Center for Naturalism


Progressives might like to check out this relatively new 'think tank' that embodies and promotes a naturalist view of humans and human society, the Center for Naturalism.

Visit the website of the Center for Naturalism, a nonprofit organization. Daniel Dennett (my favorite philosopher) is on the advisory board. They just started up recently; I'll have to look more in-depth later.

Of particular interest:
"Naturalism as a guiding philosophy can help create a better world by illuminating more precisely the conditions under which individuals and societies flourish, and by providing a tangible, real basis for connection and community.  It holds that doctrines and policies which assume the existence of a freely willing agent, and which therefore ignore the actual causes of behavior, are unfounded and counter-productive.  To the extent to which we suppose persons act out of their uncaused free will, to that extent will we be blind to those factors which produce criminality and other social pathologies, or, on the positive side, the factors which make for well-adjusted, productive individuals and societies."

This is very good. See especially the Progressive Policy Implications discussion.

On the content-addition front, I would add (again, I guess) that progressives must adopt a naturalistic stance not only to people and society in general, but to our political antagonists. It is no use saying over and over "Come on, just think about it! How can you believe those things?" - though that is what we are strongly inclined to say. No, the way forward is less intuitive but I'm sure includes such things as teaching by example, being compassionate and understanding, thinking deeply, availing ourselves of scientific knowledge, etc, as well as arguing.
One more note: "Naturalism" is precisely the right word here. It activates much better frames than some other near-synonyms.

Posted: Tue - April 5, 2005 at 06:03 PM | | | |

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