Is agnosticism more intellectually honest?

So I have heard it said; by people who behave as though they are certain of the non-existence of werewolves. That's a different kind of question.For example, since I know that you have a height, but have no information about it, I am agnostic about what that height is; I do not assert that you are not 5'9'' on the basis of the absence of evidence.On the other hand, I am not similarly agnostic on the question of whether you have a pet unicorn. I believe that you do not. This is because the evidence that I am missing is evidence against a well-established rule.Now in the case of Franklin's kite, he knew that electricity existed, he knew that everything contains some quantity (possibly zero) of electricity, and so could be agnostic about what that quantity is in the case of lightning.

What?And, indeed, why?

Hi Dr Adequate You are welcome to your opinion, however just repeating 'no that's wrong' doesn't accomplish a thing. And?The question is whether your position is opinion or one based on evidence: if you don't have supporting evidence, then it is de facto opinion, and the logical position is 5. If you have supporting evidence then you can go to 6 or 7 (depending on the strength of the evidence).Is there supporting evidence that werewolves (and unicorns) do not exist? Is there is an absence of evidence that would be expected (predicted) if they existed? So how do I calculate these probabilities? Without knowing all the possibilities you can't calculate probabilities. Can you predict the probabilities for what a di in my hand will land on when I throw it when (a) you don't know how many sides it has and (b) you don't know how it is numbered?Enjoy.

What if the universe is deemed absolutely finite.A simple question to break the deadlock of your position. Deflection indicates a refusal to delve further in the issue's examination.

So do you in fact carry silver at the time of the full moon to ward off werewolves?

What does that even mean?Other than it meaning that the universe would no longer exist, do you have any point?

Er ... isn't that what you're meant to be telling me? It is you, not I, who thinks he can deduce some theological consequence from the size of the universe.

Its not a theological question. You can feel safe answering it.

Hi again Dr Adequate I repeat:

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The question is whether your position is opinion or one based on evidence: if you don't have supporting evidence, then it is de facto opinion, and the logical position is 5. If you have supporting evidence then you can go to 6 or 7 (depending on the strength of the evidence).

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Is there supporting evidence that werewolves (and unicorns) do not exist? Is there is an absence of evidence that would be expected (predicted) if they existed? Why wouldn't having a 5 position be enough to behave as if werewolves did not exist? People behave as if their opinions are valid all the time, whether those opinions are true or not. Is it? How would he know that if he had no way to detect electricity?Enjoy.

Well, there's an absence of evidence of werewolves. Because it doesn't go so far as saying that they probably don't. Yes. Well, if he had no evidence at all for the very existence of electricity, then he should certainly have doubted that it was present in lightning just as he should have doubted the presence of groosnarp and fleem.Edited by Dr Adequate, : No reason given.

Safe, yes, capable, no.You ask me what if the universe was finite. But I do not know what conclusion, or even what kind of conclusion, you think can be drawn from that. You, on the other hand, do. So you tell me.

When you arrive at a brick wall and keep banging on it - you end up in a circular path. The correct way is to allow alternate considerations and see if they fit. However, it seems you are fundamentally in opposition to test your case. So either continue banging your head on the brick wall - or follow the course I suggested as a devil's adquate test.

I cannot follow the course you suggested because you have not in fact suggested a course, or, if you have, you have not done so in any language with which I am familiar.

Hi, Dr A. If there were werewolves in Las Vegas, don't you think a few things would have been noticed by now? For instance, heightened death tolls and animal-like maulings during full moons, a few eyewitness accounts, people who regularly and inexplicably black out every full moon, etc.Not so for gods: god concepts vary so much that there is no consistent set of evidence like this that would cover the whole spectrum of god concepts.So, I still contend that it would be perfectly consistent for somebody to remain agnostic with respect to gods while not being "agnostic" to werewolves.

Suit yorself. Your not shit scared, right?