Are You a Materialist?

[George-ananda]

Here is the working definition of Materialism for this thread (per Wikipedia):

Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena, including mental phenomena and consciousness, are the result of material interactions.

If you are a materialist, you can not believe in anything metaphysical like God, afterlives, spirits, souls, etc.

I want to keep this question as basic as possible because questions often get misunderstood here if they say too much.

I will argue that there are only three possible answers: 'Yes', 'No' and 'Undecided' and that everyone must have one and only one answer. If some tries to waffle a fourth answer I will argue until my Koala Bear avatar turns blue in the face that this is not possible.

I'll go first; I am a 'No' on the question as I believe consciousness is primary and that souls and non-physical spiritual planes exist that are not composed of physical plane material.

 

[leibowde84]

I am not a materialist, because I certainly believe that it is possible that there is more to reality than matter. But, I am not spiritualist either, as I do not think that either is more important.

 

[jonathan180iq]

Yes. I am a materialist monist.

 

[George-ananda]

I am not a materialist, because I certainly believe that it is possible that there is more to reality than matter. But, I am not spiritualist either, as I do not think that either is more important.

Then you are 'Undecided' in the list of the only three possible answers to the question 'Are You a Materialist'.

 

[George-ananda]

Yes. I am a materialist monist.

Thank you for a clear answer.

 

[leibowde84]

Then you are 'Undecided' in the list of the only three possible answers to the question 'Are You a Materialist'.

I'm not undecided, though. I know what I believe. The categories just aren't mutually exclusive. I put equal importance on material and spiritual realities, although I know very little about the spiritual.

 

[Lyndon]

What if God is made up of matter, even sub atomic particles, etc. Then you're whole definition of Materialism includes God as well, and you're really saying nothing. Materialism as a philosophy is a love of things, possessions, with little or no interest in spirituality or doing what's "right" for everyone, Materialism is inherently more selfish as one puts one's own needs and desires above those of others. The Buddha was very anti Materialist, and by Materialist I mean almost no relation to your wikipedia definition.

 

[George-ananda]

I'm not undecided, though. I know what I believe.

Do you believe there are real things not composed of physical plane matter and their interactions? Yes, No or Undecided?

The categories just aren't mutually exclusive.

The question is not asking or even talking about other categories.

 

[George-ananda]

What if God is made up of matter, even sub atomic particles, etc. Then you're whole definition of Materialism includes God as well, and you're really saying nothing. Materialism as a philosophy is a love of things, possessions, with little or no interest in spirituality or doing what's "right" for everyone, Materialism is inherently more selfish as one puts one's own needs and desires above those of others. The Buddha was very anti Materialist, and by Materialist I mean almost no relation to your wikipedia definition.

The word materialist is used in many ways we all agree. I am here referring only to the use of the word per the definition in the OP.

 

[savagewind]

No

 

[leibowde84]

What if God is made up of matter, even sub atomic particles, etc. Then you're whole definition of Materialism includes God as well, and you're really saying nothing. Materialism as a philosophy is a love of things, possessions, with little or no interest in spirituality or doing what's "right" for everyone, Materialism is inherently more selfish as one puts one's own needs and desires above those of others. The Buddha was very anti Materialist, and by Materialist I mean almost no relation to your wikipedia definition.

I think you are reading something into materialism that is not really there. It does not claim to describe a person's beliefs about selfishness, money, etc. It certainly does not claim that it's adherents put their own needs over the needs of others. Not sure where you even got that from. It is just a belief that the world we experience is all that exists. There is no non-materialist existence. This in no way means that you can't be an incredible generous, helpful, selfless, and caring person. Humanism is often described as materialism, and has done great things in the world.

 

[viole]

Here is the working definition of Materialism for this thread (per Wikipedia):

Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena, including mental phenomena and consciousness, are the result of material interactions.

If you are a materialist, you can not believe in anything metaphysical like God, afterlives, spirits, souls, etc.

I want to keep this question as basic as possible because questions often get misunderstood here if they say too much.

I will argue that there are only three possible answers: 'Yes', 'No' and 'Undecided' and that everyone must have one and only one answer. If some tries to waffle a fourth answer I will argue until my Koala Bear avatar turns blue in the face that this is not possible.

I'll go first; I am a 'No' on the question as I believe consciousness is primary and that souls and non-physical spiritual planes exist that are not composed of physical plane material.

Yes. Definitely. Even though I prefer the term "naturalist", so that I do not run the clear and present risk to be called a material girl like Madonna.

Ciao

- viole

 

[George-ananda]

Yes. Definitely. Even though I prefer the term "naturalist".

Ciao

- viole

Dang, I should have set this up as a poll because that would have been interesting. I'll do a manual poll and post results at the end. But maybe not, because people would have voted without really understanding the question.

 

[Laika]

Yes. I am a Materialist.

(Materialism does not exclude having ideals worth striving for or doing more than realising our animal needs. But it excludes only the belief that these ideals came from a source other than man himself).

 

[viole]

What if God is made up of matter, even sub atomic particles, etc. Then you're whole definition of Materialism includes God as well, and you're really saying nothing. Materialism as a philosophy is a love of things, possessions, with little or no interest in spirituality or doing what's "right" for everyone, Materialism is inherently more selfish as one puts one's own needs and desires above those of others. The Buddha was very anti Materialist, and by Materialist I mean almost no relation to your wikipedia definition.

Well, I agree. I believe that God is material as well.

More specifically, He is the result of the computational process that takes place in the brains of believers

Ciao

- viole

 

[Awoon]

Here is the working definition of Materialism for this thread (per Wikipedia):

Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena, including mental phenomena and consciousness, are the result of material interactions.

If you are a materialist, you can not believe in anything metaphysical like God, afterlives, spirits, souls, etc.

I want to keep this question as basic as possible because questions often get misunderstood here if they say too much.

I will argue that there are only three possible answers: 'Yes', 'No' and 'Undecided' and that everyone must have one and only one answer. If some tries to waffle a fourth answer I will argue until my Koala Bear avatar turns blue in the face that this is not possible.

I'll go first; I am a 'No' on the question as I believe consciousness is primary and that souls and non-physical spiritual planes exist that are not composed of physical plane material.

Why do people always have to "believe" for something to be true/correct/Fact/in your face?

 

[Lyndon]

Well, I agree. I believe that God is material as well.

More specifically, He is the result of the computational process that takes place in the brains of believers

Ciao

- viole

yes that, and MUCH MUCH more, to bad you don't have the ability to see how much more.

 

[George-ananda]

Why do people always have to "believe" for something to be true/correct/Fact/in your face?

I honestly don't understand what you are trying to say.

 

[viole]

yes that, and MUCH MUCH more, to bad you don't have the ability to see how much more.

Well, yes, too bad I cannot. I feel sort of handicapped, when I compare myself with people who can see God everywhere. Both in the eyes of a happy child and in the eyes of a child while they are being eaten inside out by a parasite.

Can I use this handicap as an excuse at the pearly gates, just in case?

Ciao

- viole

 

[George-ananda]

Well, yes, too bad I cannot. I feel sort of handicapped, when I compare myself with people who can see God everywhere.

Can I use that as an excuse at the pearly gates, just in case?

Ciao

- viole

I don't think you will need an excuse. You will have progressed by the quality of your heart and mind. Humanists can progress.