Philosophy Now Forum

I'm not bothering myself about him anymore, thedoc. I gave him a chance to have a reasonable say in a civilized manner, and apparently he just couldn't do it.
So I invite you to feel free not to bother either, unless you find some pleasure in it. He's no concern of mine.

The agnostic could say he knows of no logical/mathematical argument that proves the existence of God. Yes. The words "he knows" are key there. He can't claim more than he knows. The agnostic could say there is no empirical evidence that demonstrates the existence of God. No. Again, he cou...

But is what is being demonstrated every day, what is taught in the Quran Yes. I've read it. It is. And the Haddiths have even worse. The Imams -- well, just listen. Only if we say that neither the writings nor the teachers of Islam are genuinely Islamic could we say that Islam is a religion of peac...

I think the problem is with your use of the term "real", I assume that you are talking about some type of cognitive evidence. Real for whom? Real for the person having those thoughts, do doubt. Yes, I said this. It is extremely improbable that the dream I had last night was divinely inspi...

You mean the line that draws on a variety of approaches similar to the variety of approaches used in secular ethics? Nope. Wiki's wrong on that one. It's describing Catholic ethics, particular MacIntyre, whose ethics come from Aristotle. That's not me. However it is right about this: I do read and ...

I seem to recall we -- you and me -- ended up in a similar place in another discussion/thread...just goes to show (1) conviction (either way) is a bitch; (2) opposition can be tactful and civil...

Ha! Mr. Pithy strikes again.

Yes, I heartily agree.

I have very little to say about Islam that Islam is not already saying -- or rather demonstrating graphically by its actions every day.

Okay, Henry. You can take the view that power rules and ethics drool. And so far a secular ethics go, I'll agree. But I would choose instead to say "Power can be wrong." Just because someone can force something on me, and I may not always have the power to beat them does not mean they are ...

long lived predisposition to needing and finding a mother, father, or hero What you're recycling here is, of course, the old Freudian stuff about the belief in a Supreme Being being merely the manifestation of childish needs for a father figure. As Freud would have it, belief in God is just a child...

The pleasure of a discussion conducted well and with civility, of a challenging issue worked out, of two persons benefitted by the contact, and of new friends made is a great benefit of talking with wise people.

Thank you for your erudite conversation.

...that summarizes my complaint with those who label themselves philosophers. They invent irrelevant notions to discuss. How, then, can they be relevant to whatever forms reality takes? Seriously? :shock: Okay, I'll give a serious answer, even if I find the question...well, I suppose the phrase I w...

That seems to make sense to me as the Christians are quietly doing what needs to be done and the others, who are more concerned about looking like Christians, will call attention to whatever show they are putting on. Absolutely. If a real Christian ever "makes a noise" it will only ever b...

As in all things: it's the one(s) with the big stick (or more wisely applied smaller stick) who decide(s). Does it have to be, Henry? I agree that as a matter of historical fact. But are you not now questioning the validity of that? But on what basis, if there is no other fact but power? So: 'why h...

As as your examples show ethics and morals vary over cultures and time so I don't think there can be an absolute authority to decide such things, Your syllogism looks like this: Ethics and morals vary. Therefore, there can be no authority to decide which are right. If we supply the missing premise,...

I can say with confidence that you cannot know the position and the momentum of a particle at the same time. I can also say with confidence that no one can know this. Well, I would say that perhaps that's simply beside the point. The real point is this: while you can say with confidence you don't k...