The Power of the Few curve proved to be dictating our economic-material reality. Our (economic-materialist) reality is determined by the current power of the few: Dictatorship of the Bourgeoisie. In the future, to be guided into the road of socialism and communism with the power of the many: Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
The many countries which has experienced the latter, has been sabotaged and curtailed by trading obstacles and counter strategies by countries controlled by the Dictatorship of the Bourgeoisie. What is the Bourgeoisie? The group of people who are wealthy or rich who hire workers.
Book of Revolution
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Chapter 31 - The Power of the Few Curve
Chapter 31 - The Power of the Few Curve
The power of the few is the result concerning the dynamics between the business firms and the current manifested forms of government. It is suggested, in the absence of a near communist utopia, the business firms are the actual rulers of society. They are the gate keepers for what is allowed in society. For instance, they allow which religion is to be expressed within a specific country and society. They control the courts and legislative body. They control which spatial geographic features are constructed on land and sea. They control what is consumed and produced. The previous more so as factual during the modern age.
The Power of the Few Curve |
The above representation shows that on the right the conservative core existed in the past. The conservative core represented the single ruler. These single rulers were the monarchs and past tribal leaders. The usual leadership pattern of the past is a feature of the pre-modern era: single ruler reinforced with the derivatives of religious beliefs. However; when modernism, along with the proliferation of science and technology, became a predominant feature of human consciousness then the noted few ruled the said country. The reason is because the modern era removed the divinity and fear of the sole ruler. The power shifted, because of the ever onslaught of science and technology, to the few business owners (or a few persons even in a non-technological communist country). This power shift is a liberalization of the past conservative ruling political power. The RED LINE are the business owners operating within a liberal democracy and political landscape. If allowed to proliferate, during the condition of this time period, then it would become a neoliberal identification and general political condition. It would be logical to conclude where the red line meets the curve the neoliberal condition exists. It would be called the Neo-Liberal vertex point. The destination point, towards the lower right, is the condition of near communist utopia. Which is a condition where government no longer exists because high technology circulating within society would at this time dissolve government of any form. The state entity was simply a tool by communists to achieve this condition. The previous is a distinguishing argument between anarchists and communists. Anarchists are for total destruction of government without taking control of government or the existence of high technology. Communists would dissolve the business firms immediately, to centralize the government control of society, and then introduce the high technological industries themselves to attain the near communist utopia. Of course, history has shown that when communists attempt to do this it results in the opposite affect with the removal civil liberties. The red space is therefore the theoretical separation between a functioning technological liberal democracy and the near communist utopia condition. The former is more practical and the latter a theoretical construct.
The functioning technological liberal democracy allows the input of the business firms in society but controls them through sensible legislation and regulations. The "sensible" compass directed by the measure of nature rather than mankind or the unseen measure. This is shown as it heads towards the right point but is separated, theoretically, from the near communist utopian point. Most importantly, in a functioning technological liberal democracy, civil liberties are preserved in a republican form of government. The meaning of "republican" is the absence of a pure democracy and that a representative republic is operating. The meaning of "liberal" is the separation of conservative core representation of political power through a single leader. Such regulations of the business firms is more possibly a reality as global warming becomes the norm.
The evolution of the conservative core and its derivatives
The showcase of such evolution is shown between the four gospels. The change of theme between the Pauline Dispensationalist documents (The three Gospels of Matthew, Luke and Mark) and the Millennial document (The Gospel of John). The previous thoroughly explained, in an earlier chapter, concerning the Book of Hebrews and its questionable authorship. In the pre-modern era, religions reinforced the leadership of human society. Only in ancient Greece, the absence of religions, as a philosophical thought, was allowed to exist in a social laboratory setting expressed in one or many of the city-states. In a general debate, the previous, such philosophical expressions was expressed by those exposing its absence and the reinforcement of beliefs through two ancient Greek philosophical trends: The sophists' "Man is the measure of all things" and Plato's "Unseen measure".
What has been observed since the dawn of the modern age, since the 1500s, is the decrease of the importance of the conservative cored leadership of a single government entity in a single person. Furthermore, what has occurred is the proliferation of religious sects since 1500. The introduction of secular conservative manifestations and movements has also occurred after the late 1700s. The Industrial revolution has not only increased the proliferation of consuming products but also increased conservative reactions to the influx of technology into society. The previous is why these conservative manifestations, and its derivatives, are termed "reactionary". While the liberal actions, like the increase of pro-environmental consciousness, has resulted in pro-environmental movements. Liberal actions are such as "actionary" because it deals with the problem as a current reality and does not convey nostalgic tribal sentiments.
These social manifestations are both liberal and reactionary conservative. The liberal component is more in the acceptance of such phenomena while the "reactionary" is simply a nostalgic attempt to psychologically capture the pre-modern era within the age of technological and industrial advancements. The latter is more dangerous because weapons of war are more sophisticated than the previous era of pre-modernism. The previous is why the separation of religion and government must be observed by all current governments after the irreversible social process of modernism.
The increase of more religious sects are also more common as the religious interpretations attempt to parallel, and explain away, technological and scientific advancements into society by the business firms. The previous Biblical showcase has presented this social phenomena with the transformation of the Dispensational viewpoint into the Millennial viewpoint within the New Testament canon.
These social conservative reactions, and reactionary movements, has not only endangered the human race but has disrupted liberal democracy. It has created setbacks to the forward movement of the transformation of the social/political phases of early liberal democracy into full technological liberal democracy where civil liberties are preserved.
Such setbacks are allowed to fester during the competing shifts between the few on top of the money pyramid. These setbacks occur because some business firms benefit from old technology while preventing new technology from being manufactured and introduced into society. The previous competition exhibited between the business firms should be allowed but within the framework of keeping a functioning liberal democracy.
The definition of a Liberal person is a person who has accepted the realities of the current proliferation of knowledge and science throughout society. The Liberal person is therefore freeing themselves from the old spirit of the conservative cored leadership, and its current fossilized social derivatives, by embracing the new realities of modernism. "Liber" is the root of where the definition "Liberal" derives and it means to free the person from the conservative pre-modern plethora of notions. This is where the "individualism" of Alexis De Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, derives from. The previous is a summary of Alexis' observation concerning America and its dynamics between the business firm entity, government and persons. Out of his many observations and predictions, the danger of the business firm(s) taking over government was one of his fears. The previous, neoliberal condition, is a threat to the existence of the young American republic.
Alexis explains the previous in one chapter of his book - Democracy in America - where individualism is fully evaluated according to the social laboratory settings of his era. In the chapter - Chapter IV(4) That the Americans combat the effects of individualism by Free Institutions - Alexis gives us a conservative viewpoint or lenses to the American liberal condition. It must be noted that Alexis' views are tainted with conservative viewpoints with some hints of truth.
Alexis' "individualism" was noted as an American feature and has some important showcases despite the various flaws in American history........
Chapter 30 - Global Warming Factor
Chapter 30 - The Global Warming Factor
The factor of global warming has already introduced the need for centralized government at a dangerous stage where high technology is not in circulation to sufficiently answer the current human needs. This is what we are currently observing as fact:
Pollution --> Global Warming --> Increased Desertification --> Increased Urbanization --> Decreased Civil Liberties.
There are many countries which fit the above scenario in a local setting. Especially in parts of Africa where increased desertification has affected public policy of the said country. There is a strong possibility that many countries will experience increased flooding and submerging because of disappearance of the polar ice caps. Many islands in the pacific will disappear and as some are actual countries. Therefore, we will lose countries in the future. The only solution is for the development of space industries and green industries. The former for space exploration and the later to preserve what the human race has left on earth. Space exploration to settle on all of our planets and utilize their resources to explore our corner of the galaxy and beyond. Such exploration is part of the human experience and human impulse. This drive is to naturally escape urbanized governments and find new resources. Green economies are implementable throughout all countries while space industries are limited to a very few.
The facts are that human activity is adding to the existing natural warming stages of the Earth. The previous could be attained through the research of physical geographers showing that natural global warming existed. Nevertheless, human activity, through business firms output as new technology, will be an addition to the natural global warming condition.
There are many countries which fit the above scenario in a local setting. Especially in parts of Africa where increased desertification has affected public policy of the said country. There is a strong possibility that many countries will experience increased flooding and submerging because of disappearance of the polar ice caps. Many islands in the pacific will disappear and as some are actual countries. Therefore, we will lose countries in the future. The only solution is for the development of space industries and green industries. The former for space exploration and the later to preserve what the human race has left on earth. Space exploration to settle on all of our planets and utilize their resources to explore our corner of the galaxy and beyond. Such exploration is part of the human experience and human impulse. This drive is to naturally escape urbanized governments and find new resources. Green economies are implementable throughout all countries while space industries are limited to a very few.
The facts are that human activity is adding to the existing natural warming stages of the Earth. The previous could be attained through the research of physical geographers showing that natural global warming existed. Nevertheless, human activity, through business firms output as new technology, will be an addition to the natural global warming condition.
'Nature is the measure of All Things'
In the pre-modern era, the philosophical debate has been between the sophists and the followers of Plato. It may be argued that some of the followers of Plato were stoics. The sophists believed that 'Man is the measure of all things' while the followers of Plato believed 'The unseen is the measure of all things' or the 'Unseen measure'. The latter allows the hint of a creator or god into the equation of reality. The former, the sophists' position, is an indicator which leads to the possibility of atheism. The onset of the modern age, after the year A.D. 1500, has resulted in a third formula: 'Nature is the measure of all things'. The previous is more apparent after the industrial revolution where industrial waste was known to create hazards for human beings. The increase consciousness to preserve nature has been the rally cry for many as rural geographical distinctions decrease over the years yielding to more urbanization.
The formula, for the above phenomena, is presented as such:
The formula, for the above phenomena, is presented as such:
Nature --> Scarcity --> Material Policy --> The Person
As nature is disturbed, through pollution, the increase specter of scarcity occurs. Scarcity determines consumer prices especially for the decrease of food items. These disturbances allows for the shaping of a projected material policy. The previous is not only a phenomena but a proven truth which negates the two previous Greek philosophical positions.
There are also various historical examples where dramatic climate change forced migrations......
There are also various historical examples where dramatic climate change forced migrations......
Chapter 29 - 'Omnia Sunt Communia'
Chapter 29 - 'Omnia Sunt Communia'
The observation given by Thomas Müntzer is accurate when describing the social relationship between the ruled and rulers. Thomas was a contemporary of Martin Luther and gave sermons throughout Germany during the time of the birth of the Christian Protestant movement. What were the conditions which forced his observations? It was the rebellion of the peasants because of their conditions of poverty which led to the social upheaval. In other words, the increased spectacle of poverty among the German Christian populace. Martin Luther addressed a problem which originated from social inequality and focused on the lack of justice among the Christian community. Thomas Müntzer touched, through sermons and the act of rebellion, the actual core of the problem. A problem which exposes the flaw of the Christian religion: the lack of material justice or equity in response of the influx of new technological social changes. Thomas Müntzer goes on to say before his death in Latin:
‘omnia sunt communia’
– "all things are to be held in common and distribution should be to each according to his need".
In political science, the above showcase presents the invalidity of symbolic policy versus the validity of material policy. The strength of the previous has produced true and proven doctrines even in the academia of psychology. For instance, Abraham Maslow's 'hierarchy of needs' is the proven formula and doctrine based on the material realm. Karl Marx' observations are based and proven through the rebellion of the German peasants during the time of Thomas Müntzer.
Why is the above so relevant and universal?
All forms of technology deriving from various manifestations of the business firm entity creates the social ills and social disturbances. During this time of Martin Luther and Thomas Müntzer, it was the invention of the printing press which represented the "new technology". The business firms, potentially one or several lucky business firm(s) - through elastic dynamics, could create what is called - Creative Destruction - in the economic market sphere of a country and countries. "Creative Destruction" occurs when a new technology put out of business old technology therefore creating mass unemployment. The previous discussed by both Joseph A. Schumpeter and Karl Marx. The previous is the nature of capitalism and not just "crony" capitalism. This is why it is crucial that a stable, strong and reasonable state entity has to exist to prevent the opposite from manifesting - social rebellions and open violence against fellow citizens. It is the "Creative Destruction" of the economic market, eons or years of human historical production, which has made countries wealthy or poor. It has caused swings in the market and for the flow of wealth to be exchanged between competing countries. The invisible variable or factor is "religion". In fact, all forms of religion, deriving from the minds of human beings and humanity-at-large (social dynamics) are molded by economic markets. The previous is a thesis by Marxist academics and showing that materialism guides humanity's decisions and destiny. Furthermore, what is given as a solution, by Marxists, is the centralized control of society and government to curtail the effects of the various acts of the business firms. However, this early implementation, without the existence of high technology circulating in society, deriving from the competition of business firms, has resulted in disastrous totalitarian regimes or governments which have sacrificed civil liberties in the pursuit of centralized government and its objectives. One of its social objectives is the absence of money but without high technology such Marxistic communist ventures will not be successful. The outlook, or world-view by Marxists, is that the business firms represent decentralization and a departure of the early tribal centralized control by a single leader. In the next stage of development (in the current setting), Marxists envision themselves as the technological manifestation of the previous tribal leadership. The alternative, in the absence of high technology, is socialism where money still circulates and the business firms could still exist. The previous would also guarantee the preservation of civil liberties within a sensible social equilibrium between the existence of a larger "Leviathan" government versus social chaos (rebellions) until high technology is introduced by the business firms. What is "high technology"? Technology which could address the needs of humanity-at-large at a reasonable and equitable condition expressed through 'hierarchy of needs'.
What Martin Luther fails to realize is that the problem derives from the business firms themselves! The Christian religion, since its founding, has not really addressed the actual problem. The previous problem also exists within Islam and other belief systems. All forms of religions are conservative reactionary tools attempting to fix the new manifested liberal social trends deriving from the introduction of new technology into society. Martin Luther's reactions and acts towards the problem was to attack the Catholic Church's indulgences of "sins", through its pardons by acts of its followers, and to promote the primitivism stated within the Book of Acts. The Christian primitivism, discussed in earlier chapters, is to suggest that Christian followers are to surrender all their wealth and not engage in any form of violence. The previous two points are some of its pillars. The problem was exposed as a contradiction versus human behavior. In other words, to actually implement Christianity, in its pure form following the words of Jesus himself, would weaken "Christian" countries against their competitors. The previous is observed as such as Martin Luther's view against Islam was viewed as pacifism but actually expressed Jesus orders expressed in the New Testament. The other profound problem, rather the conservative reaction, has been the implementation of social regulation based on religious precepts. The previous episode proven to be a failure by my own English ancestors through the implementation of the Parliament of Saints by Oliver Cromwell's leadership. All the mentioned manifestations will eventually lead to some or most citizens of a country experiencing the removal of "unalienable Rights". These rights are imprinted overall as civil liberties which are natural rights reconstituted through a "Leviathan" government. The tragedy of the removal of civil liberties, showcased through English history, is an example of the improper implementation of religious precepts.
The irreversible flow diagram is presented as such:
Business firms output --> Technology--> Increased liberalism & the decrease of religions --> Constitutions of Countries expressing the changing social fabric --> Near communist utopia or condition.
The presented flow diagram is an irreversible process despite periods of social conservatism, war-in-response, or the temporary increase of religious observances, and the increase of religious sects. The power of technology has molded minds, and eventually governments, to its eventual human final destination - Near communist utopia. The previous predicted by Karl Marx himself (before my late additional input). No doubt, that some of his predictions were evidence for slow social evolutionary changes rather than immediate revolution. However, the political malpractice is focused on his remedies rather than his correct identification of the symptoms. The reason why business firms must exist is the same reason why eventually the people will call for near communist governments in the future despite periods of reactionary governments. The output of the business firms provide the needs of human beings but at the same time introduces new social liberal trends and reactionary dangers. These social liberal trends are a permanent feature of a counter-culture deriving from the competition of business firms establishing their own social regulations within the dynamics of workplace competition.
Increased globalization is a natural reaction to the introduction of increased new technologies which have created a global laboratory of creative destruction. The proper act is to have a responsive and sensible government to address the devaluation of important items. The previous economic paradigm suggests that a state entity (leviathan) has to exist to preserve civil liberties deriving from the social contract itself.
Of course, there will be temporary increased reactionary governments but these will either first destroy large segments of humanity or be removed by the people themselves initially or later. The end result being the creation of a near communist utopia. Social Alienation and the various epidemics of over-production, results of the influx of new technologies into the economic market and its interaction with the human race, has resulted in two opposing camps among the surviving human beings: revolutionary and reactionary. The former guided by the pursuit of inclusion through social justice and the later submitting to their near-sighted sole tribal exclusionary impulses.
My own observation, or theory, is that a third column is being created during the process. This third group later decides which two main groups to join when social and political tensions arise. This particular category of people are apolitical until a material benefit is removed by the winning political faction controlling public policy. They are by-products of consumer capitalism and express a type of selfishness deriving from the (neo)liberal condition. They are "market consumers" as Benjamin R. Barber suggested in Consumed. They are branded as such and because of their sole occupation in consumption are a third group by themselves. They are yet revolutionary conscious or reactionary infected. The differentiation between the two mentioned main groups is simple to distinguish because the former is far sighted and the later is near sighted. In other words, one is for the future of mankind and the other is limited by tribal impulsive selfish interests.
These market consumers, the holders of hyperconsumerism and Herbert Marcuse's 'One-Dimensional person', are ideally nihilistic towards all but themselves. In fact, they are exhibit A for the reason why there is no such thing as "postmodernism". These market consumers are such because they concentrate on one factor - consumption. The market consumers are one-dimensional because they do not vote and are not conscious of other issues around them. The previous is the definition of "Nihilism" in the so-called postmodern age. The theory is then put forward: In the absence of a so-called postmodern age, Nihilism is exhibited in the market consumer person who later would create the modern nihilistic crisis. On page 217 of Consumed, by Benjamin R. Barber, explains the problem of the formation and effects of the One-Dimensional person:
Of course, there will be temporary increased reactionary governments but these will either first destroy large segments of humanity or be removed by the people themselves initially or later. The end result being the creation of a near communist utopia. Social Alienation and the various epidemics of over-production, results of the influx of new technologies into the economic market and its interaction with the human race, has resulted in two opposing camps among the surviving human beings: revolutionary and reactionary. The former guided by the pursuit of inclusion through social justice and the later submitting to their near-sighted sole tribal exclusionary impulses.
My own observation, or theory, is that a third column is being created during the process. This third group later decides which two main groups to join when social and political tensions arise. This particular category of people are apolitical until a material benefit is removed by the winning political faction controlling public policy. They are by-products of consumer capitalism and express a type of selfishness deriving from the (neo)liberal condition. They are "market consumers" as Benjamin R. Barber suggested in Consumed. They are branded as such and because of their sole occupation in consumption are a third group by themselves. They are yet revolutionary conscious or reactionary infected. The differentiation between the two mentioned main groups is simple to distinguish because the former is far sighted and the later is near sighted. In other words, one is for the future of mankind and the other is limited by tribal impulsive selfish interests.
These market consumers, the holders of hyperconsumerism and Herbert Marcuse's 'One-Dimensional person', are ideally nihilistic towards all but themselves. In fact, they are exhibit A for the reason why there is no such thing as "postmodernism". These market consumers are such because they concentrate on one factor - consumption. The market consumers are one-dimensional because they do not vote and are not conscious of other issues around them. The previous is the definition of "Nihilism" in the so-called postmodern age. The theory is then put forward: In the absence of a so-called postmodern age, Nihilism is exhibited in the market consumer person who later would create the modern nihilistic crisis. On page 217 of Consumed, by Benjamin R. Barber, explains the problem of the formation and effects of the One-Dimensional person:
" ...although not totalitarian, robs liberty of its civic meaning and threatens pluralism's civic vitality."
No doubt, that the main two groups, involved in liberal democracy, dictates public policy. While the third group also assists the later. The main feature of liberal democracy is its weakness to purge out such elements. The reason for its weakness is its social laboratory settings in allowing such ideas to circulate so society-at-large could later decide in keeping or purging out, through voting, the weaker ideas. The weakness of liberal democracy, through pure innocence, is it allows the infected party to control public policy. This one time opportunity, the stage of pure innocence, is the chance where liberal democracy could be put to death until the people see it and stop the injustice.
The groups of social conscious are political parties expressing such awareness of the business cycles and the social affects of the business firms. Here, we identify that these groups are not necessarily communists or marxists. In fact, the communist party and marxists belong solely in the academia field rather than being openly involved in the political field. The reason is because their implementation, at this stage of human development, would be disastrous for us all. While their ideas, treated as futuristic visions, should be for later implementations.
The common constant being the survival of the human race. The pursuit of social justice, over the years or eons or eras, among human beings brings evidence of the previously mentioned constant. Social justice, and neither religion nor traditions, has been the guardian of the human race against the continuous onslaught of new technology.
The book by Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan - contributed to the idea of social contract. Another political philosopher by the name of Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote another treatise called On the Social Contract which also explains Social Contract Theory. The pursuit of social justice is the driving force of Social Contract Theory. The reasons are civil order and civil liberties derive from the Social Contract Theory. Social Contract Theory has drawn up borders between human beings in society expressing their own individualistic natural rights. The act of creating these borders, between the natural rights of human beings, is called civil liberties. Therefore, civil liberties are the remaining difference of natural rights left after being subtracted by a state entity. In the legal field, the mentioned remainders are called negative rights. When the government adds more definition to rights these later creations are called positive rights.
Today or presently (within the year of 2016), the fear of Tyrannaphobia has gripped most liberal democracies. The term was mentioned by Thomas Hobbes as he described the episode of the English puritan movement in their fear of being strongly governed or as today where the current fear is a strong centralized government ruling society. Of course, such mantra is championed by conservative persons and social reactionaries. I propose that such fear, of being strongly governed, will be a permanent feature in the future. It will be because of the power of the few which will be mentioned in a later chapter.
In fact, my theory is that Tyrannaphobia derives from liberalism or the liberalization of conservative cored power over years. It was bound to happen as the human race approached A.D. 1500 - the beginning of the modern era. During this time, in Germany or continental Europe, the phenomena of the Anabaptist movement was occurring in many areas. Through individuals like Melchior Hoffman and others, the Apocalyptic fervor claimed many victims. These individuals, without Melchior, took control of the German city called Münster. They claimed the city to be "New Jerusalem" and imposed social restrictions for the years A.D. 1534-1535.
The Münster Rebellion occurred after the Great Peasants' War (1524-1525). These Anabaptist social rebellions are rooted in the liberal spirit. However, under the meaning of preserving traditions or maintaining religious foundations. Of course, one of the participants of the Great Peasants' War was Thomas Müntzer. The problem of the Anabaptist rebellion created the Anabaptist impulse. The Anabaptist impulse, even though an internal Christian problem, has affected human society. The Anabaptist impulse is really an exhibit of the religion's failure to address modern technological questions within human society. This could be observed through the evolution of Dispensationalism to Millennialism explained in the earlier chapters.
Thomas Hobbes explains this problem directly concerning the failure of this traditional and conservative impulse to regain control of human society from the effects of technology. On page 183, Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes provides the observation:
" ... Not considering the frequent Seditions, and Civil wars, produced by the imperfection of their Policy ..."
Thomas Hobbes properly addressed the problem because the puritans relied on ancient Greek philosophers like Plato to keep society traditional. Plato, and Greek philosophers like him, relying on the "unseen measure" to dictate and control society through the Parliament of Saints. Such measures created the spectacle of civil war against fellow Catholics and others. Thomas Hobbes later goes on to develop the Social Contract Theory and its importance to create civility through secularism.
If we look back at the Book of Revelation by John, he attacks "Nominal" Christians and separates them into a different category (Revelation 3:16). Such notions means that the problem originated early in Christian history. The previous would suggest that there is a pre-modern and modern era Anabaptist impulse.
No doubt, that the main two groups, involved in liberal democracy, dictates public policy. While the third group also assists the later. The main feature of liberal democracy is its weakness to purge out such elements. The reason for its weakness is its social laboratory settings in allowing such ideas to circulate so society-at-large could later decide in keeping or purging out, through voting, the weaker ideas. The weakness of liberal democracy, through pure innocence, is it allows the infected party to control public policy. This one time opportunity, the stage of pure innocence, is the chance where liberal democracy could be put to death until the people see it and stop the injustice.
The groups of social conscious are political parties expressing such awareness of the business cycles and the social affects of the business firms. Here, we identify that these groups are not necessarily communists or marxists. In fact, the communist party and marxists belong solely in the academia field rather than being openly involved in the political field. The reason is because their implementation, at this stage of human development, would be disastrous for us all. While their ideas, treated as futuristic visions, should be for later implementations.
The common constant being the survival of the human race. The pursuit of social justice, over the years or eons or eras, among human beings brings evidence of the previously mentioned constant. Social justice, and neither religion nor traditions, has been the guardian of the human race against the continuous onslaught of new technology.
The book by Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan - contributed to the idea of social contract. Another political philosopher by the name of Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote another treatise called On the Social Contract which also explains Social Contract Theory. The pursuit of social justice is the driving force of Social Contract Theory. The reasons are civil order and civil liberties derive from the Social Contract Theory. Social Contract Theory has drawn up borders between human beings in society expressing their own individualistic natural rights. The act of creating these borders, between the natural rights of human beings, is called civil liberties. Therefore, civil liberties are the remaining difference of natural rights left after being subtracted by a state entity. In the legal field, the mentioned remainders are called negative rights. When the government adds more definition to rights these later creations are called positive rights.
Today or presently (within the year of 2016), the fear of Tyrannaphobia has gripped most liberal democracies. The term was mentioned by Thomas Hobbes as he described the episode of the English puritan movement in their fear of being strongly governed or as today where the current fear is a strong centralized government ruling society. Of course, such mantra is championed by conservative persons and social reactionaries. I propose that such fear, of being strongly governed, will be a permanent feature in the future. It will be because of the power of the few which will be mentioned in a later chapter.
In fact, my theory is that Tyrannaphobia derives from liberalism or the liberalization of conservative cored power over years. It was bound to happen as the human race approached A.D. 1500 - the beginning of the modern era. During this time, in Germany or continental Europe, the phenomena of the Anabaptist movement was occurring in many areas. Through individuals like Melchior Hoffman and others, the Apocalyptic fervor claimed many victims. These individuals, without Melchior, took control of the German city called Münster. They claimed the city to be "New Jerusalem" and imposed social restrictions for the years A.D. 1534-1535.
The Münster Rebellion occurred after the Great Peasants' War (1524-1525). These Anabaptist social rebellions are rooted in the liberal spirit. However, under the meaning of preserving traditions or maintaining religious foundations. Of course, one of the participants of the Great Peasants' War was Thomas Müntzer. The problem of the Anabaptist rebellion created the Anabaptist impulse. The Anabaptist impulse, even though an internal Christian problem, has affected human society. The Anabaptist impulse is really an exhibit of the religion's failure to address modern technological questions within human society. This could be observed through the evolution of Dispensationalism to Millennialism explained in the earlier chapters.
Thomas Hobbes explains this problem directly concerning the failure of this traditional and conservative impulse to regain control of human society from the effects of technology. On page 183, Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes provides the observation:
" ... Not considering the frequent Seditions, and Civil wars, produced by the imperfection of their Policy ..."
Thomas Hobbes properly addressed the problem because the puritans relied on ancient Greek philosophers like Plato to keep society traditional. Plato, and Greek philosophers like him, relying on the "unseen measure" to dictate and control society through the Parliament of Saints. Such measures created the spectacle of civil war against fellow Catholics and others. Thomas Hobbes later goes on to develop the Social Contract Theory and its importance to create civility through secularism.
If we look back at the Book of Revelation by John, he attacks "Nominal" Christians and separates them into a different category (Revelation 3:16). Such notions means that the problem originated early in Christian history. The previous would suggest that there is a pre-modern and modern era Anabaptist impulse.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Chapter 28 - The Theory of Moral Deposition
Chapter
28 - The Theory of Moral Deposition
X0 = An earlier unknown tribe or
various earlier religious affiliations or identities
X1 = Ancient Egyptian beliefs or the
Babylonian belief system
X2 = Judaism
X3 = Christianity
X4 = Islam
X* = "religion" to
Philosophy (the materially predicted future) without "religion".
Despite its various application of
both observed principles - the 'Abhorrence of Murder' and the 'Abhorrence of
stealing' - , both are still observed by all or most of the above identities.
All or most of the identities recognize these virtues as socially applied and
relevant principles. The different interpretations and various applications by
the above participants is a moral subjective exercise but its survival through
human history or through social evolution makes the principles uniquely
objective. The reason of why it is objective is because of its survival through
dialectical and material history.
The theory of deposition is to
expressly state that these social virtues are objective because of the process
of human (or sentient beings) trial and error over several years. Through the
example of Human society, being the lab of experimentation, these virtues will
be proven to be objective.
Here we introduce the intramolecular
forces of water. Water is defined chemically as having two hydrogen atoms and
one oxygen atom. The bonds that attaches these elements of nature are known and
termed to be - "covalent". These bonds are "covalent"
because they are more stronger attachments that make elements into compounds or
molecules rather than weaker bonds that attaches two or more compounds
together. For example, compounds or molecules are a group of elements attached
together by these bonds. The "deposition" is when the molecule or
compounds are translated into another phase of their existence - from gas to
solid. For instance, in the case of water (H2O) it exist in three phases:
solid, liquid, and gas phases. Water has a triple phase where all three phases
exists simultaneously together.
Before presenting the evidence, let
me address an issue of concern. I am not violating the Humean philosophical
observation: The error of deriving an 'ought' from an 'is'. In other words,
defining a new theory from a scientific or factual observation to define a
philosophical phenomena. Furthermore, that is to define an immaterial concept
from a material construct or factual observation. This error has been observed
to exist within the social philosophical program of Herbert Spencer, the author
of 'social darwanism', where the application of such idea resulted in socially
disastrous consequences. The Theory of Moral Deposition does not destroy the
greatest happiness for the greatest good principle. While 'social darwanism'
has committed such a flaw because of its unfilled explanations and
expectations. The observation by David Hume, where the Humean dictum derives,
is an observation proven true by the attempted applications of 'social
darwanism'. Herbert Spencer's attempted application was an attempt to forcibly
create bonds with non-related forces: natural selection(observed by Charles
Darwin) and economics. In other words, biology and capitalism. The result of
these attempted merging is the reason of its failure to be a reasonable
philosophy. Herbert Spencer mistake and error comes from extracting a
particular study of biology and then attempting to merge it with economics. In
other words, the subject of 'natural selection' is more constant and not
variables like economics or capitalism. The reason for the previous statement
is because "economics" and/or "capitalism" has been molded
or reformed over time without the usage of "natural selection". For
example, through social evolution, modern secular democracy derives from the
repulsion of "divine" monarchy which through its repulsion created
other political systems. These other political systems created, and through
consequence, ushered in socialism and other forms of economics. While natural
selection is a constant concept which could not be reformed to fit with the
variables of economics. For example; a person with no substansive material
wealth, or background based on wealth, could become a leader of a nation. The
previous observation would make 'social darwanism' contradictory. The
"survival of the fittest" does not apply among sentient species who
have developed, through social evolution, systems which take care of the
economically weak and socially disenfrenchised.
The theory of moral deposition would
present a new way of seeing the relationship between its two functions of
morality - objective and subjective forms. The intramolecular forces of water
would show this relationship while not violating the Humean dictum. Let us
return to the previous presentation of the evolution of "religion",
and some of its principles, within some segments of human society. While it is
termed "human" society it could also be applied to all or most
sentient beings. The previous statement or observation will be addressed much
later. The above presentation shows the letter "X". Imagine that this
letter is the Oxygen element of water. The "X" is the objective
principle while its attachments makes it subjective.
For example, Oxygen by itself is an
element but when attached by two Hydrogen atoms it transforms into a water
molecule or compound. Oxygen despite its relationship with other elements is
still an element of nature. Only when it is attached with other elements,
described as the intramolecular force, the relationship transforms the elements
into a molecule(compound) of water. Through the example of water, the
"bonds" could now be identified. The existence of objective morality
exists along and within of what is described as subjective morality and not as
seperate concrete concepts. These "bonds" are social practices.
Alasdair MacIntyre is the first doctoral scholar to have identified the
importance of social practices but he has not identified the intra-relationship
between objective and subjective morality. In the above examples, the numbers
above or numerical values(0,1,2,3,*) are the particular social practices or a
particular "religion" attached to a proven objective principle:
(X) = Objective principles like the
'Abhorrence of murder' and the 'Abhorrence of stealing'.
(0,1,2,3,*) = Social practices
attached to objective principles during a particular era which temporarily
transforms an objective principle into a seemingly subjective one.
The application of the Theory of
Moral Deposition would present a unique view and prove the above presentation.
The meaning of the theory of Moral Deposition is to convey that an idea or
moral principle is no longer subjective but rather objective proven through the
timeline of history. In other words, the theory is expressing something similar
to a 'gas to solid' phase or transformation of an idea or moral principle into
something concrete or real in the physical world. For example, 'gas to
solid'(chemical deposition in nature) or 'theory to practice' or 'ideas to
practical application'. In contrast, sublimation - 'solid to gas' transformation
or 'practical application to theory' observation. The "attachments"
to objective principles are the social practices which transforms it,
temporarily, into subjective principles/practices. The survival of ideas within
the marketplace of ideas is a proper example of the "survival of the
fittest" in comparison to Herbert Spencer's 'social darwanism'. The ideas
that survive through social evolution becomes over time social concrete
principles therefore becoming objective.
Another example would be to use a
political science idea from E.E. Schattschneider's political theory of
"agenda universe" to illustrate another angle of the argument - the
introduction of the principle from a theory area. Here is E.E.
Schattschneider's theory of the evolution of an agenda:
Agenda Universe --> Systemic
Agenda --> Institutional Agenda --> Decision Agenda (Legislation of a
Bill that becomes law).
Let us replace "agenda"
with "moral theory" then imagine the social evolution of a moral
principle over several years. It started earlier as a "moral
theory"(agenda universe) and then was proven to be a "moral principle".
When it transforms into a "moral principle" it became a legally
unsaid social contract, i.e. natural law. The social evolution of a "moral
theory" would become practical when proven to be as such through social
trial and error. The change of status from subjective to objective principles
which are then adopted by other groups and tribes is a natural process.
Therefore, it is neither a supernatural nor an ultra-natural process.
The above eliminates the idea that
our laws derive from "divine" inspiration or more specifically that
the law(s) of Moses are divinely inspired. The so-called ten commandments of
Moses derive from natural observations which are an interpretation of the
material environment. In the case of the Ten Commandments, the laws are both a
product of the previous "commandments" within the previous Egyptian
belief system and Moses' new laws deriving from particular new circumstances.
Then Moses' circumstances developed or evolved into customs and social
practices which are subjective. For example, to "follow the Sabbath"
is a particular Jewish social practice and command which has nothing to do with
the recently extinct ancient Egyptian custom(s). The command - "Follow the
Sabbath" - is proof of the opposite observation: The eventual sublimation
of some social practices attached to a particular belief structure. For
instance, the growth or the increase of a particular brand of Christianity, Pauline
Christianity, may make this particular Jewish observation extinct. Let us
imagine if all of the stated "religions" disappear. Then only the
proven objective moral principles will survive.
The last part of the equation
presented above is noted as - (X*) - , a dialectical and historical material
prediction, when the increase of technology followed by new discoveries results
in the gradual sublimation of "religion". In other words, any type of
"religion" is sublimated through the historical material timeline.
Furthermore, only the proven objective moral codes are deposited in the
historical material timeline. Moreover, the last segment of the equation
represents a variable which is all around us presently and also a prediction of
the eventual triumph of materialism. The question is would this materialism be
molded to conform to material justice or material injustice? Moreover, it
represents the variable of infinity and also the eventual sublimation of
"religion". In other words; the other numerical values, within the
presentation above represents "religions", and the absence of it,
with the complimentary social practices. Therefore, what is the relationship
between "religions" and philosophies? "religions" are
philosophies but not all philosophies are "religions". For example,
the philosophy of social darwanism and the philosophy of communism are both
derived from philosophical materialism. Hence, the reason why general moral
objective principles outlive their shells called "religion" and even
philosophies.
The problem of social darwanism is
not that it derives from philosophical materialism but that it violates
material development of society and therefore material justice. The material philosophy
of communism has been proven to be flawed because it concentrates power
unjustly into one important segment of society - the state. The achievement of
material justice in society is the democratic possession of wealth, and the
flow of materials in society, between three important segments - the worker (or
the people), the state and the corporation entity. The new forms of socialism,
recent interpretations of Karl Marx ideas developed after world war two, have
tried to achieve the balance of material flow in society and therefore material
justice. The two individuals, within the human timeline which are well known,
developed two outcomes with precise and accurate predictions: Adam Smith and
Karl Marx. These are the two outcomes combined with my own observations in
order: (1) The existence of material justice creates the mechanism for material
circulation. (2) The existence of material injustices creates the peripherals
of social tensions.
Are materialists generally without
moral principles? This is an unfair question because of the known social
evolution within human history. Let me present, as an example, W.D. Ross' six
Prima Facie duties: Duties of Fidelity, Duties of Gratitude, Duties of Justice,
Duties of Beneficence, Duties of Self-Improvement, and Duties of
Non-Maleficience. All of the previous "duties" were simply natural
observations and could be followed without a "divine" command. The
question is given and followed by an obvious answer: Is there morality without
god or a creator? Yes.
Another colonial revolutionary, also known importantly, as one of the American founding fathers was Thomas Jefferson. The founding father was known to say relevant opinions during his time. Many of his quotes could be found in the founding document concerning the foundation of the United States. One of his quotes reflected his opinion concerning Christianity:
"The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills" -Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814.
"To talk of immaterial existences is to talk of nothings. To say that the human soul, angels, god, are immaterial, is to say they are nothings, or that there is no god, no angels, no soul. I cannot reason otherwise: but I believe I am supported in my creed of materialism by Locke, Tracy, and Stewart. At what age of the Christian church this heresy of immaterialism, this masked atheism, crept in, I do not know. But heresy it certainly is" -Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, Aug. 15, 1820.
"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law"
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814.
The previous statement was meant and intentional to create a separation of powers which was earlier expressed by Baron De Montesquieu in The Spirit of Laws. The previous statement also expresses the separation of history between Christianity and the legal codes.
"If we did a good act merely from love of God and a belief that it is pleasing to Him, whence arises the morality of the Atheist? ...Their virtue, then, must have had some other foundation than the love of God" -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Law, June 13, 1814.
"As you say of yourself, I too am an Epicurian. I consider the genuine (not the imputed) doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greece and Rome have left us" -Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Short, Oct. 31, 1819.
"And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors" -Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823.
The previous volumes of quotes from one of the founding fathers gives us all hope that the future will be bright for humanity as it clears away superstitious beliefs and so-called supernatural events with rational explanations with the tools of science and reason.
Unfortunately, there are too many indoctrinated human beings on Earth and the followings of irrational belief systems will only lead to the complete destruction of the human race because of new destructive weapons.
Thomas Jefferson, one of the most important American founding fathers, left us a quote through history concerning his opinion of the Book of Revelation:
"It is between fifty and sixty years since I read it [the Apocalypse], and I then considered it merely the ravings of a maniac, no more worthy nor capable of explanation than the incoherences of our own nightly dreams" -Thomas Jefferson, letter to General Alexander Smyth, Jan. 17, 1825.
Furthermore, not only has Thomas Jefferson refuted the Gospels but also the Book of Revelation which leaves us wondering if he foresaw and envisioned the collapse of the Abrahamic belief system?
Thomas Jefferson has been misquoted out of context by radical cultural demagogues. Thomas Jefferson was a patriot but for non-Christian expressions within society:
"But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg" -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.
"May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God"
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Roger C. Weightman, June 24, 1826 (in the last letter he penned)
Is it possible that such sayings could come from an American founding father? It has been documented and saved for all to see and observe.
The foundations of Christianity is weak and unsound without concrete proof and evidence. The last quote will end this book to present the future as laissez-faire liberalism of Thomas Jefferson which partly as important as laissez-faire market mechanism and its twin laissez-faire constitutionalism. The evidence that is plentiful is the behavior of those who call themselves Christians:
"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity"
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Chapter 27 - Utilitarianism and its historical manifestations
Chapter
27 - Utilitarianism and its historical manifestations
Utilitarianism is defined as: "The
creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest
Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to
promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By
happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain,
and the privation of pleasure ". (Chapter 2 - What Utilitarianism Is, The
Principle of Utility, Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill)
It has been proven throughout the
material timeline where societies have attempted the above observation but
later fall short of maintaining such a society, at times, defined as utopian.
In an earlier chapter, the concept was introduced: 'Roman Material Theory'
which presents the introduction of the over-all material unhappiness of society
which was initiated by the imposition of cheap or "slave" labor. The
reader would first have to follow through in understanding the Greatest
Happiness Principle presented by the previous renown scholar of the 1800's:
" actions are right in
proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the
reverse of happiness."(Chapter 2 - What Utilitarianism Is, The Principle
of Utility, Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill)
The first issue which must be
presented is the description of the U.S. Constitution as a Utilitarian
document. The Declaration of Independence of July 4th, 1776 states:
" We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of Happiness. "
The previous example existed in A.D.
313 when the Edict of Milan, co-authored by Emperor Constantine, allowed
freedom of worship to the Christian population. The Edict of Milan is an early
form of utilitarianism in interaction with Christianity. However, this
interaction in the mankind’s material timeline, exposes the fallacy of John's
"prophecy" or prediction. The Reductio ad Absurdum supposition is
given:
1.
The Book of Revelation mentioned the
physical return of Jesus (Revelation 1:7, The Gospel of John 19:34, and
Zechariah 12:10).
2.
The Edict of Milan ended the
persecution(s) at the marketplace (1st John 5:21, Revelation 2:14,
2:20, 9:11, 9:20, 13:16-17, 18:11-13, 18:22).
3.
Jesus of Nazareth did not return, as
predicted by John, to end the persecutions (Revelation 19:11 and 21:4).
4.
Therefore the machinations of human
beings ended the persecution not a supernatural deity.
5.
The historical manifestations of
Utilitarianism ended the persecutions of Christians throughout the Roman Empire
in 313 A.D., years past John’s marker prediction(s) – “wormwood”,i.e. seventy
years captivity.
6.
The predictions by John and other
New Testament writers are proven false through mankind’s material history.
The evidence below is a copy from a
previous chapter.
The
Edict of Milan:
“ When we, Constantine and Licinius,
emperors, had an interview at Milan, and conferred together with respect to the
good and security of the commonweal, it seemed to us that, amongst those things
that are profitable to mankind in general, the reverence paid to the Divinity
merited our first and chief attention, and that it was proper that the
Christians and all others should have liberty to follow that mode of religion
which to each of them appeared best; so that that God, who is seated in
heaven, might be benign and propitious to us, and to every one under our
government. And therefore we judged it a salutary measure, and one highly
consonant to right reason, that no man should be denied leave of attaching
himself to the rites of the Christians, or to whatever other religion his mind
directed him, that thus the supreme Divinity, to whose worship we freely devote
ourselves, might continue to vouchsafe His favour and beneficence to us.
And accordingly we give you to know that, without regard to any provisos in our
former orders to you concerning the Christians, all who choose that religion
are to be permitted, freely and absolutely, to remain in it, and not to be
disturbed any ways, or molested. And we thought fit to be thus special in
the things committed to your charge, that you might understand that the
indulgence which we have granted in matters of religion to the Christians is
ample and unconditional; and perceive at the same time that the open and free
exercise of their respective religions is granted to all others, as well as to
the Christians. For it befits the
well-ordered state and the tranquillity of our times that each individual be
allowed, according to his own choice, to worship the Divinity; and we mean not
to derogate aught from the honour due to any religion or its votaries.
Moreover, with respect to the Christians, we formerly gave certain orders
concerning the places appropriated for their religious assemblies; but now we
will that all persons who have purchased such places, either from our exchequer
or from any one else, do restore them to the Christians, without money demanded
or price claimed, and that this be performed peremptorily and unambiguously;
and we will also, that they who have obtained any right to such places by form
of gift do forthwith restore them to the Christians: reserving always to such
persons, who have either purchased for a price, or gratuitously acquired them,
to make application to the judge of the district, if they look on themselves as
entitled to any equivalent from our beneficence.
All those places are, by your
intervention, to be immediately restored to the Christians. And because it
appears that, besides the places appropriated to religious worship, the
Christians did possess other places, which belonged not to individuals, but to
their society in general, that is, to their churches, we comprehend all such
within the regulation aforesaid, and we will that you cause them all to be
restored to the society or churches, and that without hesitation or
controversy: Provided always, that the persons making restitution without a
price paid shall be at liberty to seek indemnification from our bounty. In
furthering all which things for the behoof of the Christians, you are to use
your utmost diligence, to the end that our orders be speedily obeyed, and our gracious
purpose in securing the public tranquillity promoted. So shall that divine
favour which, in affairs of the mightiest importance, we have already
experienced, continue to give success to us, and in our successes make the
commonweal happy. And that the tenor of this our gracious ordinance may be made
known unto all, we will that you cause it by your authority to be published
everywhere.”
The above is also expressed in the
1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech,..."
The concept is also expressed in
Article VI(6) of the U.S. Constitution: " ...but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any
Office or public Trust under the United States."
Even if the religious errors have been corrected by a secular methodology the previous method also corrects other secular doctrines. Mathematics seems to be a fair judge in the material timeline and is partly an ingredient to unbiased empirical data. There is one individual which composes the previous expression and his name is Francis Hutcheson. Francis Hutcheson died in 1746 and influenced David Hume and Adam Smith. The importance of the date, 1746, is important to note knowing that the said philosopher influenced Adam Smith and his writings. Francis Hutcheson is credited for the saying: The Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number . The previous observation or saying is from the mathematical models researched by Francis Hutcheson and through his observation of the material timeline of humanity concluded with the said observation. Reading through the last treatise by Adam Smith, the so-called founder of classical capitalism, the pages of Smith's celebrated treatise the residue of utilitarianism could be seen. David Hume takes the negation of a creator and Adam Smith embracing the materialistic ethos of such a creed.
Most importantly, Francis Hutcheson's writings were before the initiation of the American and French revolutions which brought about change in the political character of the said nations. Adam Smith also composed his well-known treatise in 1776 at the time when the American revolution was commencing. In Smith's treatise, the idea of revolting against the British crown over excessive taxation was brought forward by the author because the taxation was used for war industry while neglecting the health and wellfare of the populace. The previous is an example of positive utilitarianism and collective utilitarianism - the very themes adapted from the previous writings of Francis Hutcheson.
The previous paragraph explains the meaning and application of utilitarianism. The meaning is not individualistic application of such a creed but rather its collective nature expressed in the previous calculation: The Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number. The very idea of individualistic satisfaction is not the intention of the previous scholars and writers. Jeremy Bentham, who lived between 1748-1832, explains the moral theory of utilitarianism by refuting attacks against individualistic utilitarianism or psychological hedonism. Psychological Hedonism was expressed by the Roman philosopher, Epicurus, who defined such a theory as an action which is right if and only if it maximizes pleasure and minimizes pain. The very notion of the "pig satisfaction" or simply individualistic satisfaction were both refuted throughout both the writings of Epicurus and later Jeremy Bentham. Hence, there is a difference between individualistic utilitarianism and individualistic satisfaction or "pig satisfaction". The previous is an expression of the Moral Principle of Utility which refutes the notion of such "pig satisfaction" individualism. Pleasure may not be sufficient for happiness but it is a crucial ingredient for happiness and tranquility in society. The meaning of the term - pleasure - is actually describing tranquility within society rather than its "grossest form". Hence, the importance of the mention of the U.S. Constitution as an utilitarian document.
Jeremy Bentham did not conjure up the mathematical expression: The Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number. Francis Hutcheson derive the phrase first through his observation of collective utilitarianism with his proposed mathematical models in his treatise - An inquiry concerning the original of our Ideas of virtue or Moral Good, section 3, part 8 :
" . In comparing the moral Qualitys of Actions, in order to regulate our Election among various Actions propos'd, or to find which of them has the greatest moral Excellency, we are led by our moral Sense of Virtue to judge thus; that in equal Degrees of Happiness, expected to proceed from the Action, the Virtue is in proportion to the Number of Persons to whom the Happiness shall extend; (and here the Dignity, or moral Importance of Persons, may compensate Numbers) and in equal Numbers, the Virtue is as the Quantity of the Happiness, or natural Good; or that the Virtue is in a compound Ratio of the Quantity of Good, and Number of Enjoyers. In the same manner, the moral Evil, or Vice, is as the Degree of Misery, and Number of Sufferers; so that, that Action is best, which procures the greatest Happiness for the greatest Numbers; and that, worst, which, in like manner, occasions Misery. "
For the above evidence is proof of positive and collective utilitarianism expressed by Francis Hutcheson years before Jeremy Bentham's own words expressing the same phrase. Francis Hutcheson, it is fair to suggest, not only influence David Hume and Adam Smith but also Jeremy Bentham. Jeremy Bentham expresses the previous mathematical expression and even proposes mathematical models within his 1776 treatise titled: A Fragment on Government
" Correspondent to discovery and improvement in the natural world, is reformation in the moral; if that which seems a common notion be, indeed, a true one, that in the moral world there no longer remains any matter for discovery. Perhaps, however, this may not be the case: perhaps among such observations as would be best calculated to serve as grounds for reformation, are some which, being observations of matters of fact hitherto either incompletely noticed, or not at all would, when produced, appear capable of bearing the name of discoveries: with so little method and precision have the consequences of this fundamental axiom, it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong, been as yet developed. " ( The preface of A Fragment on Government )
For the above reference is presenting that the origin of the phrase is a mathematical construct deriving from Francis Hutcheson which later was borrowed by Jeremy Bentham. In the treatise of A Fragment on Government , Jeremy Bentham employs mathematical expressions with words and phrases to conduct an observation and conclusion concerning the British government. In chapter three of his 1776 treatise he presents a proposition theory in chapter three - British Constitution section 20 Proposition Theorem, in which he proposed a false construct concerning the perfection of the British government based on the observation of others. Or is it that Jeremy Bentham presented the fallacy of any government being perfect? despite that many governments are based on the collective utilitarian ethic. The perfectness of any government is surely a subjective condition rather than its perceived objective principle.
The fallacy of perfectness concerning any and all collective utilitarian society has been presented by Jeremy Bentham through the Francis Hutcheson's original mathematical observation. The imperfectness, deducted and concluded by these two past scholars, of any said government creates the obvious conclusion: the existence throughout the ages of negative and positive collective utilitarian societies. The default notion is to suggest all nations and tribes from beginning of time were either negative or positive collective utilitarian manifestations. Nevertheless, collective utilitarian manifestations.
Throughout the years of the human timeline, the human race experiences the rise of negative collective counsciousness which results in the formation of negative collective utilitarian manifestations. During these phases of society, there arises one or several brave individuals called moral agents. These positive moral agents are change agents in the midst of negative collective counsciousness deriving from flawed beliefs and false social constructs. It may be the case, that these flawed social constructs started out and derived from moral codes. Yet, these very moral codes evolved into obselete moral codes or outdated social codes.
Even if the religious errors have been corrected by a secular methodology the previous method also corrects other secular doctrines. Mathematics seems to be a fair judge in the material timeline and is partly an ingredient to unbiased empirical data. There is one individual which composes the previous expression and his name is Francis Hutcheson. Francis Hutcheson died in 1746 and influenced David Hume and Adam Smith. The importance of the date, 1746, is important to note knowing that the said philosopher influenced Adam Smith and his writings. Francis Hutcheson is credited for the saying: The Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number . The previous observation or saying is from the mathematical models researched by Francis Hutcheson and through his observation of the material timeline of humanity concluded with the said observation. Reading through the last treatise by Adam Smith, the so-called founder of classical capitalism, the pages of Smith's celebrated treatise the residue of utilitarianism could be seen. David Hume takes the negation of a creator and Adam Smith embracing the materialistic ethos of such a creed.
Most importantly, Francis Hutcheson's writings were before the initiation of the American and French revolutions which brought about change in the political character of the said nations. Adam Smith also composed his well-known treatise in 1776 at the time when the American revolution was commencing. In Smith's treatise, the idea of revolting against the British crown over excessive taxation was brought forward by the author because the taxation was used for war industry while neglecting the health and wellfare of the populace. The previous is an example of positive utilitarianism and collective utilitarianism - the very themes adapted from the previous writings of Francis Hutcheson.
The previous paragraph explains the meaning and application of utilitarianism. The meaning is not individualistic application of such a creed but rather its collective nature expressed in the previous calculation: The Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number. The very idea of individualistic satisfaction is not the intention of the previous scholars and writers. Jeremy Bentham, who lived between 1748-1832, explains the moral theory of utilitarianism by refuting attacks against individualistic utilitarianism or psychological hedonism. Psychological Hedonism was expressed by the Roman philosopher, Epicurus, who defined such a theory as an action which is right if and only if it maximizes pleasure and minimizes pain. The very notion of the "pig satisfaction" or simply individualistic satisfaction were both refuted throughout both the writings of Epicurus and later Jeremy Bentham. Hence, there is a difference between individualistic utilitarianism and individualistic satisfaction or "pig satisfaction". The previous is an expression of the Moral Principle of Utility which refutes the notion of such "pig satisfaction" individualism. Pleasure may not be sufficient for happiness but it is a crucial ingredient for happiness and tranquility in society. The meaning of the term - pleasure - is actually describing tranquility within society rather than its "grossest form". Hence, the importance of the mention of the U.S. Constitution as an utilitarian document.
Jeremy Bentham did not conjure up the mathematical expression: The Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number. Francis Hutcheson derive the phrase first through his observation of collective utilitarianism with his proposed mathematical models in his treatise - An inquiry concerning the original of our Ideas of virtue or Moral Good, section 3, part 8 :
" . In comparing the moral Qualitys of Actions, in order to regulate our Election among various Actions propos'd, or to find which of them has the greatest moral Excellency, we are led by our moral Sense of Virtue to judge thus; that in equal Degrees of Happiness, expected to proceed from the Action, the Virtue is in proportion to the Number of Persons to whom the Happiness shall extend; (and here the Dignity, or moral Importance of Persons, may compensate Numbers) and in equal Numbers, the Virtue is as the Quantity of the Happiness, or natural Good; or that the Virtue is in a compound Ratio of the Quantity of Good, and Number of Enjoyers. In the same manner, the moral Evil, or Vice, is as the Degree of Misery, and Number of Sufferers; so that, that Action is best, which procures the greatest Happiness for the greatest Numbers; and that, worst, which, in like manner, occasions Misery. "
For the above evidence is proof of positive and collective utilitarianism expressed by Francis Hutcheson years before Jeremy Bentham's own words expressing the same phrase. Francis Hutcheson, it is fair to suggest, not only influence David Hume and Adam Smith but also Jeremy Bentham. Jeremy Bentham expresses the previous mathematical expression and even proposes mathematical models within his 1776 treatise titled: A Fragment on Government
" Correspondent to discovery and improvement in the natural world, is reformation in the moral; if that which seems a common notion be, indeed, a true one, that in the moral world there no longer remains any matter for discovery. Perhaps, however, this may not be the case: perhaps among such observations as would be best calculated to serve as grounds for reformation, are some which, being observations of matters of fact hitherto either incompletely noticed, or not at all would, when produced, appear capable of bearing the name of discoveries: with so little method and precision have the consequences of this fundamental axiom, it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong, been as yet developed. " ( The preface of A Fragment on Government )
For the above reference is presenting that the origin of the phrase is a mathematical construct deriving from Francis Hutcheson which later was borrowed by Jeremy Bentham. In the treatise of A Fragment on Government , Jeremy Bentham employs mathematical expressions with words and phrases to conduct an observation and conclusion concerning the British government. In chapter three of his 1776 treatise he presents a proposition theory in chapter three - British Constitution section 20 Proposition Theorem, in which he proposed a false construct concerning the perfection of the British government based on the observation of others. Or is it that Jeremy Bentham presented the fallacy of any government being perfect? despite that many governments are based on the collective utilitarian ethic. The perfectness of any government is surely a subjective condition rather than its perceived objective principle.
The fallacy of perfectness concerning any and all collective utilitarian society has been presented by Jeremy Bentham through the Francis Hutcheson's original mathematical observation. The imperfectness, deducted and concluded by these two past scholars, of any said government creates the obvious conclusion: the existence throughout the ages of negative and positive collective utilitarian societies. The default notion is to suggest all nations and tribes from beginning of time were either negative or positive collective utilitarian manifestations. Nevertheless, collective utilitarian manifestations.
Throughout the years of the human timeline, the human race experiences the rise of negative collective counsciousness which results in the formation of negative collective utilitarian manifestations. During these phases of society, there arises one or several brave individuals called moral agents. These positive moral agents are change agents in the midst of negative collective counsciousness deriving from flawed beliefs and false social constructs. It may be the case, that these flawed social constructs started out and derived from moral codes. Yet, these very moral codes evolved into obselete moral codes or outdated social codes.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Chapter 26 - Divine Command Theory and The Problem of Evil
Chapter 26 - Divine Command Theory and The Problem of Evil
After decoding the various symbols within the Book of Revelation with sufficient evidence throughout, it presents the dilemma that a creator is not the author of such a document. Rather, the author being very human and conscious of the possibility of failure concerning the nascent Christian community composed a document expressing his fears. Therefore, the Book of Revelation is a motivational document addressed to the oppressed early Christian community facing the brute force of the Roman Empire's onslaught while competing with various early Jewish messianic movements.
The two main examples, which are apparent clashing contradictions, are given: John's Millennialism model versus Paul's Dispensationalism model. The two models previously stated are expressed within and throughout the New Testament canon. Furthermore, the New Testament canon is complimented away by the last book added historically by Augustine of Hippo: The book of Revelation.
1. First, we might mean that right conduct is right
because God commands it. For example, according to Exodus 20:16, God commands
us to be truthful. On this option, the reason we should be truthful is simply
that God requires it. Apart from the divine command, truth telling is neither
good nor bad. It is God’s command that makes truthfulness right.
Divine Command Theory is actually a model or theory which exposes the flaw in 'religion' because it forces the question of where 'good', 'goodness' or 'morality' originates? In other words, does it originate from 'religion' or the absence of it? The proposal is that 'good', goodness' or 'morality' in general derives from the absence of religion. Therefore, our moral actions are either innate or acquired.
The Theorem is produced in relation to the Problem of Evil:
1) Good produces Good.
These four categories could be deducted by reading through and summarizing the theories contained in the books of Immanuel Kant. The German philosopher did not invent such categories but observed these inherit categories through the actions of human beings. He developed the imperatives which already existed throughout human history. Many social examples or settings he gave, throughout his books, has shown that the theorem above is valid. Kant and later philosophers like James Rachels, noted the problem of the autonomy of a moral agent and the general problem of anthropomorphism among humanity. Point 1) is Kant's categorical imperative, points 2) the negation of the hypothetical imperative and 3) the hypothetical imperative, and point 4) is the negation of the categorical imperative.
The previous four categories could be best illustrated by the interaction of three agents: The acting agent, reacting agents and the projected agent. The acting agent is the sole individual who peforms an act or actions into the physical world. The role of the reacting agents, or other individuals within society, is to interpret such actions as either good or evil. In other words, the acting agent and the reacting agents interact in the physical world or material realm. The interaction, the source of the categorical imperative, will result in a good or evil act. The last agent, the projected agent, exists in the immaterial realm or the mind of the acting agent or the sole individual. The projected agent is a product of the mind of the acting agent even if the projected agent is proven to be based on truth or facts. Nevertheless, some projected agents are proven to also be based on false assumptions and absurdities.
For example, the acting agent performs a good act which is universally accepted as good by the reacting agents which is rule #1. Next, the acting agent performs an act which seems good but resulted in an evil result. In other words, some good effort was put into the act which was neutralized by an evil result, which is rule #2. The evil act of the acting agent resulted in a good result which is rule #3. Finally, the evil act of an acting agent resulted in an evil result which is rule #4.
The evidence of this within the Book of Revelation is given in Revelation 6:8 where God commands and allows an 'evil' action to occur resulting in an eventual 'good' result. The previous is classified as (#3) among the four categories mentioned previously. However, this is an example of a metaphysical example, or symbolic and non-physical evidence copying the verse in Ezekiel 9:4-7. If we are to believe that the book of Revelation is a 'divine' text then God has proven to be both 'good' and 'evil' which is also expressed in the book of Isaiah 45:7 where God or the creator admits of producing or creating 'evil'. James Rachels above presented a verse from Exodus 20:16 which is an example that the action, of truth telling, could be done without a 'divine' command and it could be proven to be both 'good' and 'evil' therefore validating an earlier observation by Immanuel Kant.
Kant's observation is deontological or an inner description of actions by individuals. In the previous case, the christian's projected agent is the acting agent as told by John while the characters within the Book of Revelation are the reacting agents. To further understand the illustration of the four given imperatives, the first result was derived from the acting agent then the "production" is interpreted by the reacting agents in nature. For instance, "evil produces good" which is an example of Kant's hypothetical imperative. Both imperatives by Kant, categorical and hypothetical, resulted in a good condition. While both negations of the two previous imperatives resulted in an evil condition.
Nevertheless, the obvious historical answer is that these commands derive from earlier documents from ancient Egypt where these commands were common and attributed to the various gods among the ancient "pagan" Egyptians. So, the question arises which god or gods deserves to be worshipped? The various sources negate each other therefore proving that these commands do not derive from a divine source but rather through natural biological altruism. In other words, deriving through the absence of religion. It also means that the above verses are from the human imagination and natural desires which is a reflection of the cultural environment. In other words, an example of relative or subjective morality.
The defining result is that the book of Revelation was proven flawed by showing contradictions in the competing doctrines through Paul's earlier Dispensationalism and John's later Millennialism.
Therefore, the creation of 'religion' is a political by-product enforced by tribal elites to preserve the local tribal allegiances. The reason is because the rational agent creates the categorical imperative. Or rather, the rational agent redefines the social moral codes by reapplying the catgorical imperative. The main question is where does the rational agent derive the imperative? It obviously derives from biological evolution. The scholars to mention in this field are Charles Darwin and Peter Singer. The latter being a scholar who has introduced the idea, through historical observation, of an 'expanding (tribal) circle' where the concerns of the local tribe expands into the realm and inclusion of other external tribes. The previous a well-known researcher and scholar to have presented 'the theory of evolution' which today could be proven without a doubt.
Through social evolution, the human race has expanded the tribal circle to include other tribes which is noted by Peter Singer. The previous example was noted by Paul himself in the Book of Romans (Romans Chapter eleven) where this social evolutionary example was applied "religiously" but evidently resulted in a material benefit of the message and expansion of the initial local tribe. There is also evidence that Paul and John borrowed, not only religious expressions from the Old Testament canon, and also from the Greek philosophy disciplines and Caesar's enactments to expand roman citizenship, i.e. expanding the tribal circle. The previous example is not evidence of a creator but rather evidence of social human evolution to expand and include external tribes outside its immediate circle. Therefore, the writings within the New Testament canon or texts are actually the result of natural social evolution rather than a 'divine command'. The previous controversial conclusion results in the fact that the religion of Christianity is part of the timeline of the dialectical material history of the human race. Furthermore, if it is part of the dialectical history of the human race then the Abrahamic religions and/or most religions are prone to be replaced and discarded by thinking sentient beings.
The above evidence presented explains the flaw of the so-called Abrahamic faiths. Therefore; Paul introduced, intentionally, the possible concept of the 'universal tribe' with its complimentary component of a particular cultural subjective morality. Nevertheless, what Paul has done is to express the eventual dialectical material revolution of the Judeo-Christian community or society through an immaterial expression and language through the tools of a specified 'religion'. However, Paul's expression throughout the New Testament makes it possible also to eventually discard Christianity because it is now categorically made part of the cycle of the dialectical material timeline where ideas are constantly replaced with better ideas through social evolution and revolution. The previous decoding of the book of Revelation makes it possible for the previous event to occur. The event of moving or shifting Christianity from an absolute belief system of infallibility into the category of fallibility, makes it a replaceable part of the machine - general human history and society. Therefore, the realm of fallibility makes a belief system a product and by-product of the desires and imagination of mankind. A realm where systems are constantly replaced by mankind for a better system when new conditions arrive or presents itself for renewal. Furthermore; the only concept that is infallible is a natural, evolutionary, and a universal concept. This concept which surpasses any subjective 'religion' is called objective morality.
The ultimate observation arrives: the book of Revelation; written by John, is rather a natural book introducing into the human material dialectical timeline, a non-violent social 'revolution' propagated through the minds of various individuals. The non-violent revolution, Christianity, has outlived its Jewish messianic counterparts to simply replace an outdated locally tribal and Judaic belief system. The old tribal system was replaced with something better like the introduction of the 'universal tribe',i.e. universi. However; the new revolutionary Pauline system did not directly address the problem of evil but rather masked it, or attempt to solve it, with a humanly flawed 'divine command'.
Therefore, Paul's ideas are based on a cultural bias and based on a flawed subjective morality. There are several evidences or examples to prove this hypothesis. First, the issue of slavery within the New Testament canon would be presented in two parts: directly and indirectly. The evidence is the direct order by Paul to tell "slaves" to be loyal to masters (Ephesians 6:5-9). The next evidence is the indirect order expressed by Paul in the letter to Philemon, which is an example of condoning slavery, where he does not say emphatically to stop the practice. This is primarily troubling for anyone who is following the current moral codes. The practice of slavery is even mentioned by the gospel writers in Matthew 18:25 and Luke 12:45-48. It is also reflected in the Old Testament canon in Deuteronomy 23:15-16. Even if we are to pretend that these commands and regulations are temporary then why Paul did not openly oppose the practice of slavery amongst his followers? Another important question arises concerning the Book of Revelation, why has John did not mention the removal of slavery? The reason is because John, Paul and the New Testament writers all expected the return of Jesus to be during their lifetime or two to three generations afterwards! Which is also another proof of a false prophecy and a flawed human prediction! The example is given in the Book of Revelation, the very treatise which predicted not only the physical return of Jesus but also the termination of the material timeline of history. John, in the Book of Revelation, commits the same error in Revelation 13:16 by describing "slaves" receiving the mark of the beast. This example and verse is an indirect reference to the Roman empire itself. Therefore, identifying Nero as the man of "666". However, even today at this modern time, it is now proven that the abhorrence of slavery is a universal moral imperative as much as 'Thou shall not kill or murder'. This has been proven empirical and philosophically abhorrent among sentient beings over time. The evolution of this particular moral code has transformed it into a universal moral imperative proving the existence of an objective moral code evolving through time. Therefore, this transformation or social evolution was enacted without the direct command from God which was clearly missing from Paul's letters to his followers. Furthermore, the most important question manifests itself, where was God to tell Paul that slavery is wrong and immoral?
The next evidence is when Paul tells females or women to be keep silent in the congregation (1st Corinthians 14:34). These orders despite being minor issues during Paul's era, have been disregarded by most followers of Christianity today or during the modern era, proving that the "Law" stated by Paul is not an expression of a universal objective morality nor deriving from a creator. If the "Law" stated by Paul in 1st Corinthians was from God, then the "Law" would have been proven universal and infallible over the course of human history after Paul's lifetime. In other words, God would have presented an infallible law which would have never been violated by fallible human beings. Most importantly, even if not addressed directly then why God did not correct Paul concerning slavery or females speaking in front of a congregation? If there was ever a correction by his God, within the New Testament text, then this correction or command would have proven that his God existed. Has his God forgot to address to Paul the future fallibility of his Christian tribe? To include; why has John, in the book of Revelation, did not address the issue in the litany of "sins" in Revelation 21:8 or in the beginning addressing the seven churches? Of course, John points out "Jezebel" or a "Jezebel"(comparing 2nd Kings 9:10 and 2nd Kings 9:36-37) in addressing the "sin" of the Pergamos congregation or church in Revelation 2:12-23 but this addresses the "sin" of eating foods sacrificed to idols. The term "fornication" is either the problem concerning eating foods sacrificed to idols or the actual act of fornication or giving loyalty to the Roman Empire or all of the above? In the previous example, it presents the problem of disagreement between John and Paul therefore who is receiving the true message from Jesus their God? If they agreed about women not speaking in front of congregations then why is not the issue stated by John in the Book of Revelation specifically pointing out this particular "sin" in Revelation 21:8?
The previous evidence proves that the New Testament is not from a creator but rather a reflection of the previous cultural moral codes. It even proves that these cultural codes derive from the previous Jewish moral codes. The Christian moral code (and even the Jewish moral code) has in its core some of the general objective moral codes. However, the objective moral code derives from human understanding through social biological evolution and not from an infallible creator. Rather, Paul's directives and even his supposed 'divine command' derives from a flawed relativistic or subjective moral code. If it is culturally relativistic then the New Testament writers are not receiving their commands from a god nor a creator but from their cultural environment. Therefore, if it is from a cultural environment then the laws or commands are not from a creator. The very process presented previously is not completed without further evidence. Let us evaluate the original Ten commandments by Moses. It is known historically that Moses was influenced, philosophically, by the actions and belief of a previous pharaoh during his era. The name of this pharaoh is Akhenaton who instituted the worship of one god or creator - the sun god of Egypt. Nevertheless, Moses observed the various ancient Egyptian moral codes but made ten, out of the thirty ancient Egyptian commands, the guidance of the Jewish tribe. Let us be rational on this subject. If the Law of Moses was universal and completely infallible then there should be neither redundancy nor subjective commands. If there are redundancy or repeats and also subjective commands then Moses never received a 'divine command'. However, there are at least two clear examples noted: 1) The regulation to follow the Sabbath is subjective because it does not cover non-Jews. 2) The order not to 'steal' and not to 'covet' or 'desire' your neighbor's property. These two commands, 'steal' and 'covet', are also related with 'love thy neighbor'. The previous is an example of redundancy.
Paul's reaction to the above problem was to revise it. The revision forced the idea of Paul's 'universal tribe' through 'grafting'(or adopting) non-Jews stated in Romans chapter eleven. The revision or change allowed the two previous problems to be non-factors between the members of the new Pauline tribe. These factors were the Sabbath day and property related commands instituted by Moses. The Sabbath day actually was related to working and simply a day of remembrance. The Sabbath was redefined by the leadership of the Jesus movement (Paul, James and others) and the property commands were simplified. The problem is that if the god of Moses was perfect then why institute these commands when they were intended to be broken in the future? Or is this yet another example of social evolution?
Another example is the economic absurdity of Paul's evaluation of an economic observation when he states in 2nd Thessalonians 3:10 an economic directive. This could be disproven for obvious historical reasons. For instance, if a company decides to hire or not hire it is based on market forces and not the individual's willingness to work. The previous sentence is an observation of the introduction of the industrial revolution and industrial age where the phenomenon of long unemployment is observed by an epistemological reality. In other words, based on empirical data and facts. Furthermore, the transformation of the industrial revolution shifted the human mass from mostly occupations in the agricultural realm into industrial occupations. The main question: if the message(s) of Paul, and the later convenient Millennialist John in the book of Revelation, was meant to be fulfilled after their generation then why did God omit to mention the industrial revolution? There is not even a hint of any social transformation from a mostly agricultural economy into an industrial one. The economic flaw acted upon by Paul, and other New Testament writers, was their negation of this universal social transformation. The next example is very convincing of John's false predictions. Why did John fail to mention the "sin" of usury? Which was one of the causes that lead to the destruction of the Temple in B.C. 587 by the Babylonians (Ezekiel chapter eighteen). Why did John fail to mention the causes of unemployment in the Roman empire? The reason of the previous observation is based on the fact that the rise of slave labor contributed to the many riots within the Roman empire because it lead to high unemployment among the Roman citizenry. Therefore, the composition of Revelation is based on material issues and self-interest to preserve the nascent Christian community against the material chaos within the Roman empire. The writer of the Book of Revelation has clearly employed a political tactic using 'religious' symbolism. The writer of the Book of Revelation, John, has employed the 'window of opportunity' tactic and 'the expansion of the scope of conflict' tool, a political phenomenon noted by E.E. Schattschneider.
Paul's predictions is all-too-human and exposes his message as a flawed 'divine command'. Clearly, the omissions of the economic 'divine commands' within the Bible itself is proof of fallibility. Again, the book of Revelation and the rest of the New Testament canon failed to mention the importance of forbidding 'usury'. Furthermore, failed to predict the introduction and invention of the modern banking system. Of course, the only religious figure to mention such regulation was "prophet" Muhammad within the Islamic texts. It leads to the absurdity that Islam is a valid faith, among Christians and Jews, especially when Muhammad is fairly noted by attempting to apply such regulation - (Deuteronomy 15:11, Ezekiel 18:5-13, Nehemiah 5:7 and Galatians 2:10). What happened? A later 'religion' outperformed the Judeo-Christian standard and community? Muhammad, the Arab social revolutionary, by applying the very regulations which has been missing among the new tribe(Christian) and old tribe(Jewish) since after A.D.70 has presented a dilemma. Why has John, the author of the book of Revelation, omitted such an important regulation? Since the "sin" of usury contributed to the destruction, according to Ezekiel(Ezekiel chapter eighteen), of the previous Temple by the Babylonians and then repeated by the new Babylonians, i.e. the Roman empire (Revelation 18:2 and 18:10). It is obvious, the book of Revelation is not a book of a divine source but rather the product of the natural heart and mind. Why has Paul not received a command concerning the dangers of the modern banking system like something similar in Ezekiel 18:5-13? The reason is because Paul predicted falsely the physical return of Jesus before the Temple's destruction by the Romans. The next false prediction was then formed after the execution of Paul by the Romans and Nero - The Book of Revelation. Therefore, John also predicted falsely the physical return of Jesus after the Roman's empire destruction of the Temple in A.D.70. These are the facts: Usury is necessary for the capitalist profit system to survive and this has been proven through social evolution. The imposition of usury or financial interest allows the introduction of privatization in the modern era of financial exchanges and economics. Therefore, all three faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam are proven flawed and fallible. The point is that the transformation of society from a mostly agricultural economy into an industrial one was complimented with the growth of the "usury" or financial interest system.
Another example is the term: "Amen" which is shared with the followers of Islam(opening prayers in Islam). This term is rooted within the ancient 'religion' of the ancient Egyptians especially among the followers of pharaohs Akhenaton and Amenhotep. In the ancient Egyptian religion, the term "amen", means the "concealed one". This is explained in depth, on page 85, by the scholar - Anthony T. Browder - in his book Exploding the myths Volume 1: Nile Valley contributions to Civilization. Moses then repeated this pattern of worship stated in Deuteronomy chapter 27:15-26 by also mentioning the term "amen" in a ceremonial mass proclamation after repeating the moral codes.
Another evidence is the attempt by James, the supposed half-brother of Jesus, to state in his own manner that the Christian subjective morality is infallible. However, by mixing obviously the generally observed and derived objective morality or the mixing of the two is actually evidence that the words within his book and the rest of the New Testament are not the actual words of God but a human manifesto. If we read through the book of James, a book attributed to his authorship, we could see he recognized an objective moral code (James 2:8, 2:10-12) which was derived from the texts of Moses. Moses derived his codes from the Egyptian religious moral codes which contains at least thirty moral codes. James; through the book of James attributed to him, added specific Christian subjective moral codes (James 2:12, 2:17-20), which are products of his social environment, along with the objective moral codes mentioned previously. It is obvious, Christianity as a 'religion', survived based on its non-violent emphasis and an attachment to the universal and naturally derived objective moral codes. However, is this the case? After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Christian community took the reigns of leadership. The Christian leadership then went aggressive to eliminate the 'Gnostic' followers and other minorities. The pursuit to eliminate and purge out certain elements counters the initial message of the founders of the said belief system. Is it moral or ethical to "purge" or eliminate certain segments of the previous peaceful movement which have a different "gospel"? The previous particular case in history where the oppressed becomes the oppressors as is explained through the words of the recent modern existentialist Albert Camus in his book - The Rebel - is evident in the case of Christianity. The behaviour of the movement proves, even in this case, that Christianity is a natural product of human beings rather than a supernatural creation.
The attainment or pursuit of objective morality is the pursuit of happiness. Furthermore, morality is objective and it does not derive from a creator. Rather; it is based on the actions and understanding of sentient beings,through natural biological altruism, by observing the prime goal of ultimate justice and happiness,i.e. objective morality.
The subject of 'Rule Utilitarianism' and 'Act Utilitarianism' comes up when doubtful circumstances arises concerning the manifestation of 'evil' in society. The examples will be given and then a response:
"where do you put your money? Apart from ethical considerations (do you lend to a liquor store that provides good income to a family, do you invest in a business that is run by a polygamist, and will feed all his wives and children etc. etc.) one could also take a more economic view: what will help a country grow?"
The response: The issue of each example could be answered to the current laws within each economic case. If there are no stated laws concerning each case than it is permissible because "evil" has not been enacted by the one giving money because the individual has not violated any standing law within that particular society. The formation of a law is a common agreement between the ruled and the ruler(s) of a society. In other words, an agreement between the acting agent(individual) and reacting agents(community or society). If there is a standing law against giving money to any circumstance or examples given above then it violates the utilitarian ethic.
There are also cases which were not imagined and this is where Immanuel Kant's observation comes into the picture. The categorical imperative has been summarized earlier as:"Good producing Good". However, it is really a statement suggesting that morality is absolutely objective. The statement by Immanuel Kant is stating that individuals knows what is right and wrong without knowledge of agreed upon laws. For instance; the individuals(moral acting agents) who oppose unjust current laws, agreed upon laws, are following and recognizing the feeling of Kant's absolutely objective morality. There are hints within Kant's writings which suggest that these "feelings" of knowing absolute objective morality derive from a supposed supernatural source. However, as will be proven these "feelings" are actually derived from biological evolution and therefore social environments. Morality is not absolutely objective because it will be proven not to be so.
Therefore, an extension of the utilitarian ethic has already been elaborated by current utilitarian philosophers to include the "feelings" of natural rights expressed through Immanuel Kant's categorical and hypothetical imperatives.
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