Cosmicism

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09 Jan 2010, 9:34 pm

Does anyone want to subscribe to the philosophy H.P. Lovecraft's

Principles of cosmicism

The philosophy of cosmicism states that there is no recognizable divine presence, such as God, in the universe, and that humans are particularly insignificant in the larger scheme of intergalactic existence, and perhaps are just a small species projecting their own mental idolatries onto the vast cosmos, ever susceptible to being wiped from existence at any moment. This also suggested that the majority of undiscerning humanity are creatures with the same significance as insects in a much greater struggle between greater forces which, due to humanity's small, visionless and unimportant nature, it does not recognize.

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Sand
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09 Jan 2010, 9:39 pm

Magnus wrote:

And since we are indulging in labels, those beliefs that humanity is a supreme element in the universe as indicated by most if not all religions might be labeled comicism.

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09 Jan 2010, 9:48 pm

If you can label something, you can measure it. If you can't measure something, there is no scientific value to it.

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09 Jan 2010, 9:57 pm

Magnus wrote:

If you can label something, you can measure it. If you can't measure something, there is no scientific value to it.

Since there is no way possible to detect or measure the presence or absence of a supreme being it looks like we're in the same boat.

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09 Jan 2010, 10:20 pm

You can measure how and what people believe. You can measure why they believe it. You can measure the reality of their beliefs in comparison to others.

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09 Jan 2010, 10:20 pm

This sums it up!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hSXdjNZ_I&feature=related[/youtube]

I sure feel small now.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNdN_Af_cXQ[/youtube]

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09 Jan 2010, 10:21 pm

Quote:

The philosophy of cosmicism states that there is no recognizable divine presence, such as God, in the universe

Check

Quote:

humans are particularly insignificant in the larger scheme of intergalactic existence

Check

Quote:

perhaps are just a small species projecting their own mental idolatries onto the vast cosmos,

Check

Quote:

ever susceptible to being wiped from existence at any moment

Check

Quote:

This also suggested that the majority of undiscerning humanity are creatures with the same significance as insects in a much greater struggle between greater forces which, due to humanity's small, visionless and unimportant nature, it does not recognize.

Depending upon what is meant by "greater forces", I will admit that on the cosmic scale, humans are not much different than insects.

So, tentatively a check.

I've wanted to read more Lovecraft though, because I think my view does match his Cosmicism a lot.

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09 Jan 2010, 10:26 pm

In the opening of his 1926 tale "The Call of Cthulhu" Lovecraft wrote:

Quote:

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.

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09 Jan 2010, 10:27 pm

Magnus wrote:

You can measure how and what people believe. You can measure why they believe it. You can measure the reality of their beliefs in comparison to others.

C'mon, lady! You've got to be kidding.

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09 Jan 2010, 10:29 pm

You can label what people believe.
You can label why people believe what they believe.
You can compare belief systems.

Beliefs can be measured, therefore they exist. The only way to change a belief is to become humbled. Humbling can come from the philosophy of Cosmicism.

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09 Jan 2010, 11:00 pm

Magnus wrote:

What form of mathematics acceptable to science do you use to compare beliefs? What is the mathematical comparison used to calculate a belief in Santa Clause, Obama, Jesus Christ, flying saucers, monsters under the bed, Adolf Hitler, the superiority of the white race, the Easter Bunny, God, Zeus, or the effectiveness of the supervision of hamburger safety by the Food and Drug Administration.?

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10 Jan 2010, 11:17 am

Anthropology and psychology are fields where they label beliefs.

Anyways, do you like Lovecraft's philosophy?

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10 Jan 2010, 11:25 am

I have read quite a bit of Lovecraft and found his talent for frightening people an amusing way to spend an hour or two but getting nervous about reality and plunging into paranoia for fun did not inspire me with much philosophical depth.

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10 Jan 2010, 11:49 am

Magnus wrote:

I don't subscribe to it, but I can't fault it either.

From a cosmic point of view, the human race or life on Earth does not amount to all that much.

ruveyn

paigetheoracle
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11 Jan 2010, 7:21 am

I like Lovecraft and read him in my youth.

I believe his views deflate the ego as does the scene in the Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, where Zaphod Beeblebrox is faced with the total immensity of the universe, when compared with his feeble self and goes 'Wow!', instead of going insane as he was meant to.

The moral of this story is that connecting to that immensity will fill with religious awe as backing away from it, is what those who want to hold onto their meagre ego's do, to protect their limits. Now which is the true scientific reaction and which is the ignorant view of crawling back in your mouse hole?

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11 Jan 2010, 7:26 am

paigetheoracle wrote:

Whether you yell "Wow" or sneak away to groan the universe remains what it is and gives no notice.

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