I've thought about this at great length, as most people do. What is surprising is that I have come to a definite conclusion. I suppose the culprit for this whole train of thought is that one word that is both destructive and constructive: That word being the word Why?. The first 'why' was Is there a god?. My answer was no. (I don't really want to get into a debate about it). Following this, there seems to me to be no backing behind the christian moral system. Basically, I was at nihilism- nothing matters and there is no value in anything. Then I thought about the possibility of what I call Empirical Morals- morals based on the laws of the universe. There's the second law of thermodynamics, and Entropy. They say basically, that disorder will always increase. Why should we go with this as the basic tenet of morality? It is a law of the universe, where better to get moral inspiration if not there? Also, this is, basically how science works- theories are man made, after all. Call it a theory of ethic, if you like. Anyway, how do you increase Entropy and disorder? By doing things. On a species scale, the best way to do more is, well to do more. So what is good is what increases the ability of humanity to do more. I call this philosophy Isfinism, based on the latin for Is Finis this end, answering the question "To what end?"- What should we do, and why?? I have written a (Something- about 2 pgs long, not really well written either), but honestly it's horrible. If you would like to, e-mail me or PM me with suggestions. Download the pdf here I suggest that the best way to do good would be to use our abilities to expand our abilities (Our abilities to do things, physical things). This expanded capacity would then be used to expand our capacity, ad infinitum, until the heat death of the universe (which, thanks to our actions, has been made sooner. This is a good thing.). First off- War is a frontrunner in competition for 'the ultimate bad'- A totally counterproductive waste of valuable resources. (Counterproductive is among the most negative words in an Isfinist's vocabulary). Also, freedoms are only valuable insofar as they increase efficiency. A stable, totalitarian government that expands humanities abilities is better than a stagnant democratic government, any day. However, I do think that the reduced propensity of democracy to corruption, and the (probable) increase in actions (since increased production benefits those it gives jobs to, which control the ballot in a republic, remember USA is a republic, not a true democracy.) means that it is a better system of totalitarian government. Also, think this says that capitalism, but where the government has a decent handle on the economy, and where it funds about 5% of GDP in investment, not including education. (total private investment was 16% of GDP in 2004).
Oops, Sorry I seem to have messed up the poll Edit: OK, it seems to have fixed itself re-edit: obviously, I voted yes on the poll, mostly for the first two reasons.
I'm trying to understand it.. The purpose of "Entropy" or taking acting as you say is to eventually reach the end of the universe? Or something else? I also don't get how war in this concept, is considered a bad thing. It is action is it not? Much action actually. Are there universal laws that prove war is a bad thing?
basically, this is saying that entropy, or the end result of doing anything, is good. Think about it this way- you have a trillion dollars, right, and you can use it to a) fight (for example) the war in Iraq, or b) foster the growth of a civilization on the moon I think you know which does more work (Scientific definition- work=moving matter), and increases entropy more, over the long run. War is purely destructive, and for a comparatively small entropy increase often totally or nearly totally destroy civilization in a given country. And the point is to increase the final state of entropy in the universe, once everything has become a black hole.
Looking at the poll, it seems a rather funny thing about Isfinism has come about: Of the two people who voted, one liked it because it is atheistic, the other disliked it because it is atheistic. There is more to this philosophy than atheism, people. Isfinism is a religion, except that belief is not required at any point.
you put the cart in front of the horse. what created life, and what created the matter which life stands upon?
Oh, you read that. Thanks! It is as bad as I said, isn't it? Anyway, I meant it isn't a religion because there is no faith involved. After all, the definition of religion is Isfinism isn't a belief- being wholly scientific, there is no belief involved. Also, unfortunately, at the moment I'm pretty sure there is only one Isfinist-me.
Actually, life was created more-or-less by random chance combined with the laws of the universe. Same as the earth, no deity involved. Your very life can be said to be a product of entropy. I don't want this to turn into a deist vs a-deist debate, though.
it's not bad. i'm still trying to understand it, mostly philosophical concepts since i have limited knowledge.
of philosophy? I'll be honest- my experience with philosophy is limited to my own thoughts and 5 or so wikipedia pages not totally read.
Anyway, Isfinism goes like this.: 1. Just like science, Isfinism is based on reality, the realities of the universe. Specifically, just like a scientific theory, Isfinism is just a formulation of, basically, what the universe is, how it behaves. 2. According to the second law of thermodynamics, it is more likely that entropy will increase 3. I say that translates into the universe saying that entropy is good. 4. The best way to increase entropy is by doing things 5. The thing civilization does best is to do things. The more advanced and larger a civilization, the more they do. 6. Thus the best thing to do is to do things to advance civilization is to do things to advance it, which is good because it provides for current and future entropy increase.
Not at all- an Isfinist does things ad is finis- To this end, the end of increasing the final entropy state of the universe. This is not the only good- other goods can be created by humanity. However, they will be weak, with no real basis. Isfinism is an ethos of The Greatest Good. That is more representative of nihilism. Isfinism, quite frankly, is not nihilism.
the ants comment- yes, you could definitely say that humanity would be doing a good thing if they acted as intelligent ants. About the socialism thing, yes, they are the same words, but apparently my meaning did not come across correctly. By that, I meant that the definition of good as defined by Isfinism is a more central and 'better' good than the christian good. Same words, different meanings. Like saying 'oh' after hearing (for example) 'my mom died', and saying 'oh' after everone jumps out at a surprise party.
Hey guys, im trying out another magic trick. Im gonna collect a bunch of tomatoe seeds and plant them into the ground and out will pop up an orange tree. Random chance and chaos says i can do this, plus i know a bit of wizardry. I really hope this works.
Weird, I wonder where the laws of the universe came from? In order to have gravity there must be matter, but where does matter come from?