If the trajectory of our cultures is progressing along the lines of becoming secular and atheist but not humanist then what are the consequences?
I looked at a book of essays by theorists, including Dawkins, recently which was titled something along the lines of "What's your dangerous idea?". Now it did strike me as confirmation that a lot of these theorists in my opinion crave attention and must court controversy but what was more significant was that a lot of the essays seemed to seek to reintroduce or revitalise a lot of social darwinist thinking.
I mean that fundamentally people are not equal, not born equal, not of equal worth. Now I did not read enough to discover if there were any ethnic or other criteria for judging this but even if there were not I still find that a little disconcerting.
I'll qualify this by saying that I'm one of the few people perhaps who hasnt ever been that thrilled about the idea of meritocracy, I do think learning and appitude and adaptability are vitally important and rewards reflecting that can be a good thing but I dont htink that people have no worth if they fail meritocratically. I put this down to what I consider to be humanistic beliefs which are derivative from religion.
None of these other thinkers seem to have that, they are atheist and dont believe in either God or man and have no obligations to either. I'm not sure that the ascendency of these ideas or norms is a good thing.
I looked at a book of essays by theorists, including Dawkins, recently which was titled something along the lines of "What's your dangerous idea?". Now it did strike me as confirmation that a lot of these theorists in my opinion crave attention and must court controversy but what was more significant was that a lot of the essays seemed to seek to reintroduce or revitalise a lot of social darwinist thinking.
I mean that fundamentally people are not equal, not born equal, not of equal worth. Now I did not read enough to discover if there were any ethnic or other criteria for judging this but even if there were not I still find that a little disconcerting.
I'll qualify this by saying that I'm one of the few people perhaps who hasnt ever been that thrilled about the idea of meritocracy, I do think learning and appitude and adaptability are vitally important and rewards reflecting that can be a good thing but I dont htink that people have no worth if they fail meritocratically. I put this down to what I consider to be humanistic beliefs which are derivative from religion.
None of these other thinkers seem to have that, they are atheist and dont believe in either God or man and have no obligations to either. I'm not sure that the ascendency of these ideas or norms is a good thing.