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  1. #1
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    Default Non Theistic/ Non Spiritual Philosophies..

    Of course there is atheism.. agnosticism..

    I posted a more flushed out description here: http://www.nappturality.com/forum/sh...light=10+myths

    But here is the original link..

    http://www.samharris.org/site/full_t...bout-atheism1/

    But these are positions in relation to an assertion about someone's belief in a supernatural authority or system...

    Morality and guidance for one's life is not the sole purview of theism...


    I mention non supernatural/ non spiritual to eliminate pantheistic leanings and those who believe in an authoritative spiritual or spiritual like authority (e.g. a law or non descript ethereal entity/energy)

    Let's begin with:

    Utilitarianism British philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill developed the philosophy of utilitarianism, which is the belief in "the greatest good for the greatest number of people.'' In utilitarianism, various consequences of an act are imagined, and the outcome that helps the most people is the best choice under the circumstances. However, Mill specified that each individual's moral and legal rights must be met before applying the utilitarian calculus. Although an act might not be beneficial to a few individuals, it might result in helping many.Further reading.

    Hedonism From the Greek word for pleasure, hedonism is closely related to the philosophies of nihilism and narcissism. A student of Socrates, Aristippus (who died in Athens in 366 B.C.E.) founded this ethical philosophy on the basis of pleasure. Aristippus believed that people should "act to maximize pleasure now and not worry about the future.'' However, Aristippus referred to pleasures of the mind-intellectual pleasures-not physical sensations. He believed that people should fill their time with intellectual pursuits and use restraint and good judgment in their personal relationships. His phrase sums up the hedonistic philosophy: I possess; I am not possessed. Unfortunately, modern usage of the philosophy ignores his original intent. Phrases such as "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die,'' "live for today,'' and "don't worry, be happy'' currently express the hedonistic philosophy. In other words, if an opinion or action is based purely on a personal motivation-money, fame, relationships, and the like-the modern interpretation of hedonistic philosophy is at work.
    Further reading.

    Golden Mean Aristotle's golden mean refers to finding a middle ground or a compromise between two extreme points of view or actions. Formulated in about the fourth century B.C., this philosophy of taking the middle way doesn't involve a precisely mathematical average but is an action that approximately fits that situation at that time. Compromise and negotiation are actions aimed at finding a link between the opposing viewpoints of two competing interests.
    Further reading.

    Golden Rule The golden rule teaches people to "love your neighbor as yourself.'' From Judeo-Christian tradition, this philosophy holds that an individual should be as humane as possible and never harm others by insensitive actions.
    Further reading.
    Last edited by Khalliqa; 09-11-2011 at 03:18 PM. Reason: Inserted links.. Tried to fix font size..
    "Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond." ~ Hypatia

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    Secular Humanism

    Link to Council for Secular Humanism:http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=main&page=what_is


    Secular humanism is a comprehensive, nonreligious lifestance incorporating:
    • » A naturalistic philosophy
    • » A cosmic outlook rooted in science
    • » A consequentialist ethical system
    Let’s examine these items one by one:
    A comprehensive, nonreligious lifestance.

    Secular humanism is comprehensive, touching every aspect of life including issues of values, meaning, and identity. Thus it is broader than atheism, which concerns only the nonexistence of god or the supernatural. Important as that may be, there’s a lot more to life … and secular humanism addresses it.
    Secular humanism is nonreligious, espousing no belief in a realm or beings imagined to transcend ordinary experience.
    Secular humanism is a lifestance, or what Council for Secular Humanism founder Paul Kurtz has termed a eupraxsophy: a body of principles suitable for orienting a complete human life.
    A naturalistic philosophy.

    Secular humanism is philosophically naturalistic. It holds that nature (the world of everyday physical experience) is all there is, and that reliable knowledge is best obtained when we query nature using the scientific method. Naturalism asserts that supernatural entities like God do not exist, and warns us that knowledge gained without appeal to the natural world and without impartial review by multiple observers is unreliable.
    A cosmic outlook rooted in science.

    Secular humanism provides a cosmic outlook—a world-view in the broadest sense, grounding our lives in the context of our universe and relying on methods demonstrated by science. Secular humanists see themselves as undesigned, unintended beings who arose through evolution, possessing unique attributes of self-awareness and moral agency.
    A consequentialist ethical system.

    Secular humanists hold that ethics is consequential, to be judged by results. This is in contrast to so-called command ethics, in which right and wrong are defined in advance and attributed to divine authority. “No god will save us,” declared Humanist Manifesto II (1973), “we must save ourselves.” Secular humanists seek to develop and improve their ethical principles by examining the results they yield in the lives of real men and women.



    and Eudaimonism

    Though I'm not a part of the group and find some of its positions (and the title) questionable.. This is the link to one of the better and more accessible definitions of eudaimonism.. http://www.kindreason.com/faqs/eudaimonism.htm

    One of their members does a decent job of explaining the difference betweeen eudaimonism and secular humanism here : http://www.religiousforums.com/forum...daimonism.html

    If there's one word that defines what the Fellowship of Reason is all about, it is "eudaimonism." Pronounced "yoo-DIE-mon-ism", it is derived from the Greek word eudaimonia, which is loosely translated into English as “well-being."
    Although you can find a variety of specific definitions (depending on which dictionary you use), we like this one:

    "A theory that the highest ethical goal is happiness and personal well-being."
    - Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2002)

    Some dictionaries include the phrase "through a life governed by reason" or something similar.
    In short, Eudaimonists are people who think that they should make flourishing in this life, through rationality and virtue, their highest priority.
    Last edited by Khalliqa; 09-11-2011 at 03:16 PM. Reason: Insert links
    "Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond." ~ Hypatia

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    Great stuff- Can you provide sources to this information? Thanks

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    Quote Originally Posted by azalee View Post
    Great stuff- Can you provide sources to this information? Thanks
    Thank you...

    Done.. The links for everything have been added..
    "Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond." ~ Hypatia

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    Awesome! Thanks for the information.

    I am an agnostic atheist secular humanist

    A mouthful, I suppose, but that's me!
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    "Where kinky hair goes to unthought of dimensions" - DP

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    Don't forget that several classical religions can be practiced by atheists, because they don't require a deity. These include Buddhism and Confucianism.

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    Agnostic atheist. Thanks for the information.
    "The backlash against bone-straight hair can't come quickly enough: I like my hair with its Afro personality intact." --Hannah Pool, journalist

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