Judi S.

@TheEncogitationer – Yes, Putin has taken a few sheets out of Stalin’s “How to be a Dictator” handbook. Stalin noticed that the Czars acted as “gods” and were treat as such for centuries so the people were already accustomed to leader worship. He has already restored the role of the Orthodox church in Russia and promoted the other Pope with…[Read more]

Have a great week everyone!

@Jakelafort – I think Kay Tee Gal would get my $2. Second fav with no history? But I usually don’t back maiden claimers (Is that what the mother of the little baby Jesus pretended to be?) useless I get info from my professional gambler friend as he was born in a stable and knows all the trainers too.

However, if “You-da-man” wins we might suffer…[Read more]

@fullermingjr – Good to hear from you again. A Happy New Year to you and yours too.

Secularism is a very misunderstood term. Many religious groups wrongly equate it with atheism. In the USA the First amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

The gover…[Read more]

I am definitely not a member of any club that requires group participation as a norm unless there is a very clear end goal. I am very happy to do my own thing most of the time and am never bored or lonely when on my own.

One New Year’s Eve when I was living in London in “Squat Land” I was invited to go to a small club with some Goths who lived…[Read more]

@Jakelafort – I f’ing love the idea of abandoning the traditional education in favor of creating thinkers or attempting to do so. I am not sure the objective is achievable.

I am optimistic on this. I really do think that in a couple of generations it will be the case. Most of the younger people I have engaged with in discussing religion have no r…[Read more]

Good article Simon.

Pleasure in the sense Aristotle used it does not mean hedonistic pleasure where satisfaction is garnered solely from the pursuit of self-interests. Such pleasure is rewarded by dopamine which ultimately leads to dissatisfaction because of increasing costs to get a lesser sense of reward. It is pleasure derived from our basic…[Read more]

To follow up on Eudaimonism;

Firstly I would wholeheartedly accept the derivation that Autumn presented. Simon – It is one of the original ideas about human flourishing that you often mention so I assumed you would be familiar with it.

Eudaimonia (u-da-moan-e-a) is a Greek word or better still, a concept in Greek moral thought mostly associated…[Read more]

Simon Paynton wrote:

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:
I suppose if it stops your “ordinary people” from committing crimes because they have no developed sense of morality, then it is better than nothing.

I think the full range of moral repertoire is there for religious people to use, depending on their personality. Some people favour punishment and…

[Read more]

@Simon – Nietszche’s “will to power” is quite a stinker in my opinion.

I am not sure why you would think that but would you say that his ideas on eudaimonism – in that a moral action has its value measured by its capacity to produce happiness,  was a stinker?

@Simon – Actually, in theory, the religious moral system works well in its own way. It promotes good behavior and punishes bad behavior. 

I asked if we could leave religion aside but as you have said the above, I am forced to comment (as there is something wrong on the Internet!!)

At its foundation is the presupposition that god(s) exist.…[Read more]

@Simon – My point is that there is no “comprehensive moral system”, supplied by Western moral philosophy, that is sound enough for ordinary people to use to live by.

Which moral system is the worst in your opinion? Can we assume that Divine Command Theory (or Divine Comedy Theory as I have sometimes called it), is not worth the discussion time here.