Babbling

[NietzscheTexasRanger]

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Hong_Kong_Phooey wrote:

They exist conceptually, but I don't want to get into a whole ontological argument.

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I'm afraid one has to get into that. Ontology is kind of the basis for everything. Like, I can't really make this statement right now, and make it logical, without having some conception of ontology (the study of being).

[NietzscheTexasRanger]

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Galaxian wrote:
"I don't believe in science"

Really?

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That shouldn't be that controversial. I don't believe in science that much either. It is a metaphysical article of faith to say, as the scientific method does, that reality has to be experienced and observable. My philosophy has long since discarded such empiricism.

Which puts me in kind of an interesting state. I don't know what's real or how to determine real from unreal. That is, I don't have a set standard by which I know that anything exists. I'm not really an agnostic because my uncertainty goes beyond whether God exists or not. I don't really know if anything exists or not.

A lot of times, I just use spontaneous methods for believing in things. If I'm talking to a person, I figure that person would think I'm crazy if I said he doesn't exist, so I'll just assume he exists. Other times, I'll assume things are real because I feel like they're real. Chocolate has a really positive taste; therefore, I assume that it exists. Believing in Santa Claus is fun; therefore, I'll assume Santa Claus exists.

If I ever figure out the standard for determining what's real and what's not that I can use in all cases, I'll let the ASMB know of my discovery.

[NietzscheTexasRanger]

Perhaps pure logic is the standard that determines reality. That's what Rationalism is. "I think, therefore I am" and all that. I should try that sometime.

[Galaxian]

While I agree that it is impossible to directly validate the objective veracity of one's senses, I question the logic behind basing one's philosophy on that.

[Hong_Kong_Phooey]

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westpark wrote:

That being said -- do you really believed that a one-cell bacterium evolved out of pond scum, which came about from mineral wash off of rocks over millions of years?

And then....the big bang, that small dot of compacted mass and energy....you really think that came from -- nothing?

You believe everything in this universe came from nothing? And I'm the outlandish one?

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Yes, because that follows with the known, demonstrable physical laws of reality. Yeah, it's outlandish to think that the development of the universe, the planet, and life occurred according to the way it would if the physical laws we know are correct; and it's equally plausible to posit that, nope, the laws of reality as we know them are just a trick and it's all magic. And i dont' posit that the universe came from nothing, I dont' know what caused the Big Bang, but I don't posit an idealized mythical figure to make me feel there is meaning or purpose to my pointless little life just because there's a convenient gap in my knowledge.

[ColAnngus]

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Gaius_Sextus wrote:

http://www.dependablerenegade.com/dependable_renegade/2011/05/doe
s-yahwehs-dyson.html

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Not exactly selling the argument for the other side that one does.

Now "B0ner", he'd probably have himseif a cult or two if he wanted.

[ColAnngus]

No, I agree that following up questions with Mr. Hawkins is indeed difficult giving his disability. I think he's more bashing the fairytale of heaven, and Angels and to be blunt, organized religion. Stephen as I recall referred to "God" as the forces of nature in an article. So, I suppose it can depend on your view of what god is. For some, a guy in white robes. for others, well it could be many things. I think his message "could' be interpreted as disavowing this patriarchal system of power that has so many enthralled and essentially duped into believing through fear and for others initiation from birth, or in other words; brainwashed. 

[icantswim357]

For someone thats supposedly so smart, he sure is a dumbass.

[mrgreen42]

You have to admit, you DID label a post 'Heaven is indeed a myth.' and posted it on a MB.  It's bound to happen.

[mrgreen42]

You sound like the real President of the Galaxy from The Restaurant at the End of the Universe.  I think that's awesome.    I love Douglas Adams.