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Author Topic:   Is "Goddidit" an already presumed option in evc debate topics?
Larni
Member (Idle past 183 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


Message 12 of 12 (395863)
04-18-2007 6:45 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Neutralmind
04-12-2007 8:10 PM


The thing with 'goddidit' is putting an intention into the equation that does not belong (unparsimonious).
Our brains have evolved to be prone towards detecting false positives in terms of intentional action towards ourselves.
We can see this in how we personify objects and ascribe intent to them. This is shown brillianty as Basil Fawlty berates his car for its intractability.
When we see movement we can automatically assume it is made by something with intent, a predator hunting us for example.
When we are kids we hear the downstairs door creek late at night and we erroneously conclude it is a monster stealthing its' way through our house coming to get us.
Things in nature that move or change are prone to trigger our 'recognition of intent' circuits in our brain.
Most of the time we quickly realise it is not a monster, or our car is in fact not an intentional object.
But if we a taught that some things are intentional (a gods intention no less) this feeds into our 'recognition of intent' circuit. Having this reinforced by ritual and socialization only makes matters worse.
Our parents don't tell us that the monsters (our imagined intent behind the noise) are real; they tell us the truth: just as science does.
To entertain 'goddidit' as an option is to entertain the notion that monsters are real.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Neutralmind, posted 04-12-2007 8:10 PM Neutralmind has not replied

  
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