Evolutionary Metaphysics Debate Guide
From PhiloWiki
Book citation: Shattering the Sacred Myths - Evolutionary Metaphysics
- Shattering the Sacred Myths - Evolutionary Metaphysics is a new book that offers a stimulating interpretation of the history of ideas and beliefs, with explanations that are enjoyable to read and easy to understand.
- While examining the conflict between science and religion, this book helps to shatter the sacred myths that have long been used as an excuse for political and religious extremism. In doing so, it reaffirms our only possible path to peace and prosperity - through political freedom, religious reform and technological advancement.
- The conclusions arrived at by this book are...
- Either the universe exists for no reason and has no purpose and so our lives have no meaning other than whatever meaning we invent for ourselves, or else we were brought into existence by some 'purposeful creative process' that designed the universe and planned the events that led to the evolution of intelligent life.
- There is no conclusive evidence to prove either way, and so believing in either possibility requires having faith in some unproven assumption. The only understanding that requires no leap of faith, and so therefore the only understanding in which we can be totally confident, is to keep our minds open to both possibilities, and to thoroughly examine them both to their eventual conclusions.
Contents |
Chapter 1: Troubled times
- Is it true that science "cannot judge any behavior to be either right or wrong"?
- Is it true that there may be a purpose to our existence and the world might be progressing towards a peaceful and prosperous future?
Chapter 2: The origins of humankind
- Are the opposing possibilities that "our universe exists for no reason" and "we were brought into existence by some creative force" equally likely?
Chapter 3: Advancing technology
- Is it truly possible that "by continuing to develop technology..., we are merely carrying out our purpose in nature's scheme"?
- Is it possible that "the process of evolution... was more purposeful than we previously imagined", and that "intelligent life evolved for a reason"?
- Are people who say that evolution has no purpose or direction "expressing an opinion rather than stating a fact"?
- Could the "billions of years of evolution..." leading to "the rise of humankind and the discovery of advanced technology..." be part of "some mysterious cosmic plan"?
- Is it true that "without any evidence or even a plausable theory" the multiverse theory "cannot be considered at this point in time to be anything more than science fiction"?
- Do those people who believe in the multiverse "do so because they cannot accept the idea that there is any purpose to the existence of this universe"?
- Is it possible that "computers may provide the door through which an almost godlike depth of consciousness can manifest itself in the material universe"?
- If God does exist, then is "the only way for us to discover anything of God's plan... to search for patterns in the unfolding of history"?
Chapter 10: Summary of ancient beliefs
- Is it true that "Greek philosophy failed to produce one enduring document which presented a clear and agreeable picture of the world"?
Chapter 11: The rise of modern democracy
- Is it true that "communist economies fell behind and collapsed... [because] capitalist countries developed advanced electronics and affordable desktop computers"
- Is it true that the Western powers "take advantage of opportunities to increase their own global dominance by spoiling the possibility of political and economic progress in other less developed nations"?
- Are there "powerful political forces in the United States that are... outspoken opponents of human rights... [, and are] committed instead to pure capitalism, unburdened by concern for human values... [believing] that economic progress is not compatible with social responsibility [and valuing] corporate and military interests over the lives of innocent people"?
- Is it true that "democracy in the United States is not the best example of a fair democratic system"?
- Is it true that the teaching of evolution faces resistance because "atheist academics continue to argue that evolution is not compatible with a belief in God"?
- It is true that "the United Nations cannot become the leading force in world politics until the entire world has embraced democracy"?
Chapter 13: Modern materialism
- Is it true that "attempts by some secular humanist groups to define universal ethical values have only resulted in shallow and unconvincing documents that seem to change with the politics of the times"?
- Does secular humanism rest "entirely upon blind faith in some abstract concept of goodness"?
- Is it true that "without any cosmic plan to give us purpose, our lives become nothing more than the complex interactions between atoms and molecules"?
- Is it true that "some business leaders dream of a world without welfare, where the workers are forced to compete for the lowest possible wages while the poor are left to starve and die"?
- Is it true that "American agricultural subsidies force down world prices and destroy the incomes of many smaller agricultural nations"?
- Is the "democratic tug of war between selfish political ideologies" the best form of government?
- Is it true that "anyone who claims to know the absolute truth (especially the political or religious truth) must be looked upon with suspicion, as they are often driven to try to dominate others with their particular vision of reality"?
- Is it likely that, even though "conservatives can do their best to resist it, and relativist skeptics can try to deny it"... "eventually a single coherent worldview will emerge that is as near to the truth as possible"?
Chapter 14: Deepening consciousness
- Is it true that "the ultimate determinant of all social theory is metaphysical"?
- Is it possible that "consciousness evolved for the purpose of collecting information"?
