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> Should we try to build a society that optimizes for per capita happiness Are you aware of the hedonic treadmill? > Our modern concept of egalitarianism is m
by devxpy 8y ago
> Should we try to build a society that optimizes for per capita happiness
Are you aware of the hedonic treadmill?
> Our modern concept of egalitarianism is mostly a product of religious thinking
You must be kidding. Religions promote the most brutal form of inequality ever. Study up on "dalits" in India.
- tomhoward 8y agoAnd other religions promote the idea that all people are equal before god or the universe or whatever greater power they believe in. Whilst some deeply anti-religious ideological systems promote highly anti-equality ideas like eugenics, racial supremacy, "social Darwinism". For that reason, it's best you keep sneers like "you must be kidding" out of comments on this topic; it's a profoundly complex issue that requires nuance and care, not ridicule.
- AstralStorm 8y ago1) Not true, especially not in Hinduism or Shintoism. 2) Religious too, see above. What's karma? Who will be condemned to hell in Abrahamic religions? 3) Please educate yourself before trying to correct others and being plain wrong.
- learc83 8y agoWhat claim of the OP's are you disagreeing with exactly? That there exists some religions that promote the idea of equality?
- tomhoward 8y ago> Please educate yourself Sure. Over about 6 years I read multiple books and watched countless videos by Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris etc, and was fully bought into their “all-religion-is-evil” worldview. Then I kept educating myself further. Is there something I’m missing that you can suggest? As another commenter pointed out, you didn’t say anything to refute my argument. But you’ve implied that nuanced arguments are less preferable than dogmatic ones, which is surprising for someone critiquing religion.