This is materialism

Tuesday, 11. March 2008, 13:55:47

Rene Descartes, materialism, vivisection, Science

Vivisectionists have always had excuses for their hobby, but I have long thought the picture below sums up their true attitude:

This is also the basic attitude of materialism, a worldview whose architects include Rene Descartes, who believed that the world was a machine created by God (he was a religious man, and here we see precisely how science is shaped by Western religion) and that animals have no souls. He was in this way giving a license to all the vivisectionists that were to come.

Look at the picture again. That is what materialism, as formulated by Western religion and science, does to all of us.

Remember, tune in tonightMemories of the future

Comments

Humans are animals. Therefore we have no souls. Time for a killing spree.

By Furie, # 11. March 2008, 21:04:04

Well, that's the way it works. All perfectly logical.

By quentinscrisp, # 11. March 2008, 21:11:07

Seriously though, it's pathetic the excuses these people will come up with. Science and religion have no place together, yet so many scientists are trying to prove things from different religious books or using religious doctrines to prove their points. Bad science as far as I'm concerned.

By Furie, # 11. March 2008, 21:39:32

I'm not really sure I'm qualified to say what bad science is. Descartes is one of the great progenitors of modern science, though. Hang on, in the middle of the Peter Harris Experience. I'll have to come back to this.

By quentinscrisp, # 11. March 2008, 23:26:08

No probs. I'm just saying that using something from a religious book to prove your scientific point (animals have no soul so it's okay to rip them to shreds) is like saying dinosaurs breathed fire cause of all the books on dragons.

By Furie, # 11. March 2008, 23:47:18

Yes. Well, I do find Descartes kind of bizarre, but I suppose I should stress the above is my interpretation of events. Perfectly correct, of course, but entirely subjective. Maybe. Sorry, that's a bit confused. It's late and I've been simultaneously following the Peter Harris Experience and working.

So, to try and make it clearer, I imagine that modern vivisectionists probably wouldn't say, "Well Descartes said it was okay". I just feel that they've inherited a lot of social attitudes that go all the way back to the interpretation of Genesis as giving us the divine right to do what we want with animals. Can't remember the quote now - that's how fuzzy my brain is at the moment - but something about "thou shalt have dominion over the beasts of the field and the silverfish in the airing cupboard".

That kind of thing.

I do find religion (as in monotheism) and science to kind of segue together historically. There were some key figures who helped this to happen, such as William of Ockham and, well, Old Rene. Newton, of course, who was well into his alchemy. Actually, I'm kind more interested in Newton as an alchemist than anything else. Not that I can claim to be hugely interested in him.

So, yeah, monotheism --> science --> empty materialist culture is a theme that I bang on about with tedious regularity on this blog, unfortunately.

By quentinscrisp, # 12. March 2008, 00:16:10

Shame. I'm trying to set up a monotheistic religion with me as God.

Having trouble recruiting new members cause they reckon Cognac and Hot Dogs isn't as good as wine and wafers.

By Furie, # 12. March 2008, 08:33:15

They must not be very hungry. I wonder if anyone's ever suggested using those pink Peek Freans (?) wafers for communion. I'd be tempted then. Am I the only one who likes them?

http://www.bigdaddymerk.co.uk/?p=699

Perhaps not.

http://www.heatworld.com/img/pink.jpg

Perhaps I shouldn't advertise them. They're probably made from nuggets of turkey cancer or something.

By quentinscrisp, # 12. March 2008, 09:22:59