“Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

There came a time in my life when I let materialism go. It dominated every aspect of my life and I was mostly unaware. “Materialism is a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values…the doctrine that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications.” 

Science and Capitalism have done an excellent job representing and pushing this world view, but there are many cracks in materialism today and I actually think it’s a dead end. Its days are numbered. I feel materialism is driving us toward our own extinction. AI could be very dangerous for this reason, as it might speed this up. I don’t buy materialism, because I know myself. Everyone has proof that there is more to the world and ourselves than materialism. I don’t take a fixed position on anything really, but I lean toward immaterialism, “…the belief that material things have no objective existence.” I can’t say I believe this, I know this through experience. Nothing we do is really objective. We can study the ancients and the conditions they lived in to gain some perspective about the roller coaster we live on. 

This is a good read by Ralph Waldo Emerson on experience, https://emersoncentral.com/texts/essays-second-series/experience/

“We live amid surfaces, and the true art of life is to skate well on them.”

“To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom.”

“Emerson argues that one’s personal experiences, rather than external sources such as books or authorities, are the most valuable means of learning about oneself and the world. He also cautions against relying too heavily on past experiences, as the present moment is always unique and requires a fresh approach. Ultimately, Emerson encourages readers to embrace their own experiences and use them to cultivate a more authentic and fulfilling life.”

A very pragmatic man. I also lean toward pragmatism these days. The past way of doing things can be a trap. We should look at our current situation and stay open minded when deciding what to do next. 

Capitalism has made it almost impossible to live without worshipping materialism. In a way it has become our God. I think Capitalism is broken in some profound ways. This drive to progress and grow profits at all costs is unsustainable on a planet with limited resources. An economy based on conservation makes more pragmatic sense to me. I play my part in the game. I confess, I am a hypocrite, but I have found it is much better to be rich in virtue and spirit than material wealth. There is only one way I have found to do this, knowing and trusting my self. 

“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.” 

–Emerson from his essay, Self-Reliance