Street Epistemology - Practice

[RoadRunner79]

Firstly I need to ask whether you care that what you believe in is true.

If you don't care, then practicing epistemology on you will be ineffective.

Yes...of course.  May I assume that you do as well?

[curiosne]

Firstly I need to ask whether you care that what you believe in is true.

If you don't care, then practicing epistemology on you will be ineffective.

Yes...of course.  May I assume that you do as well?

Great! Yes, I do care also but we'll get to me later if that's ok...?

So to continue, let's talk about how you determine how you determine things to be true.

If I told you that right now, I have $10 in the pocket of my pants...would you believe me?

[RoadRunner79]

Yes...of course.  May I assume that you do as well?

Great! Yes, I do care also but we'll get to me later if that's ok...?

So to continue, let's talk about how you determine how you determine things to be true.

If I told you that right now, I have $10 in the pocket of my pants...would you believe me?

I believe in the principle of charity, so without reason not to, I would tentatively believe you... yes. But corroborating evidence would be good.

[curiosne]

Great! Yes, I do care also but we'll get to me later if that's ok...?

So to continue, let's talk about how you determine how you determine things to be true.

If I told you that right now, I have $10 in the pocket of my pants...would you believe me?

I believe in the principle of charity, so without reason not to, I would tentatively believe you... yes. But corroborating evidence would be good.

Ok, I'm just trying to figure out your way of thinking so bear with me...

What if I told you I had $500 cash in my pocket. Would you also tentatively believe me?

[RoadRunner79]

I believe in the principle of charity, so without reason not to, I would tentatively believe you... yes. But corroborating evidence would be good.

Ok, I'm just trying to figure out your way of thinking so bear with me...

What if I told you I had $500 cash in my pocket. Would you also tentatively believe me?

Yes possibly...

[curiosne]

Ok, I'm just trying to figure out your way of thinking so bear with me...

What if I told you I had $500 cash in my pocket. Would you also tentatively believe me?

Yes possibly...

Right..so if I told you that I actually have $20k in my pocket right now would you tentatively believe me?

If not, can you let me know how you would go to determine if I was telling the truth?

[RoadRunner79]

Yes possibly...

Right..so if I told you that I actually have $20k in my pocket right now would you tentatively believe me?

If not, can you let me know how you would go to determine if I was telling the truth?

Well, it would certainly be out of the ordinary for one to carry around that kind of cash, as well as the physical impracticalities of fitting that kind of denominations in your pocket to consider. Yes, I would start to question it.

With reason to doubt, then I would need some supporting evidence.

[curiosne]

Right..so if I told you that I actually have $20k in my pocket right now would you tentatively believe me?

If not, can you let me know how you would go to determine if I was telling the truth?

Well, it would certainly be out of the ordinary for one to carry around that kind of cash, as well as the physical impracticalities of fitting that kind of denominations in your pocket to consider. Yes, I would start to question it.  

With reason to doubt, then I would need some supporting evidence.

What sort of supporting evidence would you need..eg eye witness testimony, photograph..etc? (let's assume I live across the road from you and you're able to meet me as well).


I need to understand what you determine as evidence....

[RoadRunner79]

Well, it would certainly be out of the ordinary for one to carry around that kind of cash, as well as the physical impracticalities of fitting that kind of denominations in your pocket to consider. Yes, I would start to question it.  

With reason to doubt, then I would need some supporting evidence.

What sort of supporting evidence would you need..eg eye witness testimony, photograph..etc? (let's assume I live across the road from you and you're able to meet me as well).


I need to understand what you determine as evidence....

Anything that gives me reason to believe or not believe would be evidence. So yes, I would agree with your examples as evidence.

Edited to add: but it seems like your goal here is to make me not trust you, and to think that you are a liar.

[Crossless2.0]

That counts...it's a big one....lol!

So why do you believe in the Judaeo Christian God?

There are a number of reasons.  From the more generic philosophical arguments such as cosmological, ontological, and moral arguments. To scientific arguements a such as strong anthromorphic principle, and intelligent design arguments such as those that persuaded Anthony Flew to quit describing himself as an atheist. There isn’t anecdotal evidence, that of miracles, found all around the world.  Testimony of personal experiences, as well a must my own experiences.  However I would say that first and foremost,I heard and believed the Gospels.  I think it is the best exlpanation for the multiple disciples and apostles who testified to what happened.  

What came first: your belief in the Gospels or your "more generic philosophical arguments"? I ask because I encounter a lot of Christians who seem never to have cracked a single book or article on philosophy until they realized they needed some work on the apologetics end and sought to lend some intellectual heft and credibility to beliefs they had already settled on for very different -- and less 'respectable' -- reasons.