nietzsche wrote:BBS, if it was concluded that (after decent research) humans need some certain amount of "magical thinking" to function properly or optimally, what would be your say in surrendering to it? i.e. being spiritual, being religious?
I don't remember where it was published but a study showed that "magical thinking" provides a release of dopamine necessary for healthy living. I'm not saying being healthy means being religious, but, we are humans, rational animals after all. Takes me back to Laputa.
I would venture that EVERYONE has the anxiety of dying, being responsible for their life. Some have it very hidden, everyone deals with it in a different manner. Cynicism is a high price to pay. Stoicism is pessimism even if you want to think otherwise.
Is it the boldness of youth?
Would you sacrifice part of your life yearnings only to be faithful to reason?
In other words, if SCIENCE said that I must be either religious or spiritual in order to function properly or optimally, then which would I pick? Neither! That's a silly situation.
Suppose SCIENCE dictates that your stipulated outcomes of "magical thinking" can be perfectly substituted by receiving one blow job per year. Not one per month, nor one per week--just one blow job per year. Receiving multiple blow jobs per year will not increase one's functions or optimal what-have-you. Also, the effects of giving a blow job once per year are currently unknown, but the theists strongly assert otherwise.
Now, which would you pick?
("magical thinking" seems like it could be "I feel great because there's people out, and I'm joking around, and things are well, so I feel great." If that's 'spirituality', then I'll choose 'spirituality'.)
What kind of cynicism are we talking about?
The youth tend to be bold because they don't know any better and because acquiring information is costly.
Would you sacrifice part of your life yearnings only to be faithful to reason?
There is no sacrifice--only Opportunity Cost. I yield profit through adhering to reason, and it's been a wise investment because the current and expected profit of my plans offset the value of my second-best plan (i.e. opportunity cost). Besides, "faith to reason" is the most productive choice we have--when faced with that false dichotomy (because we can choose on the margin, i.e. Choosing mostly reason, with some faith/emotion/whatever is contrary to reason).
And "being faithful to reason" need not be the only goal. The means differ with the goal, so if I'm discussing religion, then I'll put on my logic hat, steel my heart with reason, don my monocle, and begin scoffing, harrumphing, joking, with the occasional serious response to a potentially reasonable person of the faith. For other occasions, I wear different clothes, but still manage to act like an ass. Is that being faithful to reason?