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EvC Forum ⇒ Social and Religious Issues ⇒ Faith and Belief ⇒

Is there any such thing as an absolute?

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Phat
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From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
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Message 106 of 109 (720604)
02-25-2014 10:49 AM 		Reply to: Message 105 by ringo
02-25-2014 10:43 AM

Theory Of "Relative" Truth=Usefulness
Ringo writes:
​
I'm suggesting that we should think of accuracy entirely in terms of usefulness. A map is accurate if it gets you where you want to go, even if it depicts the earth as a plane instead of a dodecahedron.
​
Does this mean that usefulness is the criteria for accepting any truth and that...practically speaking....any "absolutes" we humans adapt are essentially relative to the rest of the culture?
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 Message 105 by ringo, posted 02-25-2014 10:43 AM ringo has replied
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 Message 107 by ringo, posted 02-25-2014 10:53 AM Phat has replied
  
ringo
Member (Idle past 439 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005

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Message 107 of 109 (720605)
02-25-2014 10:53 AM 		Reply to: Message 106 by Phat
02-25-2014 10:49 AM

Re: Theory Of "Relative" Truth=Usefulness
Phat writes:
​
Does this mean that usefulness is the criteria for accepting any truth and that...practically speaking....any "absolutes" we humans adapt are essentially relative to the rest of the culture?
I think usefulness is the only useful definition of "truth".
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 Message 106 by Phat, posted 02-25-2014 10:49 AM Phat has replied
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 Message 108 by Phat, posted 04-04-2014 12:26 PM ringo has replied
  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18338
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.0

Phat Posts Only
Message 108 of 109 (723625)
04-04-2014 12:26 PM 		Reply to: Message 107 by ringo
02-25-2014 10:53 AM

Re: Theory Of "Relative" Truth=Usefulness
Extrapolating your argument, lets say for the sake of argument that Jesus declared that He was the truth. Based on your logic, Jesus claimed that He was useful. In fact, He was the most useful way to God.
​
The argument, however, is this: Can any one ideology possibly be useful to all?
When I use a word, Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, it means just what I choose it to meannothing more nor less.
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 Message 107 by ringo, posted 02-25-2014 10:53 AM ringo has replied
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ringo
Member (Idle past 439 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005

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Message 109 of 109 (723628)
04-04-2014 12:39 PM 		Reply to: Message 108 by Phat
04-04-2014 12:26 PM

Re: Theory Of "Relative" Truth=Usefulness
Phat writes:
​
Based on your logic, Jesus claimed that He was useful. In fact, He was the most useful way to God.
I don't think He claimed to be the "most" useful. At best He is useful. At worst, He's a stumbling block.
​
Phat writes:
​
Can any one ideology possibly be useful to all?
Not absolutely all.
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