Definition - Epistemology of Atheism
Some argue that the word Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that deals with determining what is and what is not true. One one hand,this is begging the question of having the ability to measure "truth" - as though there is an "external" something that one measures against. From our orientation, there is no, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any "external" something. On the other hand, Propositional Knowledge may be a way of determining truth.
We take a more general approach that Epistemology is a study of HOW we Know, What we know. With this general orientation, we may then easily speak of such constructs as an Epistemology of Religion, an Epistemology of Theism, and Epistemology of Atheism, an Epistemology of Knowledge, etc.
Naturally, the largest grouping of this set series would be the Epistemology of Epistemology. By having sub-sets of this largest set, such as the Epistemology of Atheism, or the Epistemology of Theism - one is able to compare and contrast elements from one sub-set to any other sub-set.
But herein lays a problem for Theists. Every Theist, by definition, operates out of an Epistemology of Theism - which begins with the proposition that the Epistemology of Theism is not only the largest grouping of the series of sub-sets - but also - that none of the other sub-sets even exist! A Theist,under the influence of the Epistemology of Theism, is the drunken sailor of philosophy - frequently loud and tipsy.
The sub-set of the Epistemology of Atheism recognizes itself as a sub-set of the largest grouping of the Epistemology of Epistemology.
The sub-set of the Epistemology of Atheism begins with the concept of Being Without Theism. Thus, we must first begin by taking a look at the concept of Theism - in the broadest sense of the word - so that we then have the broadest sense of what being without any Theism really means.
In the broadest sense - the word Theism - refers to any centralized Something, that is conceptually larger than a personal self AND that needs a personal self to acknowledge both the larger aspect of that Something and how the personal self finds incorporation within the larger Something. This is a very personal definition of Theism.
This broadest sense of the word Theism would include the following areas as particular brands of Theism - the Christian tradition (and all of its sects), the Hindu tradition (and all of its sects), the Muslim tradition (and all of its sects), the Buddhist tradition (and all of its sects), National Socialism, Stalinist Communism, the Native American tradition (and all of its sects) - and thousands of others.
The key is all of this discussion about Epistemology and sub-sets - is that the ONLY way of addressing ANY of the numerous issues involved is through the use of Symbols and Symbolic Form.
Traditionally, Atheism follows the outline within the Wiki definition of Atheism.
However, we at Assertive Atheist Moments believe that both Theism and Atheism arise from the usage of Symbols and Symbolic Form - which evolve in sync with the evolution of Human Beings. Thus the Assertive Atheist Moments definition of the word Atheism is both larger than the traditional definition of the word and - most importantly - the concept of Atheism has been around since the beginning of the evolution of Symbols and Symbolic Form. This evolution of Symbols and Symbolic Form coincides with the evolution of Homo Sapiens from proto-Homo Sapiens, covering a time span of 3,000,000 years.
Symbols & Human Evolution
Symbolic anthropology posits the orientation that for Human Beings, Symbols and Symbolic Form began their evolution in conjunction with the use of Tool Making better than 3 Million years ago. A good place to begin to grasp this orientation is with the Wiki entry for Clifford Geertz. Geertz believes that the evolutionary three-fold increase in the size of the Human brain (from proto-Homo Sapiens to Homo Sapiens) is due to the Human use of Symbols and Making Tools.
In practical terms the use of Symbols evolve with Humans, thus the Symbols of Theism evolve with Humans and the Symbols of Atheism evolve with Humans.
All Religious Theists believe that their particular brand of Religious Theism precedes Humans and all Human activities, including using symbols and tools. Thus, many Religious Theists will have a difficult time dealing with Symbolic Anthropology.
Symbols and Symbolic Form may be used for both Good and Evil. When Symbols are used for Good, they tend to congregate within the philosophical (not political) concept known as meliorism. The word ameliorate also refers to the human element involving improvement.