I have learned from you as well.
But, to play devils advocate, are there any inconsistencies in your thinking? For example, do you have any superstitious beliefs? Do you exhibit certain behavior hoping to influence luck? Do you engage in any pretentious behavior to improve your appearance, like getting your hair styled as opposed to simply cut. What about keepsakes? Do you keep any objects around you simply for the sentimental value?
None of these things make any logical sense. I keep a necklace that I don't like in a drawer because my deceased grandmother gave it to me. I wear flying spaghetti monster t-shirts not simply to cover my skin and keep me warm, but as a form of expression. I am without any superstitions, but my point is, logic can not carry the same weight in all aspects of life, but should be given the most weight in judging claims of reality.
Hey, Heisenberg! I enjoy reading your posts, and really dig your epistemology. I am lucky enough to have a circle of friends that are skeptics, atheists, and critical thinkers (not to mention hilarious and great musicians). We bounce our thoughts, ideas and epistemologies off each other each week, and they are merciless in pointing out each others’ errors and erroneous ideas and beliefs. This has allowed me to grow much more rapidly than if I had to rely solely on my own insight and methodology to find the errors in my thinking. I find inconsistencies in my thinking from time to time, and it’s no big deal to give them up immediately. But the cherished (comforting) beliefs that I have held for a long time, THOSE are painful, sometimes earth-shaking, things to give up in light of the new, indisputable facts that come to light. I don’t hold any superstitions, either, and wholeheartedly agree that logic should carry the most weight when judging claims of reality.
You mention that your position is that it is illogical to pretentiously attempt to approve your appearance, to keep objects for sentimental value, and to do things merely for expression (the flying spaghetti t-shirt example). When I thought about this for a while, it seems to me that these things are logical in the following contexts:
a. It is often asked, ‘what is my meaning/purpose in this life?’ Of course, the answer is whatever meaning we choose to give it, but in a harsher, Darwinian sense we are vehicles for passing on our genes (Dawkins, the Selfish Gene and others). In order to do this most effectively, we need to be sexually attractive, as it is the most sexually attractive people who have the most sex, thus the greatest chances of procreating. So in this context, it seems logical to give in to the sex drive and make ourselves as attractive as possible. I personally don’t put much effort into my appearance, not to say I’m a slob but the only reason that I’ve ever put any stock into fashion (not wearing a brown belt with black shoes, getting this haircut over that one, etc. ) is because women that I was fucking , or wanted to fuck, wanted it that way. Some go as far to say that the main (usually unconscious) reason males achieve almost anything is to gain a mate and have sex, and you can see this when you look at the trend that most major accomplishments of a lot prolific artists/scientists/industrialists happen before they get married, and sometimes precious little afterward (they’ve already won a mate, the drive diminishes). But I digress…
b. We are apes, social primates. It seems that in nature higher mammals are hardwired to some degree of sentimentality. We see elephants carry the corpses of their fallen brethren long distances In order to bury them in an agreed upon cemetery of sorts, then seem to grieve for some time afterward. Similarly, we see bonobo and chimp mothers carry around the corpse of their dead children for weeks. It seems again we also share this sentimentality, and it seems that this is not learned behavior, but instinctual. Most of us don’t keep the corpses, instead we hold onto keepsakes of the corpses of our near and dear. Also, I find pleasure in keeping the crappy artwork and stories from my son and pulling them out for pleasurable nostalgic sessions every few years. It seems logical to satisfy this innate drive for sentiment.
c. Higher mammals also seem hardwired (I’m not liking this word, just using it for lack of a more accurate one) for expression. This may be more of a learned behavior, but it seems we have a real aptitude for expression. It seems to be an inner drive for most people (even young children), so again it seems logical to satisfy this drive, as well.
The only alternative seems to be to repress these drives, but I think that would be to our mental/emotional/spiritual detriment, thus not logical. Let me know your take…
