Acknowledgments
Praise for Believing in Dawkins
Contents
List of Figures
Abbreviations for Dawkinsâ Writings
1 Introduction
1 Beyond Biology
2 One Rational Magisterium
3 From the New Atheism to Spiritual Naturalism
4 A Sanctuary for Spiritual Naturalists
5 The Stoic Framework
6 The Platonic Framework
References
2 Complexity
1 The Complexity Liturgy
1.1 Scientific Liturgies
1.2 Combinatorial Complexity
1.3 Spiritual Lessons from the Liturgy
2 The Atomic Liturgy
2.1 The Library of All Possible Atoms
2.2 Abstract Atomic Arrows
2.3 The Atomic Computers
2.4 The Evolution of Atomic Complexity
3 The Molecular Liturgy
3.1 The Library of All Possible Molecules
3.2 The Molecular Computers
3.3 The Evolution of Molecular Complexity
3.4 The Replicator
4 The Biological Liturgy
4.1 The Library of All Possible Organisms
4.2 The Biological Computer
4.3 The Evolution of Biological Complexity
4.4 Bodies Filled with Mirrors
4.5 The Parable of the Cell
5 Planetary Replicators
References
3 Reflexivity
1 The Thermodynamic Liturgy
1.1 Entropy Is Not Disorder
1.2 Stars Pumping Entropy into the Abyss
1.3 Maximizing Entropy Production Rates
1.4 Thermodynamic Forces Drive Self-Organization
2 The Physical Liturgy
2.1 Lessons from the Earlier Liturgies
2.2 The Library of All Possible Physical Things
2.3 The Great Chain of Being
2.4 Complexity Is Intrinsically Valuable
2.5 Evolution Increases Reflexivity
3 The Naturalized Organic Design Arguments
3.1 Designed Versus Designoid
3.2 Mental Evolution Designs Artifacts
3.3 All Design Work Is Evolutionary
3.4 Evolution Plays the Role of Watchmaker
4 On Stoic Axiology
4.1 Violent Beauty Shining Brightly
4.2 The Providential Ordering of Nature
4.3 Naturalizing the Designing Fire
5 On Platonic Axiology
5.1 The Beatific Vision of Nature
5.2 On the Duty of the Universe
5.3 From Reflexivity to the Good
References
4 Actuality
1 The Cosmological Liturgy
1.1 Our Universe Is Complex
1.2 Tuned for Very Fine Music
1.3 The Oracle at Delphi
2 On Cosmic Designers
2.1 The God Hypothesis
2.2 The Simulation Hypothesis
2.3 The Argument from Cosmic Beauty
3 Almost Cosmological Hypotheses
3.1 The Eternal Inflation Hypothesis
3.2 The Fecund Universe Hypothesis
3.3 Merely Physical Falling Flat
4 Possible Universes
4.1 The Library of All Possible Universes
4.2 The Finite Levels of Possibility
4.3 The Infinite Levels of Possibility
5 The Treasury
5.1 Endlessly Ever Better Books
5.2 The Laws of the Infinite Treasury
5.3 The Growth of Cosmic Meaning
5.4 Cosmic Poetry
References
5 Cosmology
1 Cosmological Evolution
1.1 The Biocosmic Hypothesis
1.2 Cosmic Spiders Weave Their Webs
1.3 Cosmic Robots Read Their Books
2 Cosmic Replicators
2.1 The Science of Animats
2.2 Enfolding Cosmic Origami
2.3 Making Cosmic Babies
3 The Spawn of Aesthetic Engines
3.1 At the Bottom of the Sacred Mountain
3.2 Approaching Our Universe
3.3 Mirrors Nested in Mirrors
4 The Naturalized Cosmic Design Arguments
4.1 Arguments for a Divine Mind
4.2 A Long Line of Blind Worldmakers
4.3 Finely Tuned for Flight and Sight
References
6 Ontology
1 The Ontological Liturgy
1.1 Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?
1.2 The Necessity of Pure Reason
1.3 The Zero: The Instability of Nothingness
1.4 The One: Being-Itself
1.5 The Two: The Self-Consistency of Being-Itself
2 That Abstract Atmosphere
2.1 Platonic Rationality
2.2 Evidence for Abstract Objects
2.3 Abstract Objects Fill the Sky
2.4 Welcome to the Ontological Orgy
2.5 On Transcendental Ideals
3 Diamond Hard Light
3.1 The Atheistic Problem of Evil
3.2 The Duties of Abstract Existence
3.3 The Best of All Possible Propositions
4 The Naturalized Ontological Argument
4.1 The Anselmian Ontological Argument
4.2 In the Crucible of Reason Forged
4.3 The Transcendence of the Good
5 The World Tree
5.1 This Burning Shrine
5.2 How Nature Reflects the Good
5.3 The Ultimate Computer
6 Lighting Fires
References
7 Possibility
1 The Naturalized Cosmological Arguments
1.1 The Cosmic Zero
1.2 A Root on Fire in the Earth
1.3 Buried in This Fertile Soil
2 Like Birds in This Tree
2.1 Cosmic Calendars
2.2 Beyond Religious Culture
2.3 Monuments for the Sun
2.4 Simulation of Parallel Universes
3 Shifting to Other Universes
3.1 From Fictional Universes to Religions
3.2 Religious Shifting to Fictive Universes
3.3 Religious Channeling
3.4 Artistic Channeling
4 Atheistic Mysticism
4.1 Thrown into Ecstasy
4.2 Themes in Atheistic Mysticism
4.3 The Flight of the Solitary to the Solitary
References
8 Humanity
1 Human Animals
1.1 Genetically Programmed Survival Machines
1.2 Against Magical Mental Mystery
1.3 A String of Counterparts
1.4 Blessed by This Present Light
2 Evolutionary Ethics
2.1 Genetic Egoism
2.2 From Selfish Genes to Altruistic Organisms
2.3 Objectively Existing Values
3 On Natural Duties
3.1 Emergent Norms
3.2 Applying the Categorical Imperative
3.3 From Rationality to Natural Goods
3.4 Maximize Beauty!
4 The Illusion of Identity
4.1 The Immortal Gene
4.2 The Soul Is the Form of the Body
4.3 How Recreation Beats Survival
5 Life After Death
5.1 Promotion into Your Next Life
5.2 Revision into Your Next Life
5.3 Animatic Design Constraints
References
9 Spirituality
1 On Gratitude
1.1 From the Sublime to Gratitude
1.2 Computational Benefactors
1.3 Evolutionary Providence
2 Stoic Spirituality
2.1 From the New Atheism to Stoicism
2.2 Stoic Technologies of Salvation
2.3 Mindfulness Meditation
3 Platonic Spirituality
3.1 Striving for Godlikeness
3.2 Striving for Godlike Animality
3.3 Striving for Godlike Sociality
3.4 Striving for Godlike Rationality
4 Meturgy
4.1 Meturgical Shifting
4.2 Ecstatic Dance
4.3 Burning the Man
References
Additional Resources
Glossary
References
Index