Head V. Heart

[Khandro]

On another thread (which seems to have just been closed down for no apparent reason, hmmm!)
The subject of the intellect - which seems to be the final arbiter of atheists - was pitted against feelings in the heart, (or D.H.Lawrence's "blood")

Thinking further, & on the subject of slavery, the intellect would say, what a splendid thing it is !
You see, you capture these people, make them work hard with no reward for their labour, feed them just enough to keep them alive at the lowest possible cost to yourself, and then you sell what they have produced at an enormous profit, making you extremely rich. Intellectually speaking, what's wrong with that?

[pixie374]

Exactly....

[naomi24]

Khandro, why do you think the overwhelming majority of major charities are secular?

[Atheist]

Khandro; are you suggesting that atheists don't have morals?

[Atheist]

Khandro; is the other thread to viewable?

[pixie374]

Atheist, just looking.... possibly towards the end of this one?
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Religion-and-Spirituality/Question1770081-6.html#answer-13048453

[Atheist]

Thanks, Pixie. I'm not really sure what Khandro is getting at.
Khandro, Are you suggesting that atheists don't have 'heart' and that they therefore can't produce music or other 'heart' stuff?

[pixie374]

Hopefully, khandro will come back and clarify. Personally, I'm reading his post about slavery, not as advocating, but an extreme example of only using "intellect". Which, as someone said, is what psychopaths do. Or only going by feelings- is instinct.
Most people do both... so stuck there.

[naomi24]

You won't get a straight answer from Khandro.

[pixie374]

Ah, well I tried to interpret in a positive way.

[youngmafbog]

I think I see where Khandro is coming from, but I'm not sure intellect is the right word. Logic, as TTT suggests, is probably more appropriate.

I dont think religion has anything to do with it.

[pixie374]

Same thing, ymb... knowledge or beliefs based on reasoning.

[ToraToraTora]

It's basically brainwashing pix.

[Khandro]

Sorry, I've been out at a long lunch all day.

What I'm 'getting at' isn't that atheists don't have emotions, but when it comes to religion(s) they rely exclusively on intellect, demanding "proof - evidence", but on such matters as slavery, they cast a wider net & deprecate it because they 'feel' it is wrong.

[naomi24]

Khandro, how can you - or anyone - compare conclusions on something that is without doubt very real to something that has no evidence to support it? Yours is wonky logic.

[mibn2cweus]

Simple logic dictates that those who don't respect and defend the inherent and essential rights of others, relinquish their own recourse to seek justice. There is a perfectly valid reason to care about the welfare of others. It is in our mutual rational self-interest to support and defend each other's best interest. But then if no one respects, values and appreciates their own life, all bets are off.

[Khandro]

That is an interesting point mibn: - the intellect acting as compassion, but it's a specious argument & it wasn't a contributing factor in the abolition of slavery. The Wilberforces of this world led the way to abolition because they intuitively 'felt' it to be wrong.

Aa I have said earlier, through the prism of pure intellect, if you wanted to become rich, slavery was an excellent way to accomplish it.

[naomi24]

Khandro, in Wilberforce's day religion reigned supreme. Why do you think the rest of us consider slavery to be wrong?

[pixie374]

Khandro, compassion involves intellect though. It's because people understand what affects others. It isn't an either/or.

[naomi24]

Khandro, I think you're saying that Wilberforce et al opposed slavery because they were religious, but since the bible and the Koran speak of slavery as the norm, you can hardly claim that to have been their inspiration. Is it possible that they employed their intellect?

[pixie374]

Unless khandro is claiming atheists are psychopaths... I think the point was gone from the start.