ABOUT US

This web site was launched on 9 July 2022 at an online presentation on “Morality and Human Flourishing” by me, Ken Young, and Akiva Quinn.  The site includes the notes, slides and now a recording of that presentation with links to the various topics covered.  See below.

ASPITATIONISTS

Aspirationists are everywhere. They aspire to be more moral.  We believe the more moral we are the more we will flourish, individually and as a society.  At least that’s the theory being explored on this website.  Me, and the friends who have helped me on this journey, are concerned that people and the planet are in danger from global warming and other forms of pollution.  We urgently need to become more cooperative to avoid more disasters than those that have are already occurred as a result of climate change.  These take the form extreme weather events that have caused much death and destruction already.  There may be worse to come.

I agree the connection between global warming and extreme weather events can’t be proven beyond doubt, but it is becoming more and more certain as we experience more intense bush fires, floods, and droughts.  There is no point in being alarmed.  This process may be reversed, or at least slowed, if we all cooperate.  Morality is all about cooperating and morality is defined and explored here, so that options for action can be tested.

You may want to know more about us, but you don’t need to know us individually.  I am just a coordinator, but I’m prepared to tell you all about me.  I will also tell you a little about those who are prepared to do the same. If you want to be identified as an Aspirationist you can tell everyone about yourself here.  It is difficult to know who you can trust these days so be prepared, as I am, to be attacked by vested interests using modern media.

My morality isn’t much better than anyone else’s.  We don’t yet have an accepted method of measuring it, but I’m certain most of us are around average or else societies wouldn’t function as well as they do.  What we do need to do is find out how to become more moral and flourish.  That is the main aim of this website.

The launch on 9 July 2022 was at a joint online meeting of the Melbourne Agnostics and Philosophers Bazaar.  An abstract follows with Bios of the presenters and others involved in this initiative.

We hope to show a modern approach to morality can help all of humanity flourish individually and collectively.  We examine morality from an agnostic viewpoint to include knowledge and practices from science and religion to show how morality has provided social cohesion in the past and still does today.  A morality attuned to the modern world is considered important if humanity is to survive, thrive and flourish.  Here are the bios.

I, Ken Young, am an 85-year-old retired student of humanity hoping to contribute something towards improving the human condition somehow.  My 39-year career as an administrator/clerk in the public sector enabled me to retire in 1993 and pursue my passion for science and its application to human wellbeing and flourishing.  Since 2006 I have been a volunteer with COTA Vic (Council On The Aging Victoria) and their OM:NI program of discussion groups for older men.  For more information go to https://www.cotavic.org.au/our-programs/omni-mens-discussion-group/  I also spent years as a family historian.  My parents were both from larger families.  I only have two children and three grandchildren.

Akiva Quinn is passionate about the moral and social dimensions of human existence and believes that philosophical reflection and discussions about purpose and values can help improve things. He is a member of Humanists Australia and seeks to contribute in some way to our shared understanding of morality and how it fosters personal and social wellbeing.  Akiva is a lifelong student of philosophy and society, works in IT, has run a men’s and fathers’ group since 2007 and co-facilitates the Men Being Well program.  For more go to https://ozhumanist.wordpress.com/

David Miller is passionate about the way we think about beliefs and has an extensive knowledge of the history of religion.  He has been organising meetings of the Existentialists for over 50 years and other groups since then including the Melbourne Atheists, The Sea of Faith, and the Agnostics.  He’s converted me to Agnosticism from Atheism.  I have done a number of presentations for him over the years and proud to call him a friend.  For more go to http://www.existentialistmelbourne.org/history.html

Akiva Quinn, what a person… covering some of the collaborations in the Melbourne Philosophy Circle his latest Blog/Post is here.

Tony Symes has been looking after my computers for years and has developed this web site for me.  Both he, Akiva, and my son were all born in 1967 at the beginning of the computer age and work professionally in the Information Technology area.  For more go to About Us | TK Computer Services P/L (helpmetony.com)

I regard myself and these men as Aspirationists along with many others I’ve worked with in groups of older men and read about.  We can all aspire to something bigger than ourselves and agree that the more moral we have been the more we have flourished.  The book by Jonathan Haidt “The Righteous Mind” led me to the study of morality and this point.

LINKS

The link to the introductory notes for the presentation made on 9 July 2022 is here.  I suggest this is the best place to start.  Links to the main topics – morality, flourishing, etc are on the home page main menu.  There are further links to other resources via the “OTHER” menu on the home page.  These include links to pages about the two main books that prompted this presentation are by David DeSteno and Tim Dean with book notes here.  The link to the book by Steven Pinker mentioned by Akiva is here.

The recording of the presentation is here if you have the time.  I’m most disappointed with my performance and I don’t intend to do another one. I’m too old for this.  Akiva’s section is much better than mine.  I suggest it is much better to read my notes.  Akiva’s slides are best explored by reading the books suggested by them.  Any questions or suggestions you have will be most welcome and I’ll do my best to respond.  Feel free to use the “CONTACT US”.  The link to the Power Point Presentation slides is here.

If you contact us, you will be advised of any updates made to the site unless you elect otherwise.  Your email address will be treated with the utmost privacy and not used for any other purpose.  There will be no advertising on this website.  I’m not recommending any products or services mentioned on this web site.

Ken Young – 11 August 2022