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Author Topic:   Problems with being an Atheist (or Evolutionist)
Blue Jay
Member (Idle past 2697 days)
Posts: 2843
From: You couldn't pronounce it with your mouthparts
Joined: 02-04-2008


Message 208 of 276 (582136)
09-20-2010 12:53 AM
Reply to: Message 199 by riVeRraT
09-19-2010 9:22 PM


Re: Atheism IS a belief
Hi, riVeRrat.
riVeRrat writes:
No, the belief in gods has been around much longer than the belief of no gods. I would tend to think it is the default human position, and just plain ole human nature.
They're not talking about some "default human position": they're talking about a default logical position.
Logical reasoning is explicitly not based on human nature.
It is this way because human nature interferes with logical reasoning more often than it helps.
There is no reason why cultural or social norms should define default positions for reasoning. Human history is filled with great examples of why the baggage of culture and human beliefs should not be the basis of logical reasoning.
The default position should be set at "0," not at whatever value people have set it at in the past.

-Bluejay (a.k.a. Mantis, Thylacosmilus)
Darwin loves you.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 199 by riVeRraT, posted 09-19-2010 9:22 PM riVeRraT has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 219 by riVeRraT, posted 09-20-2010 1:36 PM Blue Jay has replied

  
Blue Jay
Member (Idle past 2697 days)
Posts: 2843
From: You couldn't pronounce it with your mouthparts
Joined: 02-04-2008


Message 229 of 276 (582252)
09-20-2010 2:13 PM
Reply to: Message 219 by riVeRraT
09-20-2010 1:36 PM


Re: Atheism IS a belief
Hi, riVeRrat.
riVeRrat writes:
Bluejay writes:
The default position should be set at "0," not at whatever value people have set it at in the past.
Yea, define "0". "0" assumes we know everything, and we don't. "0" is subjective.
"0" here, of course, refers to the number of assumptions, not the number of gods.
Start with no assumptions (that's the default position), then add assumptions only when they are useful or meaningful or fairly incontrovertible.
"Humans have always believed X" is not a good reason to include the assumption X. Therefore, leave it out unless you can find a better reason to include it.
Why is this so complicated?

-Bluejay (a.k.a. Mantis, Thylacosmilus)
Darwin loves you.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 219 by riVeRraT, posted 09-20-2010 1:36 PM riVeRraT has not replied

  
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