23 April 2019

The real and the abstract

Individual humans are real; they exist as physical organisms occupying space and having thoughts, feelings, and awareness.  Societies and nations are abstractions that have no existence apart from the will and belief of the individual humans that comprise them.  They have no reason for being except to serve the needs and wants of those individual humans.

To speak of some individual humans as being a "burden on society" is as insane as speaking of how much faster buses could travel their routes if they didn't need to carry passengers, or how much more efficiently a hospital could function if it just got rid of all the patients.

One of the most valuable things about being an atheist is that I know my life's purpose is decided by me alone.  My life is not cluttered up with some "plan" or "higher purpose" imposed by a "God" -- or in reality, of course, by those humans who claim to speak for that God.

"Society" is not an entity or an organism.  It is an abstraction, a word we use to quickly refer to a network of relationships among a vast number of distinct individuals.  Society and the nation exist for you, not you for them.  To believe otherwise is mental slavery to those humans who claim to speak for an abstraction.  It's the man behind the curtain brainwashing you with intimidating slogans and images so you'll obey his will instead of your own.

16 Comments:

Anonymous Scottie said...

Hello Infidel. I agree, which is why I couldn't understand the idea that corporations are people also? To me that is like saying trains are people, or TV are people. Hugs

23 April, 2019 04:44  
Blogger Debra She Who Seeks said...

A very important reminder.

23 April, 2019 08:12  
Blogger Mary Kirkland said...

I hate when I hear people saying that another person is useless or a burden to society. It makes no sense.

23 April, 2019 10:04  
Blogger Sixpence Notthewiser said...

The idea that society should be at the service of the men that comprise it escapes anybody who takes part in organized religion, too. Basically because the rules that comprise their world do not allow for everybody to be included.
Also, some societies (like here in the US) are highly individualistic and random acts of altruism are seeing as a rarity and not as the norm.
Keeping our humanity is not the same as being human.

XOXO

23 April, 2019 16:59  
Blogger dellgirl said...

This is very interesting and also really thought provoking. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

23 April, 2019 17:02  
Anonymous ming said...

Nicely said.

23 April, 2019 19:59  
Blogger Victor said...

Excellent post!

23 April, 2019 21:30  
Blogger -blessed b9, Catalyst4Christ said...

Jesus, have mercy on his soul...

24 April, 2019 08:28  
Blogger Infidel753 said...

Thanks everyone!

Spider-Man, forgive the vowel-less one, for he knoweth not how goofy he doth sound.....

24 April, 2019 16:55  
Blogger Martha said...

Great post!

25 April, 2019 17:14  
Blogger Infidel753 said...

Thanks!

25 April, 2019 19:15  
Blogger Ed said...

The Anatomy of Slavespeak
Mind Control: a Field Guide to Language that Maintains the Master-Slave Relationship
https://climateviewer.com/2014/04/06/the-anatomy-of-political-slavespeak/

26 April, 2019 06:04  
Blogger Steve Ruis said...

As I frequently said when I was a teacher "We could get a hell of a lot more done if we didn't have to deal with all of these damned students! I was, of course, being sarcastic and was addressing those who were trying to elevate other tasks into the "very important" category.

26 April, 2019 10:14  
Anonymous Pamc said...

We are here to help ourselves and our fellow participants through the physical plane with as little s**t as possible. We are all the same in this endeavor. Religion, in this regard, is an impediment.

26 April, 2019 11:08  
Blogger LanceThruster said...

Many years ago, I read an LA Times op-ed that began with the line, "Welfare is the only way we know to deal with surplus people."

The phrase "surplus people" gave me chills. It still does. We can do better of course, but we are not heading in that direction and don't expect to be any time soon.

26 April, 2019 11:23  
Blogger Infidel753 said...

Ed: Some interesting stuff there, but perhaps I should clarify. I'm not rejecting the legitimacy of states and governments. They are very useful tools, probably indispensable, since all complex societies have them. My point is that they are tools, things created by humans to serve human purposes, and we should never start thinking that humans exist for their sake.

"Surplus people" is a disturbing expression indeed. It sounds like something from Orwell's 1984.

26 April, 2019 17:10  

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