Difference between revisions of "Materialism"
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| − | '''Materialism''' is a belief system insisting that existence is limited to what is detectable in some form by the senses—for instance [[matter]], [[light]], and so forth. Materialism denies or downplays the existence of anything not directly detectable by the senses. For example, materialism denies existence of love, spirituality, intelligent design, and [[God]]. Materialism overemphasizes the seen, such as material wealth, at the expense of the unseen, such as opportunity or [[faith]]. | + | '''Materialism''' is a belief system insisting that existence is limited to what is detectable in some form by the senses—for instance [[matter]], [[light]], and so forth. Materialism denies or downplays the existence of anything not directly detectable by the senses. For example, materialism denies existence of love, thoughts, spirituality, intelligent design, and [[God]]. Materialism overemphasizes the seen, such as material wealth, at the expense of the unseen, such as opportunity or [[faith]]. |
In politics, materialism overlooks abstract principles and instead focuses on tangible or directly observable characteristics, such as: | In politics, materialism overlooks abstract principles and instead focuses on tangible or directly observable characteristics, such as: | ||
Revision as of 23:00, May 27, 2008
Materialism is a belief system insisting that existence is limited to what is detectable in some form by the senses—for instance matter, light, and so forth. Materialism denies or downplays the existence of anything not directly detectable by the senses. For example, materialism denies existence of love, thoughts, spirituality, intelligent design, and God. Materialism overemphasizes the seen, such as material wealth, at the expense of the unseen, such as opportunity or faith.
In politics, materialism overlooks abstract principles and instead focuses on tangible or directly observable characteristics, such as:
- race
- gender
- wealth
- location[1]
In the United States, Democrats tend to be materalistic, with particularly heavy emphasis placed on race and gender. Republicans, in contrast, tend to focus on principles such as pro-life or economics.
Materialism ignores unseen opportunity costs, and often materialists fail to grasp the concept and its importance.
Gun control is an issue that separates materialistic approaches from conceptual ones. The materialistic approach is to remove guns ostensibly to reduce violence from guns. The conceptual approach is to recognize the unseen deterrent benefits of guns, and to compare the unseen value of that deterrence to the harm of improper use.
Materialism is taught heavily in public schools, leading students to undervalue unseen aspects of life. There is a high correlation between materialism and atheism. Materialism denies that most great intellectual breakthroughs were the result of faith in the unseen.
Materialism misleads people into thinking that non-material-based addictions (e.g., gambling and pornography) are not harmful to one's health. They are often very harmful despite a lack of immediate physical harm.
Arguments for materialism commonly misuse principles such as Occam's Razor and propose that an immaterial realm is wholly superfluous to materialists' understanding of the world.
"Materialism" can also refer to an obsession with material goods.
The teachings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin (see Marxism-Leninism) rest upon a particular philosophy called dialectical materialism.
Quotes
- "[T]he greatest failure of materialism is that it simply cannot explain the existence of information!" [2]
See also
References
- ↑ For example, some question whether John McCain can become President of the United States because the location of his birth was outside of the United States. [1]