Not just a cocktail - The road ahead

Previous posts,

Continuing from where I left, since the data that mankind posses is not sufficient enough for analysis of problem of existence, the field is left wide open for speculation.

To put it simply, religion, philosophy or metaphysics are various attempt to arrive at an solution of the mystery of dilemma.However even though there is no data, it shouldn't mean that speculation can be arbitrary, for if that were so, it will be as meaningless for solution as evolution is.

I am not an expert in matters of religion, philosophy or logic, so what my suggestion are tentative, keeping this in mind following should be criteria or methodology for the speculation.

One, the system of thought that we evolve should provide a possible answer to dilemma of existence in a manner, which is logically consistent , relies on minimal number of assumptions and is complete. This is the concerned with theoretical soundness.

Second is the way the system relates to real world. Which means whether it can be a basis for continuity and progress of civilization. If it does not or it it leads to decline, stagnation and eventual extinction the system of thought is not desirable even though it may be fulfilling the first condition. Such systems while superficially appealing to sense of right, are in essence some variation of nihilism, any systems of ethics or morality based on such falsehoods liable to failure.

Note 1# This second proposition may seem troublesome to many, to whom religion and philosophy have meaning independent of reality, or who,in the manner of western tradition suppose there exist watertight boundaries between what is temporal and what is spiritual.
I do not think such dichotomy is feasible, at some level everything connects, for the convenience termed as Theory of everything.
I think that this was what Bhagwan Krishna meant when he defined Dharma (yat dharyati iti tat dharma)

Note 2# In the discussion above I have not argued for presence or absence of God. It was merely to reinforce the idea that strict observance of empiricism is not the answer for our dilemma. It is possible that some form of atheism may satisfy the above two conditions. In the same vein, it is not correct to think that all religions are equal, all approach the problem in their own ways, some which meet the criteria, some do not. Another thing that I want to add is although atheism may be able to meet the criteria, it will be theism which is more elegant.

Note 3# It is necessary to note that dilemma of existence doesn't act at individual level. This essentially means that an individual life is not affected by the fact that whether he is theist or atheist (or an ignoramus).

As a very rough measure the extent to which society or civilization is engaged with question of existence should be dependant on level of prosperity (which means excess of produce and availability of leisure time), it is reasonable to assume that society finds itself engaged with these questions.
In this respect this is somewhat akin to sex (in sexual species), which is critical for species but not for an individual.
One might say that empty mind is devil's workshop. Ironically this will also mean religion far from being opium of masses, was interest pursued by relatively well off.