Daniel's Philosophy- Hume, Aristotle, and Nietzsche
Major Points
1. Strong, consistent objectivism in government. The governmment should be focused on two things: efficiency and effectiveness. Aesthetics, the third value, is of little concern to a government. For example, let's say that there is an overpopulation problem. A perfect government would solve this in multiple, cost-effective ways- for example, limiting the number of children one can have, providing abortions, etc. These measures obviously would not appeal to the public. However, opinions change; what is commonplace now (i.e. abortion) would be ghastly or illegal in the past.
2. Consistent skepticism. You cannot prove anything. The only thing you truly know is stimuli- that some things are pleasureful, while others not. This is absolutely the only thing you can be sure of- your own pleasure or pain. You do not even have any proof that anyone else exists. So, then, why should you base all your thoughts, your anxiety, your entire existence on that which is (by the principle of Ockham's Razor ) most likely not to exist. Does uniform nothingness not make more sense than random substance?
A theoretical occurance called 'vacuum fluctuations' supports my thesis. In short, it is the idea (supported by evidence) that something can come from nothing. It explains, for one, where the universe came from. In a vacuum fluctutation, there always has to be two particles -negative and positive- created. This is because, just like in math, (-1) + (+1) = 0. This is because it cannot violate the law of conservation of energy. So, the sum of our reality is nothing!
As in everything, there is a contradiction. Why would I be writing all this if I knew that there was no one to read it?
Because I don't like that reality. Just like a dream you don't want to end, you shouldn't shun reality- unless it really is bad. In such a case, you can break free of reality. Merely disbelieve, disillusion yourselves. Think of the Matrix- Neo returns to life, then kicks arse when he realizes there is no spoon. Buddhist monks perhaps achieve this 'enlightenment' (Eastern philosophy held great weight in that movie). But, just as those monks meditate and fast endlessly to reach their knowledge, you cannot just simply say "This is not real." The mind takes immense power to break this illusion. I simply don't have the patience- besides, my life's pretty good anyways.
3. How I came to atheism. At one point in middle school, I had a teacher who I will not endeavor to name. He (for some forgotten reason) said one day that 'the religion that I would be is the one, to me, that would seem to make the most sense'. I adopted that idea, and I am all the better for it.
Maybe.
I began mystical practices soon after, pronouncing myself \/\/iccan and beginning countless rituals and all the normal accoutrements of such a person. I had done as such for two reasons: A., I thought it was kinda cool (I did have my own coven at my feet), and B. it promised power. All other religions offer redemption, a future happiness. \/\/iccanism offered power.
All the stranger, I still believe it works. But this time, I have a logical basis for this idea.
Because, as I and others have said, all knowledge comes from the senses, if you alter those perceptions, then you alter reality. If you can 'believe hard enough', then you delude yourself into thinking X miracle happened due to Y prayer. But, in truth, you're not deluding yourself- you are altering reality.
4. Inverse Totality. If something is universally true for an object or creature (hereafter referred to as an 'entity'), then it is redundant to mention that quality. Interestingly, the opposite trait could be applied to an entity, as long as it applied to all the entities with that trait. For example, all entities exist. We could say that al entities do not exist. This translates in math quite simply: x = x is the same as -x = -x; X can be anything.
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