In the thread "If God ever stopped intervening in nature" the topic has drifted into a discussion about the existence of absolute truths. I am not sure if it has any legs but I am interested and think that the topic is worthy of it's own thread.
So the question is 'Is there any such thing as an absolute?'
Definition
quote:
Absolute
1. not qualified or diminished in any way; total.
2. a value or principle that is regarded as universally valid or that may be viewed without relation to other things.
I see a bit of a problem with this as it seems to me that the way in which we know things is by relating them to other things. The act of knowing is a process of categorizing sensory input into a hierarchy of relationships. Consciousness itself is the state of being aware of the differences between entities. So it may be that this definition is not the right one as it is somewhat self defeating. I suspect that it is a failure of language because I can hold the concept in my mind but it breaks down when I try to verbalize it. The definition is open for debate.
As a starting point I would like to dispute the idea that imagining a reality that is in opposition to what we observe is a valid objection to the idea that we can be sure of what we observe. From
Message 109
Modulous writes:
ProtoTypical writes:
Postulating a matrix is the same as invoking a god or unicorns or any other product of the imagination.
It is a means to demonstrate the need for a certain degree of epistemic humility. IF the Matrix existed, and we were in it, we wouldn't know this. We cannot rule it out. Ergo, from our position of limited knowledge, there is a non-zero chance we're in a matrix, or in a divine testing grounds, or a brain in a jar tormented by an evil scientist or a demon or whatever. Thus we cannot know absolute truths, since our mind may be being deceived in our senses or in our estimates of mathematical proofs or whatever.
If .9999...9 is equal to 1 then non-zero chances can largely be dismissed. The same way that I can dismiss the non-zero possibility that I can walk through a wall. In the real world the possibility that I can walk through a wall is zero. I know this.
P.S. I am only connected occasionally so expect long delays from me.
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