Generally, most people would agree that philosophy is only important as a general guide in human affairs and progress, and that it is much more important that we have compassion (I'll not use the word "love", because it is polluted with all kinds of different sentiments and innuendos) for our fellow human beings, which works to improve and stabilize societies. It is sufficient, and one could throw out philosophy and do well without it, following that line of thought. That conclusion seems to be indubitable, when measured against the small microcosm of human existence. Humans cling to the idea of the universe being telelogical . . . . The explanation of phenomena in terms of the purpose they serve rather than of the cause by which they arise.
. But when this view is expanded, to encompass the universe, it is clearly, and, indeed, indubitably, mistaken.
. Plato argued that true explanations for any given physical phenomenon must be teleological. Plato was wrong, and I think I understand why Plato had so much contempt for the works of Democritus that he said that all of his books should be burned. One only needs to start with nature to see that there is not much compassion there . . . .
. [vice.com]
. For millions of years, the dinosaurs flourished, evolved, only to be wiped out from existence. Expand that to planets . . . And one sees instances were entire planets can be wiped out as stars explode, and the whole teleological argument goes out the window.
Plato most likely hated Democritus because Democritus did not buy into the belief that there was some ideal, god, or perfection, i.e. teleological force guiding the flow of the universe . . . But the evidence is all around us, although there are many people who refuse to accept it. (They see it as detrimental to the whole idea of civilization.). But it is not. When we realize just how fragile our civilization is, and what surrounds it, (and could potentially even destroy it), we are much more likely to be compassionate toward others . . . . Because, indeed, we are all in this together, and no, we do not have some form of divine protection . . . . That belief distorts the picture and causes people who embrace it . . . To actually be less compassionate toward their fellow humans, because they selfishly believe that they have some form of special protection, sanctioned by some supreme being. To those particular individuals, I say "No, you arrogant caterpillars . . . . You don't have any divine protection." Just as the dinosaurs were wiped out, so too could humans be wiped out, and the universe would continue indifferently on without them.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Philosophy is much more then just Compassion. You can't just throw that out there like we need more compassion. The majority of us are atheist and even with us knowing that this is it. At any moment weather it be mother nature or the sun exploding etc. Lets say all of us are compassionist atheist but to what extent. The article failed to mention greed. That is another problem, will my compassion to help people feel that we all need to be equal drive me to what extreme (like take from the rich or become a socialist). Will we all just be understanding in the same level. Everyone is greedy in some form (such as love,materialistic)how would that work for a capitalist society. It really doesnt make sense to say it is our solution to a better life. Progress comes from fire within to make a diffrence and some people that are god believers just don't care for nature because they live longing the afterlife. Unselfishnes towards nature is the real issue with humans we can be compassionate but towards nature or just humans. We just have to care and fallow the best life without cause harm to others or nature. That in itself is a philosophical view but it just lacks that acceptance of tolerance towards what?
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kimlaleona
Level 6
Dec 10, 2019
0
Assuming that we can understand one another on the same level is a huge blunder that humans constantly repeat. It is in fact, one of the biggest reasons why humans are so dysfunctional when it comes to communication.
What I mean by that is that you can take one word, for example the word "compassion" and ask ten people what exactly the word means, and get ten different answers. Then take that to the macro scale, where in our everyday dealings, we use thousands of words, and you start to see just how impossible it is to really communicate well using current methods.
Meanwhile the fact remains that humans walk around every day, arrogantly thinking that they understand someone else . . . . that being altogether detrimental in many ways, . . . . . wars are fought for such reasons.
"The Earth is too small and fragile a basket for the human race to keep all its eggs in." R.A.Heinlien
I personally live by Ethics tempered with Empathy.
Be aware however that we are now living in the 6th great extinction event. An extinction event is labled such when at least 50% of the entire bio-mass dies off.
Recent tests have shown flying insects have declined by 75% in the last decade.
WE are in the very petri dish WE have been tinkering with since we disciovered fire.
We are re-creating all the circumstances of each previous extinction event, all at once, in a much much faster model. All the events had a large chemical reactive baisis, from asteroids and volcanism and trees themselves, over milions of years altered the climate.
We have matched all those outputs from all those events in a few thoussand years.
Davesnothere
Level 7
Dec 8, 2019
1
I think you overate compassion. Compassion without knowledge and reflection seem to be almost as bad as none at all. I’ve a grown man unable to put a picture up or clean a house because if they don’t do it their parents will come and do it...so they do nothing and get depressed 
girlwithsmiles
Level 8
Dec 7, 2019
0
If you claim there is a god, then provide objective evidence it is real.
xenoview
Level 8
Dec 6, 2019
1
Biggest problem for believers, they just can't handle those two words . . . "prove it!"
@xenoview they always dodge that question. Their head seem to sink into fooldom when you request "show me the goods, prove it".!
I don't think there is, was or that there needs to be a "cause" for our existence. When one is well versed in the area of science and physics one learns that life in our universe was inevitable. It didn't and does not need a cause, nor does it require "meaning." It simply IS.
JustAskMe
Level 6
Dec 6, 2019
3
I see human extinction much more a matter of "when" than that of "if".
Personally, I think it's terribly arrogant for any of us to believe our species
ought to go on "forever".
KKGator
Level 9
Dec 6, 2019
4
Yep. Nothing within the universe lasts forever. Maybe sub-atomic particles do? Anyways, we certainly won't. And so - it sort of doesn't matter! 
We need to live and love now!
Well death and extinction come to every living thing eventually and we humans are no different despite what we try to think.
It is estimated that somewhere around 4.5 to 5 Billion years from now the Sun will have burnt up all its hydrogen and begin expanding outwards to engulf everything between it and Mars BUT before that happens there are a few other possibilities,
- We will end up turning this planet, our ONLY true home, into something akin to a large, stinking, fetid rubbish dump orbiting the Sun devoid of most life except germs, bacteria, cockroaches and the like, or,
- and the chances are pretty high on this one btw, an Asteroid as big or bigger than the one that hit in the age of the Dinosaurs will strike the planet and wipe out at least 90% of all life on it as has happened before a couple of times, or,
- there may be another occurrence similar to the 'Siberian Traps' eruptions only bigger and lasting longer that may well tear the Earth's Crust to pieces and plunge the planet into a Volcanic Winter scenario lasting for thousands of years, or finally,
- the eruption/eruptions of what Vulcanologists call the "Super Volcanos" bigger and even worse than when the Super Volcano, Mount Toba, erupted back around 70,000 years ago which , it is calculated, decimated the Homo Sapien species population by approx. 70 to 80%.
Either way we are riding on a train with no driver and the braking system is almost worth next to nothing, so we need to learn to live together, work together, get along with each other, resolve our petty differences and rid ourselves of them entirely and clean up our act because the Universe doesn't care a fig, it will just go on and on with our without us.
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