42 Sets of Propositions Version
1.7 March 2012
This section presents
the key statements or propositions that make up these global beliefs.
None of these conclusions are dogmatic statements, to be believed “on faith”
alone.
These are all conclusions based on reason and the available evidence.
As more evidence
becomes available, and as we gain more insight and understand the reasoning
better, then these conclusions may change.
Perhaps each of the
42 can be summarised in a short sentence – up to about 80 characters – shorter
than a tweet! A first attempt is presented
below, called here the “Platinum” level.
A more detailed description of the 42 is presented in a few lines each, called
here the “Gold” level – not sure it’s worth more or less, it just has more
detail. There is no need to get hung up
on the colours or the names for the level of detail – they’re just labels.
There is also nothing
magical in having 42 sets of these conclusions, except for the cosmic joke
about “life, the universe and everything” (from Douglas Adam’s “Hitchhiker’s
Guide to the Galaxy” see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy
)
·
We can summarise our beliefs to as short as
we like, and perhaps ultimately end up with a single word – perhaps something
like “om” (or “aum”). This comes from Hinduism,
the world’s first major religion, and is the symbol of the beginning, duration,
and dissolution of the universe and everything associated with it.
·
On the
other hand we could expand the presentation to include thousands of useful statements,
that take too long to absorb and don’t help much with the big picture.
It’s a question of
balance: a judgement regarding how to be as brief as possible while still
including the most significant points. A
few dozen conclusions seems adequate to achieve that goal without being too much
to take in at one time. Restricting the
number to 42 imposes a rather arbitrary discipline on the process, requiring
decisions to be made on what really is important.
Guiding principles
have been:
·
What are
the most significant conclusions that distinguish these global beliefs as a
whole from other religions, world views and philosophies?
·
What do we
really want our children – and our leaders - to know and understand?
·
What fundamental
things can most of us agree to so that we can cooperate more fully?
Another more prosaic
summary can be found here.
The evidence and
reasoning for each conclusion is explained in more detail in the linked
sections.
This set of conclusions
is still being refined. They will be
modified as the detailed supporting analysis is done. The current set is presented “as is” for
discussion and comment. That’s why we
have version numbers and publication dates.
These sets of propositions can be partitioned into 7 fundamental domains, and an overall conclusion:
1. Philosophy (1-6): The existence (or not) of truth, the nature of reality, the existence of god, the existence or nature of free will, and the sources of goodness and beauty;
2. Science (7-13): The scientific method, the origins of the universe, of our world, of life, of suffering and the struggle to survive, of humans and of our conscious minds;
3. History (14-20): Historical methods, different rates of development, great ancient inventions, state institutions, colonial empires, human rights and economic development;
4. Religion (21-26): Religious methods and practices, the structure of religious narratives, and the key learnings from “primitive”, eastern, western and “modern” religions;
5. Culture (27-29): Artistic methods, media ethics and balance, and artistic authenticity;
6. Practice (30-35): The process of adopting values and ethics, personal integration, relationships with sexual partners, families, and at work, and personal ‘spirituality’;
7. Politics (36-41): The political process, business and economics, democracy, area based government, preserving our environment and global organisations.
Conclusion (42): A reality based, rational, natural, reasonable way for this life.
Each of these 7 domains begins with a statement on how we seek to approach the truth in:
philosophy (1), science (7), history (14), religion (21),
art and culture (27), personal practice (30) and politics (36).
How we arrive at our beliefs is primary, more important than the conclusions we arrive at.
Each of Parts 1-7 ends with sets of proposition related to our ongoing quest as human beings, for:
goodness and beauty (5 & 6), conscious awareness – our natural state of being (13),
hopes for a prosperous future (20), evidence based quests for meaning and purpose 26),
a celebration of interaction (29), personal engagement (35) and global responsibility (41).
|
● Are you able to provide critical feedback on these propositions? ● Is the breakdown into 7 fundamental domains reasonable? ● Is the topic breakdown within each of these domains reasonable? |
1. Philosophy
Philosophy clarifies that we choose, and hence we value truth, uncertainty, diversity, respect, language, mystery, natural reality, struggle, this life, compassion, duty, enlightened awareness, responsibility, justice, mercy, beauty.
1.1 Existence of Truth: Epistemology Statement 1
Although the laws of nature affect us, we believe in the Truth, with some uncertainty.
We all face a dilemma that our beliefs arise due to causality or out of chaos, so they are not necessarily true, yet we do choose to seek the truth, and in so doing we must accept uncertainty that our choice is a leap of faith, and hence we must allow for diversity and respect others, but we must reason about faith and have faith in reason.
(see 1.1 Existence of Truth: Epistemology)
1.2 Existence Itself: Metaphysics Statement 2
Reality is real; we categorise it, using language, but some experiences are wordless.
Even if the universe is all one, either unchanging behind the appearances, or always changing (impermanent), we classify it into events continuing through time and space, we assume links between the events, and use language to think and talk about what we perceive, but sometimes we still experience the mystery directly, wordlessly.
(see 1.2 Existence Itself: Metaphysics)
1.3 Existence of God: Theology Statement 3
There is no transcendental creator god, no immanent god, no god who cares for us.
There is no credible reason or evidence to believe in any transcendent god(s) or the supernatural, or any “force” (or whatever) that is immanent in the universe that is the source of goodness; and even if there were, that still doesn’t provide an ultimate meaning or purpose for existence itself, so we must accept natural reality.
(see 1.3 Existence of God: Theology)
1.4 Existence of Minds: Free Will Statement 4
Our minds and our consciousness are our brains working, so when we die, we rot.
Mental events are physical events, our minds and our consciousness are our brains working, physical processes subject to the natural laws of the universe, causal or chaotic: there are other minds like us, but no spirits, no soul, no reincarnation, no ‘transcendental’ free will, yet we struggle on and value this life.
(see 1.4 Existence of Minds: Free Will)
1.5 Existence
of Goodness: Ethics Statement
5
To
be good is a choice that comes from within, and can’t come from god or science.
Goodness
must come from within, when we choose, despite the dilemmas, to follow our
natural compassion, sense of duty, or enlightened awareness
of self interest; we must accept personal responsibility in ourselves
and others, and join with society to establish a system of justice
tempered by mercy, based on the practical outcomes.
(see 1.5 Existence
of Goodness: Ethics)
1.6 Existence of Beauty: Aesthetics Statement 6
Beauty arises from our shared innate desire for self expression and to communicate.
Beauty , art, music, literature and culture in general, arises from our shared human nature, our sense of wonder at the universe, our innate desires for self expression and to communicate with others, shaped by our environment, our geography, families and histories; and we can debate endlessly about what is good or bad art.
(see 1.6 Existence of Beauty: Aesthetics)
2. Science
Science tells us a good story about why things are as they are, how the universe and life evolved, how altruism and social rules arose. It doesn’t give us values, but depends on values such as truth, uncertainty, diversity and respect. It helps us to act skillfully, to choose wisely. Though scientific knowledge is continually being refined, the story we have now will only be replaced by an even better story.
2.1 Scientific Method Statement 7
The scientific method uses reason and evidence to explain how nature works.
Science investigates nature to develop shared explanations and models of how things work, by reasoning about the evidence and openly debating the process, results and conclusions, but science doesn’t give us core values, what we should do; rather it helps us to know what actions are skilful and practical to achieve our aims.
(see 2.1 Scientific Method)
2.2 How the Universe Began: Physics and
Cosmology Statement
8
Science can explain the evolution of matter, energy and the stars, after the big bang.
No-philosophy, science or religion can explain the mystery of existence itself, but science explains how the universe evolved after the big bang, how the fundamental forces like gravity and electromagnetism evolved, matter emerged from the primal energy, how the elements formed, how galaxies arose and stars began to shine.
(see 2.2 How the Universe Began: Physics and Cosmology)
2.3 How The World Began: Astronomy and Geology Statement 9
Science explains how the solar system, the sun, moon and earth evolved.
Science explains how our Sun and its planets – including Earth – and the Moon developed from clouds of gas and dust left over after other stars exploded, and how we have night and day, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, mountains, the air, winds, rain, rivers, oceans, continents, tides, seasons, weather and different climates.
(see 2.3 How The World Began: Astronomy and Geology)
2.4 How Life Began: Chemistry and Biochemistry Statement 10
Science is working out how life began, from simple molecules to complex living cells.
Science is working out how life began, how simple chemical processes formed localised cycles, how copies of these formed, how other molecules surrounded these processes to form living cells, how these became more complex, with photosynthesis (which made atmospheric oxygen), respiration and sexual reproduction.
(see 2.4 How Life Began: Chemistry and Biochemistry)
2.5 How Life Diversified: Biology Statement 11
Life diversified, into predators and prey, pleasure
and suffering, males and females.
Science explains how life diversified, from single cells
to multicellular plants and animals, how species evolved into predators and
prey and some acquired nervous systems, leading to pleasure and suffering, and
some species evolved into males and females, acquiring sexual drives and
cooperation on top of basic survival instincts.
(see 2.5 How Life Diversified: Biology)
2.6 How People Began: Primatology and Palaeontology Statement 12
Some
apes in East Africa evolved into early humans who spread out over
Apes in East Africa evolved into a variety of early humans, walking upright, and, compared to the apes, with little hair, opposable thumbs, big penises, big breasts and big brains, who used tools for hunting and gathering, and who spread over Eurasia, but the other early humans were eventually replaced by homo sapiens sapiens – us.
(see 2.6 How People Began: Primatology and Palaeontology)
2.7 How Minds Began: Neuroscience Statement 13
Science is developing explanations of how our brains evolved into what we are now.
Science is developing explanations of how humans evolved into emotional, thinking, conscious, tool making, singing, talking hunter gatherers, with moral and spiritual feelings, an innate calculus of right and wrong, and how xenophobia, racism, sexuality and sexism evolved, and how we can learn to control our ‘primitive’ nature.
(see 2.7 How Minds Began:
Neuroscience)
3. History
History shows that different rates of development was based on geographical differences, and provide no evidence of innate differences, good or bad, between “races”, nations, or ethnic groups. It shows we are more prosperous if we value stability, security, property, openness, accountability, merit, the rule of law, freedom, equality and human rights. Many just call this “democracy”. But even democratic societies are at risk of collapse if they do not realistically address environmental challenges and social change.
3.1 Historical Method Statement 14
History uses reason and the evidence to describe our past and identify future trends.
History aims to describe humanity’s past and identify trends into the future by reasoning about the evidence, like science, and openly debating the process, results and conclusions, but there is a lot of bogus or oversimplified history designed to promote one nation or group over another so we must be careful about it.
(see 3.1 Historical
Method)
3.2 How Humans
Occupied the World: Prehistory Statement
15
Homo sapiens spread across the world, starting farming earlier where it was easier.
History describes how homo sapiens spread across the
world, into
(see 3.2 How Humans Occupied the World: Prehistory)
3.3 How Civilization Began and Spread: Archaeology Statement 16
History describes how technology and early civilisations developed in different areas.
History describes how farmers began to produce surplus which allowed societies to support rulers, priests, tradespeople and merchants, and how early civilisations adopted different solutions to local problems, developing technology, trade, counting, arithmetic, taxation, money, writing, religion, legal systems and philosophy.
(see 3.3 How Civilization Began and Spread: Archaeology)
3.4 How Forms of Governments Evolved Statement 17
Civilisations rose and fell depending on their environment and rulers’ effectiveness.
History describes how ancient and mediaeval empires developed government differently regarding centralized control, meritocracy or nepotism, accountability and the rule of law, but many collapsed because they failed to address social or environmental challenges due to selfish or narrow minded short sightedness.
(see How Knowledge Was Transmitted)
3.5 How
the Colonial World Developed Statement
18
History explains how
(see 3.5 How the Colonial World Developed)
3.6 Human Rights in the Post
Colonial World Statement 19
Colonialism has collapsed, human rights and democratic government are spreading.
History explains how communications sped up, science and technology advanced, human rights abuses were being exposed, racist and sexist explanations of social differences were disputed, slavery was abolished, colonialism collapsed, progress towards women’s equality began and more democratic government evolved.
(see 3.6 Human Rights in the Post Colonial World)
3.7 The Current World and Future Trends Statement 20
Increased prosperity and material growth is now threatening our environment.
History explains how capitalism triumphed over communism, we now have excessive consumption, governments are struggling to control the increasingly complex financial system, and population growth and increasing pollution per head threatens our environment, and so our global society is at risk of collapse.
(see 3.7 The Current World and Future Trends)
4. Religion
Religion shows how different people addressed our ultimate human concerns, how they interpreted reality to find meaning and purpose, devising different explanations, using different language, but extolling similar core values of truth, compassion and reverence, showing us the value of commitment to our cause, integrity in all our actions and hope. They demonstrate the value of having a “universal narrative” that structures our understanding of the world and provides a meaningful context for our lives.
4.1 Religious Methods and Practices Statement 21
Religion attempts to understand our ultimate concern about our place in the world.
Religion addresses our ultimate concerns about who and what we are, where we came from, why there is suffering, and how we are to live, and, like science and history, religion and religious dialogue must be based on a humble pursuit of the truth but is often more of a practice than a set of dogmatic beliefs.
(see 4.1 Religious Methods and Practices)
4.2 The Structure of Religion Statement 22
All religions have a universal narrative of our origins which tells us where we fit in.
Each religion has its own “universal narrative” describing our origins and providing stories and rules demonstrating or prescribing some values and role models, thus providing a sense of meaning or purpose, but these must be interpreted in a modern context because they include some very bad rules and role models, and bad science.
(see 4.2 The Structure of Religion)
4.3 Pantheism, Polytheism and Primitive Religions Statement 23
Simple beliefs in ancestors and other spirits still exist but they are all inadequate.
Many early religions saw gods everywhere in nature (pantheism) or had many gods (polytheism), and aspects of these continue today (Shamanism, Shinto and Yoruba); we can take from these stories that help us connect with the natural world, and perhaps some values, but must leave aside supernatural aspects and bad science.
(see 4.3 Pantheism, Polytheism and Primitive Religions)
4.4 The Great Eastern Religions Statement 24
Eastern religions provide insights into the mind, but their world view is still wrong.
From the great Eastern religions we take insights into the harmony in nature, the illusion of the self, mindfulness, non-violence, compassion, duty, seeking the truth through personal growth and learning, from teachers rather than saviours (rescuers), and we can leave aside beliefs in spirit ancestors, reincarnation, karma and nirvana.
(see 4.4 The Great Eastern Religions)
4.5 The Great Western Monotheisms Statement 25
Western monotheists retell their good rules and stories and ignore the bad ones.
From the great Western religions we can take ideas of universal rights and social justice, social service and aiding the needy, and some inspiring stories, and we can leave the terrible stories and silly rules, supernatural god(s), heaven and hell, original sin, the baseness of the flesh and the need for redemption.
(see 4.5 The Great Western Monotheisms)
4.6 Modern Approaches to Religion and Atheism Statement 26
Modern religions are fundamentalist, variants of old traditions, or atheist.
In
response to criticism, some Christians and Muslims moved to fundamentalism,
others adopted political, religious-like, ideologies like Communism and
Americanism; modern philosophy moved towards atheism; and some, like the
existentialists, essentially ignored god, or reinvented pantheism, like New
Agers.
(see 4.6 Modern Approaches to Religion and Atheism)
5. Art, Media and Culture
Art – singing, music, dance, painting sculpture, poetry, plays, novels, movies, TV serials, computer games – transmitted through all sorts of media – stone, wood, canvas, books, newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, computers, internet – helps us to define, discover, understand and express reality and our place within it.
5.1 Art and Media Methods Statement
27
All techniques are permissible in art that is authentic and has a relevant connection.
The best art provokes in us a new experience; an emotional response, that leads to insight, and any means to produce it is legitimate art; but the most critical aspect of art is honesty, the intention behind and the outcome of its creation and display, it must be authentic; to have an impact it must be relevant, have a connection to us.
(see 5.1 Art and Media Methods)
5.2 Seeing the World Through the Media Statement 28
Media must tell the truth; we must become better consumers and better regulators.
The media must provide authentic communication – balanced news, current affairs, information and entertainment – that reflects our best knowledge, accepting responsibility for its overall effect; as consumers we must be more informed and discriminating; and the media must be regulated to promote truth and diversity.
(see 5.2 Seeing the World Through the Media)
5.3 Seeing the World Through the Arts Statement 29
Art helps us to find ways to express things and understand our place in the world.
Art in all its traditional and modern forms – music, dance, poetry, theatre, movies, literature, comedy, painting, sculpture and so on – affects how we think about and react to the world, adding to the universal narrative and embellishing our roles in it, and as creators and consumers of art we must seek authenticity and relevance.
(see 5.3 Seeing the World Through the Arts)
6. Personal Practices
In our day to day lives, from moment to moment, we make choices that reflect our values, based on our situation and our experience, and what we understand of philosophy’s hardest problems, science and history and art and literature, and this impacts on the integrity of our personality, our sexual relationships, and family relationships, and our community and spiritual lives.
6.1 Personal Values and Ethical Choices Statement 30
Our choices based on our philosophy, science, art and history reflect our values.
We make choices that affect our lives and reflect our values: choices about philosophical dilemmas reflect core values; using guidelines based on science and history telling us what is effective reflects secondary values; and our experience and understanding of the best of religion, art and culture help us to express these issues.
(see 6.1 Personal Values and Ethical Choices)
6.2 Integrated Personal Lives Statement 31
We are more effective if our ongoing choices are realistic, integrated and consistent.
From moment to moment, we are continually making existential choices based on our situation, experience, knowledge, planning ability and feelings, and we are more effective, happier and fulfilled if we our choices are authentic, integrated and consistent, realistically addressing our physical and mental needs.
(see 6.2 Integrated Personal Lives)
6.3 Personal Relationships Statement 32
Sex drives us, and can be great, but relationships must be honest and consensual.
Sexual relationships can lead to heights of ecstasy and union with the other but also to disappointment and exposing our selfish drives and insecurities, so they must be based on the truth, openness to those affected, respect, responsibility and consent; but otherwise how people share themselves with each other is their concern only.
(see 6.3 Personal Relationships)
6.4 Family Relationships Statement 33
Family relationships must be based on respect, compassion, responsibility and duty.
Family relationships, growing up with parents and siblings, raising children, and supporting elderly parents can be an immense joy and/or a huge trial, but must be based on respect, compassion and responsibility, with the added ties of kinship, shared history and indirect, reciprocal social duties, and we must avoid abuse.
(see 6.4 Family Relationships)
6.5 Community
Relations Statement
34
Community
involvement is unavoidable and more fulfilling when based on respect.
Except for a very few, community involvement is fulfilling (in daily commerce, paid and voluntary work, sporting groups, civil society and community festivals), but must be based on core values such as respect, truth, compassion and responsibility, reflected in politeness, consideration, professional ethics and a sense of duty.
(see 6.5 Community Relations)
6. 6 Spirituality Statement 35
We can have and express ‘spiritual’ experiences without supernatural explanations.
People are naturally more or less inclined to have and to value spiritual experiences, which must be interpreted in the light of what we know now, but can involve a sense of awe and wonder or unity with life and the universe, and they help us overcome our sense of insignificance, powerlessness and fear of death, of ourselves and others.
(see 6. 6 Spirituality)
7. Politics
Non-violent political action is required to promote prosperity in liberal, pluralist democracies, with stable, transparent and accountable area governments, sustaining the local and global environments, and with active, global non-government organisations as counterweights to potentially bad area governments.
7.1 The Political Process Statement 36
Politics works by agreeing on procedures to resolve disputes that recognise equality.
Politics attempts to resolve differences by talking and compromise rather than fighting; our political goals and methods must be based on our personal values, so opposition to all oppression and inappropriate discrimination is fundamental, and science and history help us to work out what is most skilful in achieving our aims.
(see 7.1 The Political Process)
7.2 Business and Economics Statement 37
Mixed, managed economies, with controlled markets, best promote prosperity.
History shows that mixed, managed economies are best: controlled capitalism, market
regulation, Keynesian and monetarist policies to maintain employment and a stable
currency, policies to avoid moral hazard and government and corporate
corruption, government control of natural monopolies and essential services.
(see 7.2 Business and Economics)
7.3 Democracy Statement 38
Governments must be democratic: transparent and accountable to the people.
History shows democratic government promotes human happiness and well being, by supporting freedom of expression in a pluralist society, legal equality, the rule of law, accountability, and exhilarating diversity, and it must be spread to all countries and all attempts to improperly exploit or diminish democracy must be resisted.
(see 7.3 Democracy)
7.4 Area Government Statement 39
Area government must use minimal force to maintain society and the environment.
Area governments are responsible within their borders for roles involving universal compliance and coercion – so they must be democratic and use minimal force – including preserving the environment, public health, law and order, financial stability, contracts, public utilities, communications, natural monopolies and basic rights.
(see 7.4 Area Government)
7.5 The Global Environment Statement 40
A sustainable global environment needs lower birth rates and resource consumption.
The global environment must be protected to prevent a collapse of global society, by reducing the birth rate and hence the global population, reduce the environmental impact per person, most dramatically in the affluent nations, and provide a healthy and prosperous, but sustainable lifestyle for all peoples of the world.
(see 7.5 The Global Environment)
7.6 Global NGOs Statement 41
We need global NGOs to address global problems and distribute global resources.
We need global non-government organizations to address global problems that don’t involve universal compliance and coercion, to counter abuses of monopoly power by area governments and big business with its excessive influence on government and society, and to distribute global resources to the areas of greatest need.
(see 7.6 Global NGOs)
8. A Reasonable Way of Life Statement 42
Looking at these conclusions in a certain way helps us to find the most realistic sense of meaning and purpose that is reasonable, given what we currently believe about the world.
We can choose to adopt a good, evidence based, natural, reasonable way of life.
This understanding of philosophy, science, history, religion and art can provide us with the knowledge and insight to choose a good, reasonable way of life in personal practices and politics, which we might call a natural, rational, evidence based religion, ie not supernatural, not dogmatic, a truly reasonable way of life.
(see 8. A Reasonable Way of Life)