(August 2, 2016 at 11:42 pm)bennyboy Wrote:(August 2, 2016 at 11:14 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: I have no problem saying "I don't know." I also have no problem saying "I don't believe." I don't see a problem with holding those two views on the same topic concurrently.
Well, I've introduced the idea of conditional belief-- a belief that is ambiguous until a knowledge requirement is resolved. Do you accept this as a valid basis for a pure agnostic position?
Of course. I think that a thoughtful person is mentally able to hold contradictions in balance until conditions are clarified. I also think that it's possible to see both the good and the bad points in arguments on most given topics -- which is another way of saying, "if you catch me at this time I will focus on this, if you catch at that time I will focus on that" -- which is, I think, a restatement of your point, albeit in less-philosophical terms. So far as I'm concerned, I value flexibility of mind over certitude anyway.
Be it known -- regarding god(s), my agnosticism (and gnosticism!) vary depending on the definition of the god being discussed.
I've been relatively quiet in this discussion, Benny, because you're saying much of what I think and in such an erudite manner that my posting would be superfluous.
