Introduction to Naturalism

[Ajita Kamal]

Hello everyone.

A few days ago I posted a simple introduction to Naturalism on the Nirmukta.com website. This is an accompanying video that I put together. Naturalism is a comprehensive philosophy that has many levels to it, but this is an easy start to what constitutes the philosophical basis of science, skepticism and atheistic thinking.



In this forum we will discuss Naturalism, and study how Naturalism could inform our personal and social lives.

[jackypunker]

Naturalism is also the understanding that we are part of the chain of causation that stretches all the way back to the beginning of the universe. Everything about us -- our actions, physical characteristics, emotions and feelings -- is the result of previous causes. We are, as Center for Naturalism director Tom Clark puts it, "fully-caused beings."

[Ajita Kamal]

(18-Jun-2010, 04:53 PM)jackypunker Wrote: Naturalism is also the understanding that we are part of the chain of causation that stretches all the way back to the beginning of the universe. Everything about us -- our actions, physical characteristics, emotions and feelings -- is the result of previous causes. We are, as Center for Naturalism director Tom Clark puts it, "fully-caused beings."

Yes, Tom Clark is featured in the video above, and I work with the Center for Naturalism.

Check these out:

http://nirmukta.com/2010/03/14/are-you-a...-universe/

http://nirmukta.com/2009/08/06/naturalis...political/

And here's Tom writing for Nirmukta:
http://nirmukta.com/2008/09/23/worldview-naturalism/

See also:

http://www.facebook.com/NaturalismPage
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2218407727&ref=ts
http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/naturalism

[Shantanu]

Does the advocacy of Naturalism philosophy mean that we should give in to our animalistic instincts which should be the fundamental guide to our outlook and considerations about the welfare of human beings and the planet?

[unsorted]

No it doesn't... take a look at the Appeal to Nature fallacy, is-ought problem etc.

Human intelligence has evolved to a point where we can (and sometimes do -- and always should) rise above biological imperatives.

[Ajita Kamal]

(19-Sep-2010, 01:44 AM)Shantanu Wrote: Does the advocacy of Naturalism philosophy mean that we should give in to our animalistic instincts which should be the fundamental guide to our outlook and considerations about the welfare of human beings and the planet?

What exactly do you think Naturalism means?

[Ajita Kamal]

Shantanu has repeatedly shown his inability for reasonable conversation, dogmatically refusing to understand what exactly it was that he was critiquing. He kept assuming he knew what Naturalism implied, and repeatedly flamed this thread with arguments against his own straw-man interpretation of Naturalism. He has been banned permanently in keeping with our zero tolerance policy for trolls.

Naturalism and science need reason-minded advocates to help carry forward the banner of reason, and those who are intent on misunderstanding and mis-characterizing what we stand for are unwelcome here.

[Sajit]

(22-Sep-2010, 07:59 AM)Ajita Kamal Wrote: Shantanu has repeatedly shown his inability for reasonable conversation, dogmatically refusing to understand what exactly it was that he was critiquing. He kept assuming he knew what Naturalism implied, and repeatedly flamed this thread with arguments against his own straw-man interpretation of Naturalism. He has been banned permanently in keeping with our zero tolerance policy for trolls.

Naturalism and science need reason-minded advocates to help carry forward the banner of reason, and those who are intent on misunderstanding and mis-characterizing what we stand for are unwelcome here.