Difference between revisions of "Materialism"
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| − | + | Materialism ignores unseen [[opportunity costs]], and often materialists are unable or unwilling to grasp this and other abstract truths. Materialists have trouble realizing that the deterrence effect of gun ownership yields more benefits than any harm that guns cause. Materialists often develop obsessions with their outlook, as reflected by [[evolution syndrome]]. | |
| − | Materialism | + | == Harm Caused by Materialism == |
| − | [[ | + | The falsehood of materialism causes significant harm, including: |
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| + | *downplaying the harmful affects of gambling and pornography, which can be even more harmful than destructive substance abuse | ||
| + | *downplaying non-material causes of accidents, such as young children impulsively darting towards water or into the street | ||
| + | *exaggerating possible material causes of anxiety and possible material remedies, such as medication | ||
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| + | == Background to Materialism == | ||
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| + | In the [[United States]], [[Democrats]] tend to be materialistic, with particularly heavy emphasis placed on race, gender and job title. [[Republicans]], in contrast, tend to focus on principles such as [[pro-life]] or [[economics]]. | ||
Materialism is taught heavily in [[public schools]], leading students to undervalue [[unseen]] aspects of life. There is a high correlation between materialism and [[atheism]] as atheism is fundamentally a materialistic philosophy. Materialism denies that most great intellectual breakthroughs were the brainchild of men with [[faith]] in the [[unseen]]. | Materialism is taught heavily in [[public schools]], leading students to undervalue [[unseen]] aspects of life. There is a high correlation between materialism and [[atheism]] as atheism is fundamentally a materialistic philosophy. Materialism denies that most great intellectual breakthroughs were the brainchild of men with [[faith]] in the [[unseen]]. | ||
Revision as of 15:43, July 12, 2009
Materialism is a philosophy within the realm of metaphysics that holds that the only thing that can be proven beyond doubt to exist is matter. Materialism holds that all phenomena and processes can be explained as manifestations or results of matter.[1]
In politics, materialism overlooks abstract principles and instead focuses on tangible or directly observable characteristics, such as:
- race
- gender
- wealth
- job title or status
Materialism ignores unseen opportunity costs, and often materialists are unable or unwilling to grasp this and other abstract truths. Materialists have trouble realizing that the deterrence effect of gun ownership yields more benefits than any harm that guns cause. Materialists often develop obsessions with their outlook, as reflected by evolution syndrome.
Harm Caused by Materialism
The falsehood of materialism causes significant harm, including:
- downplaying the harmful affects of gambling and pornography, which can be even more harmful than destructive substance abuse
- downplaying non-material causes of accidents, such as young children impulsively darting towards water or into the street
- exaggerating possible material causes of anxiety and possible material remedies, such as medication
Background to Materialism
In the United States, Democrats tend to be materialistic, with particularly heavy emphasis placed on race, gender and job title. Republicans, in contrast, tend to focus on principles such as pro-life or economics.
Materialism is taught heavily in public schools, leading students to undervalue unseen aspects of life. There is a high correlation between materialism and atheism as atheism is fundamentally a materialistic philosophy. Materialism denies that most great intellectual breakthroughs were the brainchild of men with 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 use principles such as Occam's Razor to 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 philosophy of history called dialectical materialism.
Quotes
- "[T]he greatest failure of materialism is that it simply cannot explain the existence of information!" [2]
