(January 21, 2017 at 6:23 pm)Aroura Wrote:(January 21, 2017 at 5:45 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: Thank you. My point was not debate my examples; but rather, to show that “God exists,” is a philosophical proposition that has been debated throughout the centuries with the same seriousness as questions about time, numbers, etc. Suppose you are at a dinner party (forum) sitting at a table (thread) of five and two people are having discussion about Plantinga’s ontological argument, specifically his use of modal logic. Of course everyone at the table is welcome to join the conversation; it’s a party after all. But if another guest’s contribution is “You can’t logic your skydaddy, zombie-Jew into existence,” then he is just being a douche. It’s not even an argument. It’s an unwelcome quip. Go sit the loud and obnoxious table (a thread for just mocking). The point is that I have no problem when the atheist members want to mock religion among themselves. But if you’re directing that kind of comment at a Christian on a Philosophy thread, well, that’s just rude.
FWIW here are my stances with respect to the examples:
P2: Time exists. –I’m agnostic on the issue. I lean towards presentism, but eternalism seems just as plausible. In either case, I think time is based on related states and not any kind of extention.
P3: Numbers exist. –I’m a moderate realist. I feel that resolves the tension between Platonic forms and Aristotelian imminence and provides a satisfactory solution to the Problem of Universals.
P4: Truth exists. –I don’t really have a complete theory of truth, but I strongly favor those that have a place for the idea that some truths are proscriptive.
P5: Possibilities exist. –To me possibilities are not simply epistemological uncertainties; but rather, part of the nature of things, e.g. glass has within it a disposition to shatter regardless of whether or not it ever does.
Ok, I will grant you that HISTORICALLY speaking, I understand that it wasn't always a waste of great minds. The theories had to be covered, and ideas explored.
But now that solid counter-arguments exist, and have for quite some time now, that have not been countered again, as it were, it's time to let it go. Once a person has learned, and repeated these arguments numerous times, it just becomes easier to go to snarky dismissal, I suppose, since the well thought logical rebuttals (repeated ad-nauseum) got them nowhere, I suppose the average person goes for the quick fix.
Not many of us have the mental stamina and emotional wherewithal of Dawkins and Harris, to tolerate hearing the same exact misconceptions, logical fallacies, and failed philosophies over and over with patience and a smile.
P.S. Thank you for the civil discussion, though. It's nice to not name call. It's one of the reasons I keep wanting to leave. I enjoy discussion, but not when people start name calling.
At any rate, It seems neither of us really wants to debate. I don't think I'd have anything else meaningful to contribute at this time, anyway.
"I offend people"
-Megatron.