What philosophical idealogies to you align yourself with?

[thesoundofmotion]

I'm trying to read others but at the same time maintain my own way of how I view the world. I don't want my opinions on how things work or how they should work based solely on the works and opinions of others.

For instance I like the ideas of Existentialism. I like how we are here and we define ourselves and are responsible but at the same time I also like the views that there is order in the world.

 

[CoffeeDrinker]

Occam's Razor of the West and the Middle Way of the East are the two positions that most directly inform any of my positions on things.

 

[MyDoorsAreOpen]

Progressivism. I believe in experimentation with the new and unprecedented, up to and including government involvement in private business, with the goal of compassion for the downtrodden and justice for all.

Universalism. I believe that generally speaking, almost all people are ultimately seeking the same things (acceptance and connectedness), and that all creeds and spiritual paths aim at this same destination.

Panentheism. (No, not the same as pantheism.) I believe that all forms are emanations of the one divine source, and this source also takes many forms we don't normally, or ever, see or detect.

Impressionism. I believe that good art and literature is measured by how effectively it produces a certain emotional and cognitive response in the beholder, not by how much verisimilitude it achieves.

Idealism. I believe that our sentient minds have a creative role in reality and existence, regardless of whether or not any things exist entirely outside of our minds (which I think they do).

Utilitarianism. I believe that the truth, or goodness, of anything, is purely a function of whether or not it works, i.e. gets pretty much positive results for all involved when it's used.

Two I haven't made up my mind on, and might never:

* The existence of free will.
* Cultural relativism

I can really see both sides of both of those debates.