What is your "Worldview"?

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by Seattle, Nov 25, 2014.

  1. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    I'll broaden "Worldview" to mean simply how do you view the world, what are your guiding principles, what larger issues would you like to see addressed in your country/society, etc. Any specifics in mine apply to the U.S. since this is where I live.

    I think it would be more interesting if you use your own words and really think about how it is you actually see the world and what changes you would make if you could.

    I'll post mine (and it's rather eclectic) but my interest is really to see how everyone else thinks. I'm looking at this as a sharing experience rather than as an arguing experience

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    Here goes:

    Legalize drugs (or at least consider it for a trail run) with the intention of reducing the harm that drugs do and not for any personal rights reasons or recreational drug using reasons.

    To not do so you simply promote larger, more effective criminal organizations (all the Mexican cartels for example) and all the crime and bribery that goes along with it. By doing so you (potentially) have less innocent bystanders affected and less, non-violent people in prison.

    Prices come down and therefore crime, contamination is reduced, people are safer and healthier. Money and therefore power comes out of the hands of criminal organizations, end users can afford drugs without having to resort to crime. The rest of society is safer and the users are at least healthier and without a prison record. Those who would be hardcore drug users mostly likely are already hardcore drug users so what is changing is how we deal with that reality.

    Also, there are many misunderstandings regarding drugs. Heroin need not be any more dangerous that Oxycontin, weight loss (and allergy medications) and meth are similar. Crack came about only because cocaine was too expensive.

    The brain doesn't know the difference between prescription medication and illegal drugs. Most issues with illegal drugs are of of dosage and contamination. Specific drug education would be more helpful than "just say no".

    I'll add what I hope is obvious and that is that if I were actually in charge my views of legalization of drugs would have to be much more nuanced. It would actually most likely involve changing with way we do things rather that some sort of simplistic total legalization.

    Prohibition didn't work and our current "solution" isn't making things better (should be the standard to judge by) either.

    There is no more reason to lock up drug users based on it being an unhealthy thing to do than it would be to lock up people for overeating or drinking.

    Building prisons in which you can't control (and protect the safety and dignity of inmates) doesn't seem like the right approach to me. We have way too many people in prison for a civilized society. Prison should be for violent offenders. Even prisoners should not have to fear for their safety while locked up. Being deprived of their freedom should be the only penalty.

    We should do this not because we are overly concerned for prisoners but because of respect for our own system of laws and fairness.

    Everyone should have healthcare. The details can be argued over and worked out.

    Religion should not be in public life (not talking about this as a legal issue just as a good idea). Religion should be (if anything at all) a personal issue, a philosophy, a way of looking at life. Your religion shouldn't affect me or anyone else including politicians having to pretend to be religious or they won't get elected. Statistically, all the current politicians pretending to be religious...can't be.

    Certainly religion and politics doesn't do anything helpful. Creationism, "young" earth, and other concepts shouldn't be a continuing issue in a 21st century 1st world country. It also, in practice, seems to have a divisive effect on society rather than an inclusive one (which is what most religious doctrines seem to suggest but is rarely the case).

    Even though I'm not religious, I'm not anti-religion. I just don't think it needs to be a subject that we can't talk about in polite society

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    My personal view on this subject matter is simply that I don't have any supernatural beliefs. I'm not saying that I know that they don't exist...I just don't have any belief in their existence.

    In my view, the other side of the coin is that for many God is a feeling like Love. If left at that there is not a problem for anyone I don't think.

    Changes to the political system that promote more cooperation and toleration would be desirable. I'm talking about goals here and not specifics. In Congress our politics seems to be divided 50/50 but most people I know aren't that uncompromising.

    Reducing the availability of junk food in public restaurants along the lines that smoking in public has been (effectively) reduced would be a good approach to try at least. The standard to judge by here would be does it work. If not, try something else.

    Even if you are trying to get away from sugar and excessive carbs it's hard to do in public fast food restaurants. It should be simple to get a bowl of rice, vegetables with a little lean chicken shredded on top. Every restaurant doesn't need to provide sugary soft drinks, fries, etc.

    Sure, there is freedom of choice and I'm not saying the solution is as simple as making these things illegal. Just give it more thought. The laws regarding smoking are generally seen as having a positive result while the prohibition laws regarding alcohol are seen as not having a positive result so the key is to see what works and what doesn't. Finding out what doesn't work, and stopping that, can be as important as finding out what does work.

    Balance the budget and reduce/eliminate the debt. We have to change a system that continues to spend what we don't have. It doesn't work at home and it doesn't work over the long run at the national level either. It hurts everyone by weakening the overall economic system. This is not a Democratic or Republican problem as it affects everyone.

    Reducing the U.S. role as world's policeman would be helpful in my opinion. We should get out of the country building business. It's also possible to be a leader while still considering other points of view...it's called diplomacy

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    and it's worked quite well in the past. This doesn't mean having no role for the military.

    Promote cooperation both at the national and international level.

    Promote a more fulfilling workplace life in whatever ways that can be done. Productivity and stress don't have to go together. All work can be made more fulfilling if that's a goal.

    Promote education/reduce ignorance. This includes formal education and also simply increasing the availability of information. The U.S. is a much more ignorant place than should be the case.

    Find ways to take politics out of issues that we know aren't the right way to go but where we have to go in that direction simply due to politics (middle eastern policies come to mind here among many others).

    Increase economic opportunity for everyone in whatever ways that can be done.

    Promote empathy for others, respect the elderly and the isolated in society.Southern culture has some good characteristics in this regard. Contrast "polite" Seattle with the "warm" culture and community in almost any southern (U.S.) region.

    Have more discussions, be more open minded, try more alternative ideas to see what works. Keep what works, eliminate what doesn't work. Don't react emotionally to ideas you don't agree with or get offended by just the mention of the idea.

    Reduce the inclination to feel "pride", nationalism, us vs them. Look at more problems from the other persons perspective. Think about all sides of an argument. Consider the other person's argument from the best rather than worst perspective.

    Be less judgmental. The subjects that people are most emotional (and close minded) about are frequently way down the list of what is really "wrong" with our society.

    Worrying about who can marry, who one can have sex with, who gets what government benefit...this is generally a waste of time. It's similar to the person at the office who gets all worked up every day about who came to work late, or who makes more money in the office, etc. It has nothing to do with them.

    Don't allow emotions to close your mind to an otherwise potentially good argument.

    Try to think about the best course of action rather than relying on some set rule that requires no thought or effort on your part.

    Think more. Keep an open mind. Promote discussion of all topics. Pay more attention to discussions where you disagree. You learn little from discussions where you are already in complete agreement.
     
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  3. Landau Roof Registered Senior Member

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    Rather than answer at such lengths as you have, I prefer to share the short story/novella Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino. Of course, I can only paraphrase ans summarize, you will need to read the story yourself to appreciate it as it deserves.

    So there's a 12-year-old heir to the barony somewhere in Italy. He is playing in the trees when his father (the baron) tells him to come into dinner. He refuses. A battle of wills ensues. Finally the father says, implying a physical threat, "You'll change your ideas when you come down from that tree!" To which the young baron replies, "Then, I'm never coming down!" And so he spends the rest of his life in the trees. The barony is well forested and he is able to move from one tree to another, even visiting France at one point later in his life. He becomes quite famous for living in the treetops. He even corresponds with Voltaire and some of the other philosophes. They ask, somewhat scornfully, if by living in the treetops he means to be closer to heaven. The young baron explains that it is just that he thinks he can understand the world better by keeping it off just a little distance. So how is that for a 'world view'?
     
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  5. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    With distance we get perspective...yes, it's a good worldview

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    Last edited: Nov 25, 2014
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  7. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    -- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --


    Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
    and remember what peace there may be in silence.

    As far as possible, without surrender,
    be on good terms with all persons.
    Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
    and listen to others,
    even to the dull and the ignorant;
    they too have their story.
    Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
    they are vexatious to the spirit.

    If you compare yourself with others,
    you may become vain or bitter,
    for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
    Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
    Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
    it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

    Exercise caution in your business affairs,
    for the world is full of trickery.
    But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
    many persons strive for high ideals,
    and everywhere life is full of heroism.
    Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
    Neither be cynical about love,
    for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
    it is as perennial as the grass.

    Take kindly the counsel of the years,
    gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
    Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
    But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
    Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

    Beyond a wholesome discipline,
    be gentle with yourself.
    You are a child of the universe
    no less than the trees and the stars;
    you have a right to be here.
    And whether or not it is clear to you,
    no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

    Therefore be at peace with God,
    whatever you conceive Him to be.
    And whatever your labors and aspirations,
    in the noisy confusion of life,
    keep peace in your soul.

    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
    it is still a beautiful world.
    Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
     
  8. Landau Roof Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    598
    While I agree with much of what you say, your whole attitude sounds like the sort of thinking that playing the flute is simply a matter of blowing into it and moving your fingers over the holes. If only it were that easy!
     
  9. sculptor Valued Senior Member

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    8,466
    World view---simply put:
    We evolved within our shared coevolutionary biom.
    We are related to all life within the biom through shared dna.
     
  10. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    I didn't say anything about being easy

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    I also thought about what some of the larger issues were in practical terms that needed change. Really, my point was to sit down for a moment and put down thoughts in one's own words.

    Everyone has essentially posted articles written by others. You, largely, agree with what I wrote

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    and I largely agree what everyone has posted that was written by others

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    I guess my other point is that sometimes it's good to envision the world as you would like to see it as a way to at least be able to visualize the goal. It does little good to say that we should all get along but then to admit that man will never get along and then to continue down that road

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    That's how we get the mess that is Congress

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    When I think of "Worldview" sometimes I picture it literally when I think of that shot of the Earth taken by one of the Apollo missions

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    It does all look so obvious and simple from that perspective.
     
  11. cluelusshusbund + Public Dilemma + Valued Senior Member

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    Its a dog eat dog universe... an if i coud eliminate the horrors of life... an allow all life to experience its own desired destiny... i woud make it so.!!!
     
  12. river

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    17,307
    stop using TV and google and the like , as your source of information

    read books
     

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