The First Domino

[ValueOfBrevity]

Recently, Stephan has discussed atheism and its correlation with statism and leftist ideals. 
While atheism is just one position about the existence of god(s), Stephan's position is that people without religion lack the moral directives of the religious. 

For example, Atheists must derive things like work ethic and family values from their personal experience rather than religious literature.

Skepticism requires fair application to maximize enlightenment (atheism is only one line of dominoes, to borrow Steph's analogy). 



Where is the first line of dominoes, then?
What first principles must a person acquire so that they don't narrow their scope of skeptical inquiry?






 

[Mister Mister]

I think it is a question of Self Knowledge, so that you don't selectively react with emotional prejudice against arguments which make you uncomfortable.

[dsayers]

What first principles must a person acquire so that they don't narrow their scope of skeptical inquiry?

First principles includes ideas such as a=a, b!=a, a!=-a, etc.

 

But to further address your question, the answer would be: Any conclusion that one did not arrive at by logic, reason, and evidence must be treated with skepticism. "There is a deity." "How do you know?" "Humans exist in different, opposing moral categories." "How do you know?" etc

[rosencrantz]

Keep in mind that those first principles are a mental abstraction of the world, that is used by our brain to simplify the world and make it possible to act fast. When empirical facts collide with them, adjust your theory. Classical logic always makes true statements no matter the subject. 

All x are y
P is x
P is y

Is always a true statement in logic, but it doesn't tell you if your premises are correct. 'All x are y' is subject to falsification at any time. 

All swans are white.
That here is a swan.
It is white.

Is true in logic, but not in reality, since there are black swans.

[WasatchMan]

Valuing truth.

[ValueOfBrevity]

Steph often says "arguing from first principles" and I interpreted that as having strong logical basis.

 

Valuing truth.

I would add that we must value truth above comfort.