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Spiritual Naturalism Quotes

Browse 3 quotes about Spiritual Naturalism.

Spiritual Naturalism Quotes

“It is clear that spiritual naturalism can be used to defend any ‘positive’, i.e. existing, norm. For it can always be argued that these norms would not be in force if they did not express some traits of human nature. [...] In fact, this form of naturalism is so wide and so vague that it may be used to defend anything. There is nothing that has ever occurred to man which could not be claimed to be ‘natural’; for if it were not in his nature, how could it have occurred to him? Looking back at this brief survey, we may perhaps discern two main tendencies which stand in the way of adopting a critical dualism. The first is a general tendency towards monism, that is to say, towards the reduction of norms to facts. The second lies deeper, and it possibly forms the background of the first. It is based upon our fear of admitting to ourselves that the responsibility for our ethical decisions is entirely ours and cannot be shifted to anybody else; neither to God, nor to nature, nor to society, nor to history. All these ethical theories attempt to find somebody, or perhaps some argument, to take the burden from us. But we cannot shirk this responsibility. Whatever authority we may accept, it is we who accept it. We only deceive ourselves if we do not realize this simple point.”

Responsibility Human Nature Ethics Political Philosophy Moral Philosophy Nature Vs Nurture Monism Avoiding Responsibility Spiritual Naturalism Ethical Theories

Book:The Open Society and Its Enemies - Volume One: The Spell of Plato

Source: The Open Society and Its Enemies - Volume One: The Spell of Plato

“...one is left wondering why the name "religious humanism"? It is difficult to become enthusiastic when one realizes that these men take to themselves the thunder of the atheists of the past, and under the misnomer, "religious," place before the public what all atheists of the past ages have been preaching.”

Atheism Humanism Naturalism Religious Humanism Religious Naturalism Spiritual Naturalism

Book:The Necessity Of Atheism

Source: The Necessity Of Atheism

“In the not far distant past deism and pantheism served as a polite subterfuge for atheism. There is a growing tendency in this present age to dress one's atheistic belief in an evening suit, and for the sake of social approbation call such a belief "religious humanism.”

Atheism Humanism Naturalism Pantheism Deism Religious Humanism Religious Naturalism Spiritual Naturalism

Book:The Necessity Of Atheism

Source: The Necessity Of Atheism