Philosophy Now Forum

Immanuel Can wrote:...absent a meaning binding us both to coherent claims, it's very difficult to see how we can discuss without simply speaking past each other.

In other words, if you don't accept Mr Can's definitions, argument and conclusion, he won't engage.

It doesn't matter what I believe or don't believe, I'm examining P1 in that argument and struggling to understand why it isn't wrong. As I keep saying, we simply don't know if it is or isn't wrong. It isn't the role of logic to discover whether the premises are right or wrong, logic simply tells yo...

Immanuel Can wrote:...how do any two people actually solve anything?

If you are one of them, Mr Can; they don't.

P1) Everything that exists has a cause P2) The universe exists C) The universe has a cause. That's the full argument, the 'logic'. Well, yes, there is "everything that exists has a cause" as P1. So now it is a premise in a valid argument, but we're still none the wiser as to it's truth va...

The logic is that everything that exists has a cause. That is a premise, it is not a logical argument. As I said, it may be true, but we don't have the means to find out for now. If you disagree and think that the universe could pop into existence without a cause, aren't you simply agreeing that so...

How many times the above is repeated depends on the patience of R. Not completely repetitive as you point out. I got my share of those :shock: additions. Surely that adds validity to the continued assertions. Indeed; just as the go faster tape on my handlebars made my pushbike quicker. Immanuel Can...

The requirement for the initial condition of the universe to be an effect is met by the fact that something caused the universe, is it not? Only if it is a fact. Or do you think that the universe can exist without cause? If not, do we not need to address the problem that an infinite regression in a...

It's unverifiable that god (or anyone else) can't create a round square, because such a thing is logically impossible. Well, in Euclidean geometry at least, a shape that doesn't have four equal sides joined at corners of ninety degrees, a circle, for example, isn't a square. Not everything can be v...

Immanuel Can wrote:...I understand the impulse to issue promissory notes of future achievement...

Of course you do; it's called religion.

To summarize, the Materialist's claim has to be as follows: "consciousness" is a material entity that has no material properties at all -- not just mass or volume, but measurability of any kind by anyone, using any method. Yet it exists." As I pointed out in this thread: http://forum...

Immanuel Can: Here's what you believe, and you're a fool to believe it. Respondent: That's not what I believe. IC: Here's what you believe, and you're a fool to believe it. R: As I said; that's not what I believe. IC: Here's what you believe, and you're a fool to believe it. R: No; that really isn't...

Immanuel Can wrote:

Noax wrote:You are making up nonsense naive rules.

They are the rules of Materialism, by definition. That they are nonsense is not my fault. "Not my monkeys, not my circus," as they say.

Oh please! Someone tell this buffoon he doesn't know what he is talking about.

I'm merely pointing out that if an "idea" or "consciousness" is "material" it would have to have some of the properties Of a "material" entity. Does anyone have any ideas about how to persuade Mr Can that materialists do not assume that matter is ultimately m...

Hobbes' Choice wrote:"Whatever exists has a cause"- you said that not me.

Ah! Now I get it. He has a point BishBoshMcCosh.

I couldn't be bothered to address your syllogism because god didn't begin to exist, he has always existed, that's basic theology and so trivially wrong that it wasn't worth correcting. Our destiny is determined by the influence of constellations is basic astrology, but that doesn't give it any vali...