Pantheism updated

The pantheist’s notion of good and bad

Emergence of identifiable reality defines the basic procedure of existence.

Continued existence, i.e. survival, happens as continual emergence.

The pantheist calls whatever increases survival capacity ‘good’. And he calls whatever decreases survival capacity ^‘bad’.

In complex self-organising emergence procedures systems, such as the human, attaining the ‘good’ is self-signalled with happiness. Attaining the ‘bad’ is self-signalled with unhappiness.

© 2020 by Victor Langheld

Analysis Emergence of identifiable reality defines the basic procedure of existence.^1,2 Continued^4 existence, i.e. survival,^5happens as continual emergence.^3 The pantheist calls whatever increases survival capacity^6 ‘good’. And he calls whatever decreases survival capacity^7 ‘bad’. In complex self-organising emergence procedures systems, such as the human, attaining the ‘good’^8 is self-signalled^9with happiness. Attaining the ‘bad’^10 is self-signalled with unhappiness. © 2020 by Victor Langheld

1. For ‘the basic procedure of existence’ substitute, if it pleases you, the pantheist’s notion of GOD. So Spinoza’s imprecise spin: ‘Our highest desire is to understand God!’ Actually the sole desire/goal is to act as GOD, namely by emerging identifiable reality and thereby persevering in existence! 2. For ‘a selective procedure of existence’ substitute the notion the henotheist’s God. 3. i.e. as recursive differential procedure iteration. 4. Continuation (i.e. survival) happens discretely, i.e. digitally, i.e. quantum by quantum 5. Continued existence, meaning survival is the sole goal of all (dynamic) procedures. To attain that goal a (completed) procedure needs to upgrade its predation procedure either by intensification or specialisation, or by adaptation. 6. i.e. an asset. The Buddha did not use the word ‘good’ but referred to survival assets as profitable (Pali: kusala), and causing pleasure (Pali: sukkha). So Spinoza: ‘By good I shall understand what we certainly know to be useful!’ 7. i.e. a liability. The Buddha referred to survival liabilities as unprofitable, (Pali: akusala), and causing pain (Pali: dukkha). He believed that life itself was a liability (caused by turbulence, Pali: vana) and that needed to be eliminated. Elimination happened when turbulence was ended, i.e. in nir-vana. 8. i.e. a survival asset that furthers completion, thus producing perfection. 9. Complex self-organising and self-referencing (hence conscious) procedure systems operate a navigation, i.e. Guide & Control system, such as the brain. The signal (as feedback) ‘happiness’ indicates a (relative) survival increase. The signal ‘unhappiness’ warns of decreasing (relative) survival capacity. So Spinoza’s imprecise spin: ‘The knowledge of good and bad is nothing but an effect of joy or sadness, insofar we are conscious of it!’ 10. i.e. a survival liability that thwarts completion, thus increasing imperfection.