Ethnographic Research (Help please!)

[stretch3172]

Preliminary Background:
What is your age?  55
 
What is your current academic status (student, former student, alumnus, etc.)?  Graduated 30 years go.  BA history/philosophy  JD
 
 
Why are (were) you in college?  

Because that was what the children of college educated people did.  I liked it and enjoyed being a lawyer afterwords.
 
What are your future plans/goals?  

These days I paint.  I plan to go on doing that.
 
Briefly describe your family background. 

My parents were middle class college educated protestants with working class immigrant parents.  My childhood  was steeped in religion.

 
Social Structures
Describe your current relationship with your family.

I am close to my husband and kids, also my mother.  My father is dead.
 
Describe your social life. 

Home bound mostly. But with a very close girl friend.
 
Are close relationships with friends/family important? Why or why not?

Of course.
 
Which is more important: the personal life or the professional life?

Yes
 
Ontological
 
What is the source of power and success?  

Who's power and success? And at what? Generslly, intellegence, physique, education, inherited wealth, country, country of origin,  health, talent,  and luck all play a part.
 
What is the origin of the universe? 

The last best guess is the Big Bang. 
 
What is the origin and destiny of humanity? 

Home sapiens evolved from other hominids.  Destiny is not a word I use.  I can't predict the future.  If past history is any indicator, we will go extinct sometime before sun goes nova, but probably long before that.


 
Is there any form of spiritual dimension of reality? If so, briefly describe it. 

I very much doubt it.
 
Do incorporeal beings exist? 

What exactly would an incorporial being be? Seems more than unlikely.
 
How do you define ‘God’? 

I don't.   Most religions don't either.  "I am who I am is hardly a definition."

 
How do you define ‘truth’?

Abstract or emperical?  One need only be consistent with itself, the other must be consistent with the actual world.
 
Epistemological
How do you know what is true?

Observation and experience.  I act as though I know more than I do.  Everyone does, or we'd never get from point a to point b for all the time wasted testing the bridges.
 
Is there an objective standard by virtue of which one can distinguish truth and falsity, and if so, why is it a reliable standard?

Only if the proposed truth is falsifiable.  
 
Assuming no objective truth exists, how can you correctly form and evaluate truth claims? 

Mostly I rely on past experience and  others, see note above about bridges,  If it's important I research. 
 
Axiology
Are morals and ethics subjective or objective? 

Wrong question.  Morals and ethics are valuable human constructs.  They make society work.  But they differ  across the spectrum of humankind and from individual to individual.  
 
How do you know right from wrong?

I consult social norms and my own sense of what is best.
 
Can science explain the origin of moral values and concerns? How so?


Evolution.  Also societal history.
 
How would you describe a “good person”? A “bad person”?

A good person treats others as people and not as things and attempts to better rather than worsen the lives of others. Bad is the reverse.
 
What would an “ideal society” look like?

Everyone would have equal opportunity, and would regardless of health talent or wealth live a happy and productive life with many opportunities to express themselves.
 
Do people act purely out of self-interest?

Not nearly as often as you might think.  
 
What is the most important moral attribute (i.e. love, justice, equality, selflessness, etc.)? How do you define it?

Wrong question.  All of those are important.  Love more so in interpersonal relationship, justice and equality (You can't have real justice without equality) in government. Selflessness is not necessarily always moral.  It's most useful in times of great crisis.  You forgot responsibility for others, and leaving others alone.
 
What is mankind’s single biggest problem?

Tribalism.  That is my kind against yours right or wrong.  
 
Is there a solution to this problem, and if so, what is it?

Not that I'm aware of.

Thank you for your time and help!

[shadow]

I wouldn't normally answer this kind of thing, but you're just  sarcastic enough I'll do you the favor


Preliminary Background:
What is your age?
19

What is your current academic status (student, former student, alumnus, etc.)?
Student

(If applicable) How far along in your studies are you?
3rd year uni

What is (was) your major?
Business & Environment

Why are (were) you in college?
Love of learning, wanting to understand other people's views, having the ability to effect change, obviously to support myself financially later in life as well.

What are your future plans/goals?
To make business less evil and more environmentally sustainable
 
Briefly describe your family background.
Raised an atheist with parents of European descent.

Social Structures
Describe your current relationship with your family.
Great.
 
Describe your social life.
Just right.


Are close relationships with friends/family important? Why or why not?
Very. My family means a lot to me.
 
Which is more important: the personal life or the professional life?
I tend to see them as more unified.
 
Ontological
 
What is the source of power and success?
Intelligence and knowledge - an understanding of the world's systems and how they can be manipulated.
 
What is the origin of the universe?
I'm not a physicist, so I'm not the authority on this. I would defer to the prevalent scientific explanation of the big bang.

What is the origin and destiny of humanity?
Origin = We evolved.
Destiny = Whatever we make it. There's no one looking out for us, so we have to own our world and care for it.
 
Is there any form of spiritual dimension of reality? If so, briefly describe it.
None that I've encountered.
 
Do incorporeal beings exist?
No.
 
How do you define ‘God’?
A father figure humans invented so we didn't feel so alone in the universe, and so we could pretend there is someone looking out for us.

How do you define ‘truth’?
What actually happened or is happening.
 
Epistemological
How do you know what is true?
Whatever my senses and reason suggest as the most likely outcome.
 
Is there an objective standard by virtue of which one can distinguish truth and falsity, and if so, why is it a reliable standard?
Reason! You can't be 100% sure, but reason is the best and only way to distinguish between truth and falsity.
 
Assuming no objective truth exists, how can you correctly form and evaluate truth claims?
Same as the above.


Axiology
Are morals and ethics subjective or objective?
Subjective.

How do you know right from wrong?
Unlike religious people, I don't refer to a single book or outsource this thought to someone else's interpretation, and I don't think this is a one line response.

Can science explain the origin of moral values and concerns? How so?
Yes, as morality is something that leads to better functioning of a group, so it is evolutionary advantageous.
 
How would you describe a “good person”? A “bad person”?
I don't call people good and bad. That's not productive. I look at what led them to make the decisions they have, and what decisions they may make in the future, and how that can be impacted.
 
What would an “ideal society” look like?
People thinking critically instead of following the beliefs of others.
 
Do people act purely out of self-interest?
Some do. I used to think everyone does, but some people simply don't.
 
What is the most important moral attribute (i.e. love, justice, equality, selflessness, etc.)? How do you define it?
Thoughtfulness.

What is mankind’s single biggest problem?
Ignorance and irrationality.
 
Is there a solution to this problem, and if so, what is it?
Critical thinking and education.


There you go! You do owe us some debates now, though

[possibletarian]

I love the....
'How do you define god' ? question.

How do YOU define god ?

[Whateverist]

I love the....
'How do you define god' ?   question.

How do YOU define god ?

I think they really, really want to know (beyond the "I am what I am" answer).  But unless they suspect they've been taken I can't see why they'd want to ask an atheist that question.

But stretch, if you'd like to give us your definition that is something I'd really like to know too.  If possible, consider how you'd define a light bulb, or romantic love or the internal combustion machine and be as specific as possible.

[stretch3172]

I love the....
'How do you define god' ?   question.

How do YOU define god ?

I think they really, really want to know (beyond the "I am what I am" answer).  But unless they suspect they've been taken I can't see why they'd want to ask an atheist that question.

But stretch, if you'd like to give us your definition that is something I'd really like to know too.  If possible, consider how you'd define a light bulb, or romantic love or the internal combustion machine and be as specific as possible.

This is admittedly a tough one to answer, since most definitions of this kind are found inadequate when examined closely enough. That said, here's my take:

God is the eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being who existed prior to the cosmos, brought the cosmos into existence, and rules as its undisputed Ruler (cf. Col 1:17). He possesses a will, intellect, and emotions; He transcends all natural conceptions of physical reality yet is also immanent within physical reality. His essence and nature preclude the possibility of understanding Him fully, but He reveals many of His attributes by means of the created universe and His Word.

[Whateverist]

I think they really, really want to know (beyond the "I am what I am" answer).  But unless they suspect they've been taken I can't see why they'd want to ask an atheist that question.

But stretch, if you'd like to give us your definition that is something I'd really like to know too.  If possible, consider how you'd define a light bulb, or romantic love or the internal combustion machine and be as specific as possible.

This is admittedly a tough one to answer, since most definitions of this kind are found inadequate when examined closely enough. That said, here's my take:

God is the eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being who existed prior to the cosmos, brought the cosmos into existence, and rules as its undisputed Ruler (cf. Col 1:17). He possesses a will, intellect, and emotions; He transcends all natural conceptions of physical reality yet is also immanent within physical reality. His essence and nature preclude the possibility of understanding Him fully, but He reveals many of His attributes by means of the created universe and His Word.

Thank you and wow!  That sounds like the most omni, mega, maximus being one could imagine.  

But, honestly, it does still sound like a blank check sort of description - the biggest, mostest .. whatever that might turn out to be. Oh, and just in case you're still taking village elder input I thought I'd fill one out too as soon as I get an odd minute available.

[downbeatplumb]

I think they really, really want to know (beyond the "I am what I am" answer).  But unless they suspect they've been taken I can't see why they'd want to ask an atheist that question.

But stretch, if you'd like to give us your definition that is something I'd really like to know too.  If possible, consider how you'd define a light bulb, or romantic love or the internal combustion machine and be as specific as possible.

This is admittedly a tough one to answer, since most definitions of this kind are found inadequate when examined closely enough. That said, here's my take:

God is the eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being who existed prior to the cosmos, brought the cosmos into existence, and rules as its undisputed Ruler (cf. Col 1:17). He possesses a will, intellect, and emotions; He transcends all natural conceptions of physical reality yet is also immanent within physical reality. His essence and nature preclude the possibility of understanding Him fully, but He reveals many of His attributes by means of the created universe and His Word.

If god existed somewhere before the cosmos, where was it?
if god is eternal what was it doing until 13.7 billion years ago when it "made" the universe?
What was god made of?
Where did god get the stuff to make the cosmos?
What procedure did god use to get create this stuff?
How does god set the rules?
Can the rules be broken if they are just rules?
Could they have been different rules?
How exactly is this revealing of attributes thing working coz I don't see it?

If you posit a god it just begs many many questions, only some of which I list here.

[Jenny A]

This is admittedly a tough one to answer, since most definitions of this kind are found inadequate when examined closely enough. That said, here's my take:

God is the eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being who existed prior to the cosmos, brought the cosmos into existence, and rules as its undisputed Ruler (cf. Col 1:17). He possesses a will, intellect, and emotions; He transcends all natural conceptions of physical reality yet is also immanent within physical reality. His essence and nature preclude the possibility of understanding Him fully, but He reveals many of His attributes by means of the created universe and His Word.

Thank you and wow!  That sounds like the most omni, mega, maximus being one could imagine.  

But, honestly, it does still sound like a blank check sort of description - the biggest, mostest .. whatever that might turn out to be. Oh, and just in case you're still taking village elder input I thought I'd fill one out too as soon as I get an odd minute available.

Shhhhsh! Don't say that. Someone will mention Anselm and we'll be explaining why you can't define something into existence for days.

[LastPoet]

This is admittedly a tough one to answer, since most definitions of this kind are found inadequate when examined closely enough. That said, here's my take:

God is the eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being who existed prior to the cosmos, brought the cosmos into existence, and rules as its undisputed Ruler (cf. Col 1:17). He possesses a will, intellect, and emotions; He transcends all natural conceptions of physical reality yet is also immanent within physical reality. His essence and nature preclude the possibility of understanding Him fully, but He reveals many of His attributes by means of the created universe and His Word.

God doesn't have a wife? That explains a lot.

And as I read that, felt like someone groped philosophy by the pussy.

[brewer]

This is admittedly a tough one to answer, since most definitions of this kind are found inadequate when examined closely enough. That said, here's my take:

God is the eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being who existed prior to the cosmos, brought the cosmos into existence, and rules as its undisputed Ruler (cf. Col 1:17). He possesses a will, intellect, and emotions; He transcends all natural conceptions of physical reality yet is also immanent within physical reality. His essence and nature preclude the possibility of understanding Him fully, but He reveals many of His attributes by means of the created universe and His Word.

Did god know you were going to type this, before you typed it?