Stem cell research - if the fertilzed eggs are to be tossed out anyway, what harm could it do ? Cloning - until we get mammals correct, doing humans violates RFE. We cannot experiment with human life, since violating human life directly for others is not in the self interest of the created life. Economics - A GIANT subject here that gets far far too little attention in american schools. Next to philosophy, its the next most important subject. In summary, Capitalism is the greatest single discovery/invention of modern man. The free trade of goods and services has kept radically opposing countries sel f interest in alignment. What on earth do we have in common with China ? NOTHING ! But with trade we start dialogue, we see eachother in better light. With a free global economy no one profits from destruction or war. International Civics - Many nations are not where the west is in the kind treatment of their people, their women, etc. Human rights are not practiced consistently. My hope is as western influence continues to spread we can have the rest of the world treat their people better. Our role here can be mostly executed through trade. posted by joefec 12:21 PM . . .
It will be more difficult to say that philosophy is inherently a good thing. Its important to see how history has treated certain philosophies, for that is our only true experience. As to those who point to history itself as being subjective, I give my apologies. I realize that, especially prior to the 20th century, events were not always recorded accurately. But we are able to pull together various resources and get a sense at objective history. We must aschew relativism wherever it appears. ----- One overriding questoin is the legality of things, and the philosophic question of where and when governments should get involved, both state and federal. My feeling is that states are too under powered. Many of the difficult issues that face us could be soothed if we simply stop forcing states by virtue of federal funding withdrawal, to do federal bidding. Our philosophy must be hardend to experience. We must realize, even though prostitution is clearly prohibted by major religions, that it still exists. Our 'sin nature' cannot be defeated. According to our bible even thoughts are equivalent to taking action. So we throw up the white flag. We resist tempations that we know from both reason ( prostitution may carry germs, its taking advantage of the underclass, etc) and the religious ( God says to be pure, etc. ) and form a direction. It may in some cases make total sense to visit prostitutes. But basic instinct drives this desire, and if a man is unable to find sexual release in any other way, prostitution can create value. Legality ? I would say its a waste of resources to fight this one. Drugs. There is nothing specific in the Bible forbidding drugs other than alcohol because they didn't know of it, obviously. It does speak against drukenness. Clearly mind altering drugs are anti reason anti faith and anti science. Weather or not it should be legal is another issue. Requires greater study. Adultery -- there are plenty of reasons against cheating on a spouse. Back in the OT, women were property.....its essentially stealing. Now adays I think divorce is the way. There is analysis here to be done, but clearly for family and social framework, marriage is beneficial. Both reason and faith and science are against this one. A destructive temptation. Murder -- easy one. Wrong unless in self defense ( war) . Art Music Beauty -- great stuff Family -- both (F)aith, (R)eason, (E)xperience give us direction of the importance, but not sacrifical devotion, to family. posted by joefec 11:49 AM . . .
So we could structure this in the experience method: Science: physics -- all things are not certain chemistry -- some behviors are chemically influenced. biology -- evolution genetics -- genetic engineering , the carte blanche over life mathematics -- some things can be proven objectively;somethings are probablitieis. Astronomy -- the unverise is big, bad , and old, and there's probably more life out there. Philosophy Praxeology Human Behviour -- prostitiution will never go away.....etc. posted by joefec 10:32 AM . . .
So we agree that life is the primary, overriding, ultimate value. Human Life. I would also like to suggest that we do not need to assume that God exists. That would be asking too much. All we need in the process of forming our philosophy is to provide for the possiblity of God existing. Before I go any further I must confess I am much further along that just having God as a possilbity. I've been a christian for 14 years at least, sometimes I think even longer. My understanding of God, or lack therof, is what has led me to write this booklet. Its important to me to have a consistent philosofphy and belive system. So, how does the possibility that the scriptures are a glimpse into the nature of God, since we have to assume that He'd want to contact us to assert his presense without ovewhelming us. CSL states God is only allowed to woo, nothing more. Rational faith isn't going to make us all agree. The whole world isn't going to instantly change their belef....we are not all going to be come abortion rights or prolife. W What my hope is that I can 1) explain to my kids and family what it is I actually believe, 2) have my book prevent people from becoming too extreme and exclusive in their thought processes. This book I hope will stop someone from thinking that the earth is actually 10000 years old, or conversely, believe that all of the life and grandure of the universe arose by pure accident. This book is to encourage and push rational, good natured people into the light of faith and science, to accept their role in our everyday ethics. There is no more important subject than philosophy. Its time that people start thinking about Life. The ultimate short version of Rational Philosophy is the conceptual meme. The conceptual clay brick. The conceptual probablity. Ideas are REAL. Truth is truth throughout all of reality, with or without humans around. Ayn Rand laid some nice ground work for this. She first states that we cannont form our philosophy in a life boat. There are very many thought experiments that will violate everyday concepts. we mustn't construct our philosphy a priori. The combination of influences between philosphy, religion and experience give is a peeek into what is real. What exists. The fact that killing innoncent people is wrong. That human life is more valuable than any other creature. The fact that we are special and different from the animals. The fact that there is enormous beauty and scope to our reality that we are sure never to see it all in our lifetimes. I hold that when Christiaan tradition and Experience point in the same direction, then you must say that you have the makings conceptual figure. A conceptual sculpture is a life its real world equivalent. We start our sculpture slowly, carving away pieces, and we see what it is to become long after. Even the laws of physics break down at the very beginning of our universe...the singularity. The lifeboat is an ethical singularity Forming a philosophy is similar to sculpture...with one difference. I feel in scultping concepts, we sometimes put on too much.....as if we are buliding the stone back up, just to cut it away again in a different form. Clearly this is how our education system throws us into philosophy. Its rare that one even gets a class in it at our higer institutions. Is it no wonder that we have little political consistency ? There is right and wrong, and our job as objectivist christians is politiely and with great love disagree with those who are wrong. The days of moral relativism are over. They ended the day those horrible jets destroyed the trade center. " america's suppor tofr human rights and democrac i sour nobest export to the world. The united states is an honorable country. ( william j bennet.) There is a duty for us to proclaim what is evil and what is good. Many of us will no longer accept the post modern relativsm any longer. Truth is not relative. There are cross-cultural values. ( see the Kung book if you need to). If the old testament stories are historical, God used to enter human events through overt action.....fire pilars, parting the seas, etc. God has given our generation something much more powerful....written history. Civilzation now has the abiity to scan back in time and correct our actions from historical mistakes and misestimations. We see what hitler was, and we wonder if Saddam could be one. We know appeasment of these evil groups will not work, since WWI and II proved that aggressors set the rules. Any action taken that does not seriously comprimise a persons self interest or anothers, and may help others, is a good act. humans survive on reason alone. As we discover concepts , we find out more about God. This whole thing, all of life, is an education into the nature and grandure of Life and God. Christianity, indeed perhaps all three big religions have evolved enough to be talk about in the realm of valid debate and discussion. On e could say that Christianith is the most robust and completely thought out religion in the history of mankind. abortion: clearly destroying one life in the self interestes of another is murder. posted by joefec 12:05 AM . . .
