Holding unfounded beliefs in the pursuit of rational, ethical, humane goals is a healthy and laudable reaction to the often arbitrary and chaotic universe we inhabit and differs from magical thinking in that it is a rational decision to accept un-provabile or even disprovable altruistic ideals as axiomatic in the hope that these ideals will\u00a0flourish\u00a0and become a de facto reality if enough people choose to treat them as real.<\/p>\n
These ideals include(but are not limited to):<\/p>\n
Reverence and respect for the natural world, for knowledge, history, life, humanity and science.<\/p>\n
Generosity, charity, sharing, cooperation, loyalty, community and helping.<\/p>\n
Patience, tolerance, compassion, mercy, peace and equity<\/p>\n
Diligence,\u00a0industriousness,\u00a0\u00a0persistance<\/p>\n
Kindness, creativity, imagination, wonder and joy<\/p>\n
Love<\/p>\n
Hope<\/p>\n
That humans are basically good.<\/p>\n
That the tiny pockets of natural organization of complex matter have an exponential advantage over the astronomically larger universe of chaotic entropy.<\/p>\n
That doing what is right and good is an end in itself.<\/p>\n
That when you have a limited number of choices you should choose the one that will do the most good.<\/p>\n
That when you have a limited number of options you should choose the one that will do the least harm.<\/p>\n
Even the most skeptical Atheists will frequently profess to believe in right and wrong, in justice, human rights, freedom, liberty and humanity: All inventions of conscience, all things that (like Santa Claus) only exist if you believe in them.<\/p>\n
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Holding unfounded beliefs in the pursuit of rational, ethical, humane goals is a healthy and laudable reaction to the often arbitrary and chaotic universe we inhabit and differs from magical thinking in that it is a rational decision to accept … Continue reading