Politics

I don't really think there's any reason why we're here on this planet. There's no convincing evidence for a god or another deity, and I think people are realizing this as churches across the world are losing members (on average). Is this a good thing? I'd say yes, but maybe not for every person. I do think some people find happiness in belonging to something greater, and some churches absolutely do facilitate charity work and food pantries, which is undoubtedly good for society. My grandmother being Catholic is probably good for her. She thinks she's going to be reunited with her loved ones after death, and I wouldn't want to take that from her, even if her belief is unfounded, which I think takes me to one of my core values: I think that the ultimate goal of humanity should be to minimize--if not fully eliminate--suffering. Even if life has no purpose, or if free will isn't real, we still should strive to better ourselves, the lives of others, and the world.

But, if this is to happen, we do need to promote critical thought. Not just in schools, but in our day-to-day lives. Our brains were shaped by evolution to prioritize immediate reactions over the long-term critical thinking necessary to make important decisions in a modern civilization. While we can't (yet) alter the brain to correct these issues, we can absolutely train ourselves to self-evaluate, notice logical inconsistences, and realize if we're in the wrong. And when we notice issues with our own thought, we must strive to correct them. In most cases, we must also make sure those around us do not fall for unsound ideas. People being unable to do this is why the United States is locked in a horrible two-party system where politicians, pundits, and their supporters toe the line of their party's platform and ignore the most obvious faults. Part of this is also a self-interest issue, which is another one we must work to overcome. In short, if we are to have a better world, we can not let those whose interests oppose it fool us into submission.

The more philosophical views I just discussed have also heavily informed my political views. While I do have pretty strong political views that I like discussing, I do not like using a political label at all. All it does it help people judge your ideas before even hearing them. Because of this, I'm going to try to avoid using one for myself if possible on this site.