm)Bunburryist Wrote: Being an atheist and NOT a materialist (and so being a REAL outsider!), I have always had an interest in the relationship between atheism and materialism, on the one hand, and between materialism and science on the other. Where as most atheists (and non-atheists) conflate materialism and science, I see religion and materialism as BOTH being non-scientific worldviews.
Before I post my website which is composed of a number of talks where I explain my understanding that the materialist worldview is wrong (which I will do when I reach my quota of 30 posts!) I'd like to ask materialists to explain if and why they believe materialism is either necessary to atheism, or at least an important aspect of the view.
I am a materialist because materialism is the only philosophical worldview that is empiracly verifiable.
Oh and an axiom which underpins the whole of science cannot by definition be unscientific.
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RE: Why materialists are predominantly materialists
September 16, 2016 at 7:01 am
Because energy cannot form a complex stable pattern without the use of matter.
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