What philosophical evidence is there against believing in non-physical entities?

[bennyboy]

What is "philosophical evidence?"

Look, the default position for any idea is that you are unaware of it. Then you are presented by an idea, and you have to decide if it represents truth. Any sensible person would want to confirm that the idea really does represent truth before adopting it as part of his world view.

Your OP question has a serious problem. An "entity" is a thing with an independent existence. What would a non-physical entity even be?

[LostLocke]

And to kinda sum up what others are saying....the question is phrased wrong.
The real question is, "What evidence is there for believing in non-physical entities?"

So far, the answer seems to be....none.

[bennyboy]

And to kinda sum up what others are saying....the question is phrased wrong.
The real question is, "What evidence is there for believing in non-physical entities?"

So far, the answer seems to be....none.

I'd have to say if there WERE evidence, then pretty much by definition, the thing would have to be partly physical.  So if there were a God, and he somehow influences the Universe, then that part of God which allows for influence (i.e. the application of force, or the creation of material) would have to be said to be physical.

[Minimalist]

Is that supposed to be a seriously scientific assessment?

You tell me, pal.  Of the two of us, only one believes in fairy tales.

[Arkilogue]

And to kinda sum up what others are saying....the question is phrased wrong.
The real question is, "What evidence is there for believing in non-physical entities?"

So far, the answer seems to be....none.

I'd have to say if there WERE evidence, then pretty much by definition, the thing would have to be partly physical.  So if there were a God, and he somehow influences the Universe, then that part of God which allows for influence (i.e. the application of force, or the creation of material) would have to be said to be physical.

We know of 5 other types of quarks that can make atomic nuclei....and we are made of the lightest type.

If there are other entities/realms that are parallel/overlaping our realm....4 of them would be more "physical"...more dense...not less.

[Losty]

It is literally as simple as doing a google search.  You are online, correct?

http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/


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[Thumpalumpacus]

There are philosophical arguments, but there's no such thing as philosophical evidence.

You cannot reason anything into existence, but if it keeps you from blowing stuff up or taking hostages, have your heyday.

[Gemini]

Materialism is dead nowadays as a serious philosophical theory.

If you say so, but 49.8% of philosophers surveyed by Chalmers and Bourget were naturalists. 56.5% of them were mind/body physicalists. 72.8% were atheists.

Science has not disproved the existence of other dimensions.

Science has also not disproved that should Skarl cease his drumming, MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI will awaken, and there will be worlds nor gods no more.

I talk to them every day and they talk back to me, using English words and language. I am sure this is real and most societies have had some sort of concept of this. Why would people be unwilling to acknowledge there could be other life besides human life?

I've had some cool, trippy dreams too. The question is, is it more likely that these figures are subjective phenomena, or objectively existent? Why are you so sure the spirits you talk to are real?

[Aoi Magi]

Materialism is dead nowadays as a serious philosophical theory. I think the Kantian realization that the world is dependent on our senses causes us to to doubt that we can contain the world in language or our thoughts. Science has not disproved the existence of other dimensions.


Why would people be unwilling to acknowledge the possibility that spiritual entities exist? I talk to them every day and they talk back to me, using English words and language. I am sure this is real and most societies have had some sort of concept of this. Why would people be unwilling to acknowledge there could be other life besides human life?

If you are in contact, ask them for something you don't know, like a cure for cancer perhaps? Let us know when they give you the answer

[Alex K]

Materialism is dead nowadays as a serious philosophical theory. I think the Kantian realization that the world is dependent on our senses causes us to to doubt that we can contain the world in language or our thoughts. Science has not disproved the existence of other dimensions.


Why would people be unwilling to acknowledge the possibility that spiritual entities exist? I talk to them every day and they talk back to me, using English words and language. I am sure this is real and most societies have had some sort of concept of this. Why would people be unwilling to acknowledge there could be other life besides human life?

First of all, define non-physical entity, properly. I have the suspicion that it's a nonsense term to begin with...