The Future of Metaphysics

What lies in the future of metaphysics? The question itself is metaphysical in nature, since we have no means of determining the future that is not in itself metaphysical. 

Some believe that the future of metaphysics lies in the triumph of anti-religious atheism, that religion is a passing phase of humanity soon to be replaced by the one true way of Science, whose truth is self-evident, and those who do not trust in their version of Science will be swept away by the tides of history, and marked as fools. Such people are entitled to their beliefs.

Some believe that the future of metaphysics lies in the triumph of an individual religious doctrine, that physical existence is a passing phase of humanity soon to be replaced by the union with the divine, whose truth is self-evident, and those who do not trust in their version of God will be swept away by the tides of history, and marked as fools. Such people are entitled to their beliefs. 

Some people believe that anyone who claims to know with certainty what is going on has a screw loose. Such people are most certainly entitled to their beliefs.

I hope that the future of metaphysics lies in humanity accepting that we are all free to believe whatever we choose, that our gloriously varied belief systems are unique, wonderful, and worth protecting, and that no single metaphysical view can be allowed to persecute (or, for that matter, systematically harass) a different metaphysical view. 

I hope that the future of metaphysics will bring peace between science and religion, perhaps by agreeing to enforce Popper’s Milestone, perhaps by simply accepting that science is not a body of knowledge or an absolute ideology, but a collection of experiments, data and theories proposed and maintained by people that requires interpretation by each individual in the light of their own beliefs and experience.

I hope that by learning to respect each other’s metaphysical choices – and non-choices in the case of agnostics – we can move beyond fighting over metaphysics and perhaps begin to solve our social and environmental problems, battle natural disasters instead of rival nations and ideologies, end war (maybe…), end persecution, end poverty, end hunger, and move together in a spirit of love and unity. Not, perhaps, without arguments and disagreements, and probably always under the threat of terrorism from some violent malcontent, but perhaps, just perhaps, without any more wasted effort trying to convince each other that there is only one way, and that somehow it is possible to know with certainty what that one way is. 

You can choose to believe in whichever future of metaphysics you like… so the question must be: what kind of future do you want?

Next week, it's back to the humdrum game design and Temperament theory posts. But stay tuned - sometime around March we'll be beginning the Ethics campaign. Hope to see you there!

Comments

[Heather Flanagan]

I think you would be interested in this video about Bernie Meyer who has traveled the world portraying Gandhi:

http://pugettown.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/

[Chris]

Thanks so much for posting this link, Heather! It seems so strikingly post modern to impersonate a great historical figure - but anything that gets these messages back into the world is surely a positive force. Thanks again!

[zenBen]

“How big was the original phase-space volume W that the Creator had to aim for in order to provide a universe compatible with the second law of thermodynamics and with what we now observe?”..."This now tells us how precise the creator's aim must have been: namely to an accuracy of one part in 10^10^123"

Roger Penrose The Emperor's New Mind (New York: Penguin books 1991), p 344

I missed the end of the I Like Your Shoes game, so I never got a chance to respond to the striking of my nomination for respect [nor to realise that I could nominate multiple theists, thus single handedly winning the game on the nomination of the current U.S. administration, who have to be theists since they're Republican, and whom I respect in the kind of way a Star Destroyer bridge crewman might respect Darth Vader].

Anyway, I can't strictly defend the position, since there isn't a source with a clear yes/no answer to Penrose's theistic stance. But I stand by my inference! Whatever scant beliefs I may have, I have absolute faith in them :D

[Chris]

Hi, you make a convincing case here for Penrose, but alas too late to score. However:

"...whom I respect in the kind of way a Star Destroyer bridge crewman might respect Darth Vader"

I think the word you are looking for here is "fear", not "respect". ;) The intent, at the very least, was to use respect in the sense "esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person".

But perhaps I'm being too harsh on the Empire - they might have the greatest of respect for Darth Vader. After all, his policy on failure ensures rapid career advancement. ;)

Take care!

[patrick hubert]

To be

The Appearance Is
Matter
Consciousness
Movement.

The consciousness is
Feeling,growth,
Perception,displacement,
Appearance,communication.

Conscious is.

[Chris]

Merci pour le poème, Patrick! And translated from the French at no extra charge, too. :) Pour le persone qui parle Francais, voici..