Eupraxophy..... It's Cosmology and Applications

(Eupraxophy)

This idea is originally a concept of Paul Kurtz, who wrote a book called "Living Without Religion : Eupraxophy" (1991)

--Paul uses a combination of three greek words and assembles them into the following definition of a system that is a counterweight to religion.

EU: Good, Well
PRAXIS : Conduct, Practice
SOPHIA : Scientific and Philosophic Wisdom

Kurtz's Definition:
a Set of convictions and practices offering a cosmic outlook (orderly harmonious system), and an ethical guide to life

The book elaborates on what you can see, is not a very stirring or explanatory definition.
In reading the book I got the sense that Paul did not really know how to create a rational couterweight to the Religious indoctrination that stems from particular structures and functions, from churches to prayer, etc....he seemed to be looking for approximate counterparts to what churches and other tools of religion offer as means of attaining a desired and informed path in how to live ones life..rather than working from within the science and philosophy minded.....he included the idea of a eupraxophy center to be a church-counterweight, as an example.

My Definition is:
Eupraxophy is a system or constitution of guiding convictions and practices, which are determined by the rational exploration, study, and explanation of human nature, knowledge, and experiences. It is practiced consciously with principled judgement and an ethical commitment to life.

Which I think captures the sentiment he was seeking, but did not addequettly express in his book. I dug into the constituents of the term, explored them, played with them, trying to figure out what felt more closely expressive of the ideal the book tried to convey, and this is what I came up with.

A eupraxophy center ? sure, in the sense that you might have a book club, or a hobby group, to refine your understanding of a thing...this eupraxophy thing...
But as a community outlet/inlet for organizing people...NO....there is no such need.

Eupraxophy is the synthesis of our accumulated philosphical and scientific understanding, expressed as tools of guidance in attaining that life of harmony which is made possible by the accumulated wisdom of these two.

They are tools to be developed by eupraxophers primarily, but not exclusive to them, anymore than knowledge at a unversity is the exclusive territory of professors....everyone develops the means though some are better than others and that which is most effective and well known is that which is used most often by the most...whether theoretical or practical..and the focus of such a system or constitution is to teach everyone, everything that is known....in a way as to guide people through lifes opportunities and decisions, in order to promote a harmonious society and people that are fulfilled with their existence.
It is complete, answering everything.

It is not a cult, there are no levels, or sacrifices demanded.
It doesn't require you to forsake what you believe..........it teaches you, how to think in ways that are verifiable and practical, what you need to know to be a full human being. You choose from there.

It is part of what is already here, it just does not yet have a systemic and integrated whole to draw from as a common source....in other words, there is no bible equivalent YET.

Once an integrated whole exists..it develops with us and our understanding of the world....it is never static as with religion, which can only perpetually argue the limited points of view that are stated as important to it.

It incorporates EVERYTHING, including religious knowledge and experiences for examination, and as sources of inspiration. But the religious is NOT the source of definition for what is of value or important or how to live ones life.

Feel down because you don't know what do with your life....chapter 13....what do the philosphers say...and what practical examples of these philosophies have been tried as examples you can verify to have or not have worked...and why was that so...etc..who can teach me this....etc.. Humanity has accumulated thousands of years of self-knowledge, from mythological stories, to peotry, to actual systemized social experiments which at the least indicate probabilities and likelihoods which are a real and verifiable means of determinig between a course of action that is likely successful and one that is miserly.

It is not the creation of something alien or even new, just the synthesis of what has emerged from the eons of human nature, knowledge and experience that have brought us to the here and now.

The work of the eupraxopher is the work of integrating all into one and to create the means of guidance from this one whole for the many, in whatever culture and land it may be thought of as usefull. It is no more a prosletizing force than a course in scientific or philosophic study.
If it replicates, that will be due to it's effectiveness in providing humanity yet another tool with which it may advance it's cause.

Think of a picture with a foreground and a background....belief and knowledge.
To some the foreground is more captivating and compelling, and for some it is the background.

No priests.
No rituals, secret or otherwise.
No hidden knowledge.

Of
....By
        and
............For ALL !!!

From         Many         Into         One.

                                        ~Charles,
                                          Chief Of Operations