The Law of Identity

Exploring the Law of Identity: Foundations and Implications in Reality and Belief

The Essence of Identity and Its Logical Foundations

The Law of Identity, also known as The First Law of Thought, states that "A is A," meaning an object is itself and possesses a nature consistent with its existence. It's a fundamental axiom of logic, serving as the basis for all thought, and cannot be refuted without assuming its truth in the process of attempting to refute it.

The Law of Identity implies that to exist is to exist as something, with specific characteristics and a specific nature. This law applies not only to physical objects but also to actions, thoughts, and other concepts. A rational mind recognizes and respects the law, which in turn aids in understanding the world and making decisions based on reality rather than whim or illusion.

The Metaphysical and Practical Implications of Identity

The Law of Identity is not only a law of logic but also a metaphysical principle. It tells us that existence itself is organized in a certain way, which lays the groundwork for the principle of causality. Causality posits that an entity's actions are determined by its nature, making the Law of Identity a foundational tenet for understanding cause-and-effect relationships.

The fact that existence is governed by the Law of Identity means that every action is caused and will produce specific effects. Recognizing this, a rational individual can predict outcomes and make better choices. The Law of Identity, therefore, serves as a guide for understanding and interacting with the world.

Rationality Versus Contradiction in Theological Doctrines

In the framework outlined, we come now to the concept of God. The identity of God often contradicts the Law of Identity. Many theological doctrines ascribe contradictory attributes to God, such as omnipotence and omnibenevolence, that often cannot be reconciled with the observed facts of reality. For instance, the concept of a God who is all-powerful and all-good but allows suffering is a contradiction.

If you consider God from the perspective of the Law of Identity, then God, like any other concept, would have to be consistent and non-contradictory to exist. This means that God must possess specific attributes and not their opposites simultaneously. Any claim about God needs to be based on evidence and logical reasoning to be considered valid.

Integrating God with Objective Reality

This is why I will now propose an interpretation that may seem unusual coming from an Atheist; I do this because I believe living in accordance with reality is the best method of survival, and I value helping people live rationally successful lives more than winning the philosophical argument.

I propose that the identity of God and reality are one and the same. That God is not to be seen as a floating abstract, but that everything real is God, and everything that is not real lacks the identity of God. This means that every atom in the universe is God, every grain of sand, every book ever written, every neuron in your brain, every emotion you experience, everyone who was and everyone who is and yes, you yourself are all aspects of God's real tangible identity.

From this basis, there is no contradiction between modern understanding and historical legends; you can now separate real history from myths created by ancient men. The good lessons should still be heeded without denying the context in which it was written. This also means that modern books containing humanity's latest understandings are equally valid and equally require your thoughtful judgment as to whether they are true aspects of God or not.