Naturalistic Support

When we view human behavior through a naturalistic lens our retributive system of criminal justice cannot be justified.  The punitive approach we take also fails to keep us safe. 

Is there a more effective and ethical way to respond to people who harm others?   

Humankind is frequently regarded as being in perpetual conflict with nature.  And while no other animal has transformed the earth so profoundly, humans are also life’s best hope.

Only humans can act as life’s agent who will transform life sothat sentience, experience, and cognition will continue to flourish even when the home from where it originated becomes uninhabitable. 

Pursuing this quixotic endeavor may humanity’s highest purpose.

Humankind is frequently regarded as being in perpetual conflict with nature.  And while no other animal has transformed the earth so profoundly, humans are also life’s best hope.

Only humans can act as life’s agent who will transform life sothat sentience, experience, and cognition will continue to flourish even when the home from where it originated becomes uninhabitable. 

Pursuing this quixotic endeavor may humanity’s highest purpose.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General called loneliness andisolation a “public health crisis” as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.  And, according to the Cigna U.S. Loneliness Index, nearly half of U.S. adults report experience loneliness on a regular basis.

So, in our high-tech age of hyper-connectivity, where virtually everyone has a cell phone in their pocket, what exactly is causing this public health crisis?  And what can we do about it?

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General called loneliness andisolation a “public health crisis” as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.  And, according to the Cigna U.S. Loneliness Index, nearly half of U.S. adults report experience loneliness on a regular basis.

So, in our high-tech age of hyper-connectivity, where virtually everyone has a cell phone in their pocket, what exactly is causing this public health crisis?  And what can we do about it?

When our understanding of the world is based on evidence and reason it’s obvious that the way each moment unfolds is the inexorable result of all that precedes it — in Naturalistic Humanism this idea is called metawareness. 

Applied to humans, the implications of metawareness arerevolutionary requiring, among other things that we reconsider the way we credit, blame, punish, reward, and apportion resources.    

Metawareness helps us deal more effectively with everything we encounter supporting equanimity and a sense of serenity.

We continue our look at Proanthropy — the idea that when humans get the developmental and life support they requirethey are naturally inclined towards being cooperative and caring, wanting to participate and contribute.

Sadly, despite voluminous supporting evidence, oursociety is premised on the complete opposite.  The consequence of this confusion rationalizes extreme inequality and injustice.

What do you believe about human nature?

Another concept central to Naturalistic Humanism is proanthropy— the idea that when humans get the developmental and life support they require they are naturally inclined towards being cooperative and caring, wanting to participate and contribute.

Sadly, despite voluminous supporting evidence, oursociety is premised on the complete opposite.  The consequence of this confusion rationalizes extreme inequality and injustice.

What do you believe about human nature?

When our understanding of the world is based on evidence and reason it’s obvious that the way each moment unfolds is the inexorable result of all that precedes it — in Naturalistic Humanism this idea is called Metawareness. 

Applied to humans, the implications of metawareness arerevolutionary requiring, among other things that we reconsider the way we credit, blame, punish, reward, and apportion resources.    

Metawareness helps us deal more effectively with everything we encounter supporting equanimity and a sense of serenity.

This week we continue our look at belief and disbelief.  Why do we believe as we do?  Are some beliefs inherently intolerant of other beliefs?  Are nonbelievers intolerant towards believers?  How can believers and nonbelievers treat each other with respect and kindness? 

Are there ideas that both believers and nonbelievers can share?