{"id":334,"date":"2012-03-13T18:46:35","date_gmt":"2012-03-13T18:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/?page_id=334"},"modified":"2012-03-13T18:55:15","modified_gmt":"2012-03-13T18:55:15","slug":"arthur-jackson-31112","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/arthur-jackson-31112\/","title":{"rendered":"Arthur Jackson 3\/11\/12"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\">How to Live the Good Life<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><\/strong>By Arthur M. Jackson \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:arthur@arthurmjackson.com\">arthur@arthurmjackson.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Copyright &#8212; 3\/12\/12<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1<\/span><\/strong> \u2013<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">A NEW PARADIGM<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you only remember one thing about this talk I hope it will be that I am presenting a new paradigm <\/strong><strong>that would replace the underlying assumptions <strong>currently guiding all current societies<\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2 <\/span>&#8211; <\/strong>The Book &#8212;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022\u201c<em>How to Live the Good Life<\/em>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>[Empirically defined.]<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u2022<em>A User\u2019s Guide for <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Modern Humans<\/span><\/em>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>[Modern Humans are those <em>Homo sapiens<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u2022By Arthur M. Jackson\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>after symbolic language evolved some<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u2022Published &#8212; March 2011\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>60-120,000 years ago.]<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u2022Available at Amazon.com\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <strong><em>Show the book!!<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">3<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; <\/strong>Introduction<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The focus of this talk is to lay out the core of my book<\/span><\/strong>, \u201c<em>How to Live the Good Life: A User\u2019s Guide for <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Modern<\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Humans<\/span>.<\/em>\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">It\u2019s aim<\/span><\/strong><strong> is to present a new paradigm that joins science and religion together so all persons can find joy <\/strong>in being human \u2013 no gods, no heavens, no Holy Books with the \u201cright answers\u201d \u2013 just science (that is the search for congruency, the uniformity of nature) \u2013 focusing on what people actually need <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">to find a sustainable feeling of well-being<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">4 &#8211; <\/span><\/strong>Introduction \u2013 Continued &#8212; b<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022I\u2019m hoping that what I have written will provide some guidance for anyone \u2013 <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ready to dramatically change their life in a humanistic direction<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 allowing them to do so smoothly and rapidly by benefiting from the path I lay out based on over fifty years of effort. It has scores of steps \u2013 some easy, some very difficult \u2013 and all based on empirical data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">5 <\/span><\/strong><strong>&#8211; <\/strong>Introduction \u2013 Continued &#8212; c<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022I\u2019ll include a <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">definition of Humanism<\/span><\/strong> consistent with the ideas in my book.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022I\u2019ve provided a handout of this presentation that includes the <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Eleven Ways of Wisdom<\/span><\/strong>, my best effort to present a science-based guide to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">choosing right behavior and avoiding wrong behavior<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">6<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Why I Wrote the Book<\/span><\/strong> &#8212;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022It <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">started in the 50s with a college<\/span><\/strong> essay for an ethics class and grew because of <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">my need to understand what life is all about<\/span><\/strong>, especially distinguishing between right and wrong.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022I\u2019m convinced <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u00a0these writings solve some important problems our species faces<\/span> if it is to endure<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022However, in the process <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">I question, reject, or alter key concepts<\/span><\/strong> such as conventional definitions of science and religion \u2013 and humanism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">7<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; <\/strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">My Definition of Humanism<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022Consistent with my book, \u201c<em>How to Live the Good Life: A User\u2019s Guide for <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Modern Humans<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u2022<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Humanism is the belief<\/span> that human beings are the source of meaning and value, and that <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">human<\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">morality<\/span> derives necessarily from our evolutionary history.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022My \u201cGood Life\u201d approach is based on <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">material causality (i.e. science)<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 spirit causality (i.e. <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">the supernatural) is not in the picture<\/span><\/strong> except as it shows us how human brains function.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Humanism is my religion<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">8<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; <\/strong>Science &amp; Religion<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">I define science as the search for congruency<\/span><\/strong>; i.e. the uniformity of nature.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022This definition <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">brings<\/span><\/strong> all elements of <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">religion into the domain of science<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Religious belief is in the natural realm because it <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">exists only in human brains<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">9<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; <\/strong>Science &amp; Religion (cont.)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022All <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">supernatural religions embrace some type of \u201cspirit\u201d causality<\/span><\/strong> and are seen by me as <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u201cfolk\u201d religions, dependent on authority and custom<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 not material causality.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022I interpret <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">supernatural elements of religion not as \u201ctruths,\u201d but as data<\/span><\/strong> subject to scientific study using the tools of science; i.e. <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">observation, analysis, hypothesis, experimentation, verification, etc<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Religion<\/span><\/strong>, as well as <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ethics<\/span><\/strong>, <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">lies in the domain of science.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">10 <\/span><\/strong><strong>&#8211; <\/strong>\u201cGood Life\u201d Definition of Religion<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022I define <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">religion<\/span><\/strong> as <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">the social institution<\/span><\/strong> that seeks to understand <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">the ultimate meaning<\/span><\/strong> for our life and to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">bind humanity together<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022This includes William A. Young\u2019s definition of religion as \u201c<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">human transformation in response to perceived ultimacy\u201d<\/span><\/strong> in his book, <strong><em>The World\u2019s Religions<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">11<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; <\/strong>Religion<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022In my approach <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">religion\u2019s responsibility<\/span><\/strong> would be recognized as being to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">provide a sustainable feeling of well-being for every human being<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Sustainable<\/span><\/strong> here means <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">holding up under scientific study<\/span><\/strong>; that is, using reason and logic guided by the methods of science.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022This <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">approach to religion<\/span><\/strong> requires that its ideas \u2013 like in all other areas of science \u2013 are <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">able to be changed<\/span><\/strong> in order to accommodate new data and understanding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">12 <\/span><\/strong><strong>&#8211; <\/strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Eleven Ways<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> of Wisdom<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022The <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Eleven Ways of Wisdom<\/span><\/strong> are science-based &#8212; depending on empirical data to provide all people a sustainable feeling that their life has meaning.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022And at the same time <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">they support building a<\/span><\/strong> <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">dynamically stable society<\/span><\/strong> that would maintain the human species in a way that achieves the foregoing.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022These <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Ways<\/span><\/strong> are <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">presented below and provided in the handout.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Each Way should be seen as a hypothesis<\/span><\/strong> capable of being discarded, modified, or replaced as empirical data requires.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">13<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; <\/strong>The Eleven Ways of Wisdom: Enumerated 1. Recognize that <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Human Beings are \u2013 for us \u2013 the Ultimate Reference System<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u20222. Endeavor to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">maintain and improve the human species<\/span><\/strong>. Support efforts to develop Enlightened Communities.<\/li>\n<li>\u20223. <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Seek to understand<\/span><\/strong>. Pursue Wisdom.<\/li>\n<li>\u20224. Recognize that <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">all knowledge rests on faith\/beliefs<\/span><\/strong> and must always be open to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">questioning<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u20225. Strive to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">make the best choices possible<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u20226. Know and struggle to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">improve yourself<\/span><\/strong>; work to be physically and mentally healthy.<\/li>\n<li>\u20227. Develop and adopt a perceptual framework in which <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">pain does not prevent<\/span><\/strong> the achievement of <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">a sustainable belief that your life has meaning<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u20228. <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Help and be helped by other people<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u20229. Work to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">increase knowledge<\/span><\/strong> and <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">all creative and artistic endeavors.<\/span><\/strong> Adopt an inspiring life goal.<\/li>\n<li>\u202210. Support efforts to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ensure that every child is provided a loving, nurturing<\/span><\/strong> life with all the things <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">necessary to become an Enlightened Person<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u202211. <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Make of your life a spiritual quest<\/span><\/strong>. Work to become an Enlightened Person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">14 <\/span><\/strong><strong>&#8211; <\/strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">And in conclusion<\/span>\u2026.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022My <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">fundamental hope<\/span><\/strong> is that you have seen merit in these ideas and\u00a0 would be willing to become a participant in <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">changing society<\/span><\/strong> so ever more individuals can achieve a sustainable feeling that their life has meaning,<\/li>\n<li>\u2022And recognize that this can only be accomplished when <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ethics &amp; religion are accepted as existing solely in the natural world<\/span><\/strong> and totally within the <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">domain of material causality<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Humanism<\/span><\/strong>, as exemplified by striving for the \u201cGood Life\u201d defined and developed in my book, <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">provides an important first step in making the necessary changes<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">15 <\/span><\/strong><strong>&#8211; <\/strong>And in conclusion &#8212; continued<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022I see <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Humanism<\/span><\/strong> as not just another religion, but rather a <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">vision that ties religion and science together<\/span><\/strong> because<\/li>\n<li>\u2022<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Meaning and values are a part of the natural world<\/span><\/strong> and therefore <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">subject to scientific study.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">16<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022Arthur M. Jackson was born inOregonand currently resides inSan Jose,California.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022He holds a BS degree fromOregonStateUniversityand a Master of Education from theUniversityofOregon.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022He has been active in the American Humanist Association for over 50 years and has served in various administrative capacities ever since.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">17<\/span><\/strong><strong> &#8211; Much Appreciation to<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I want to end by expressing my appreciation to George Sliter, and Richard Duda for the essential help they provided so I could make this presentation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Live the Good Life By Arthur M. Jackson \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 arthur@arthurmjackson.com Copyright &#8212; 3\/12\/12 1 \u2013A NEW PARADIGM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you only remember one thing about this talk I hope it will be that I am presenting a new paradigm that would replace the underlying assumptions currently guiding all current societies.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 &#8211; The Book &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/arthur-jackson-31112\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Arthur Jackson 3\/11\/12&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/334"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=334"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":337,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/334\/revisions\/337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanists.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}