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Single Idea 22879

[filed under theme 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 2. Divine Nature ]

Full Idea

'God' represents a unification of ideal values that is essentially imaginative in origin.

Gist of Idea

'God' is an imaginative unity of ideal values

Source

John Dewey (The Later Works (17 vols, ed Boydston) [1930], 9:29), quoted by David Hildebrand - Dewey 7 'Construct'

Book Ref

Hildebrand,David: 'Dewey' [One World 2008], p.198


A Reaction

This seems to have happened when a flawed God like Zeus is elevated to be the only God, and is given supreme power and wisdom.


The 19 ideas from John Dewey

Mind is never isolated, but only exists in its interactions [Dewey]
Liberalism should improve the system, and not just ameliorate it [Dewey]
Liberals aim to allow individuals to realise their capacities [Dewey]
No belief can be so settled that it is not subject to further inquiry [Dewey]
Knowledge is either the product of competent enquiry, or it is meaningless [Dewey]
The quest for certainty aims for peace, and avoidance of the stress of action [Dewey]
Philosophy is the study and criticsm of cultural beliefs, to achieve new possibilities [Dewey]
'God' is an imaginative unity of ideal values [Dewey]
We should try attaching the intensity of religious devotion to intelligent social action [Dewey]
The things in civilisation we prize are the products of other members of our community [Dewey]
Religions are so shockingly diverse that they have no common element [Dewey]
The good people are those who improve; the bad are those who deteriorate [Dewey]
Democracy is the development of human nature when it shares in the running of communal activities [Dewey]
Habits constitute the self [Dewey]
Individuality is only developed within groups [Dewey]
The value and truth of knowledge are measured by success in activity [Dewey]
Democracy is not just a form of government; it is a mode of shared living [Dewey]
We want certainty in order achieve secure results for action [Dewey]
Dewey argued long before Wittgenstein that there could not seriously be a private language [Dewey, by Orenstein]