RE: Theists: What is the most compelling argument you have heard for Atheism?
March 16, 2017 at 1:09 pm
(This post was last modified: March 16, 2017 at 1:19 pm by Brian37.)
(March 16, 2017 at 12:15 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote:(March 16, 2017 at 11:49 am)Brian37 Wrote: To Neo...... Show me a direct quote of of Dawkins saying "we are biological robots in a meaningless universe"..... source that.
“We are survival machines – robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment.” ― Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene
Is that close enough for you? Maybe I shouldn't have put that phrase in quote marks but the meaning is the same. You're just arguing to argue.
(March 16, 2017 at 11:49 am)Brian37 Wrote: "Consciousness is an illusion" that one too, theists have a tendency to take what atheists say out of context.
"Are zombies possible? They're not just possible, they're actual. We're all zombies. Nobody is conscious — not in the systematically mysterious way that supports such doctrines as epiphenomenalism." - Daniel Dennett, Consiousness Explained
I'd like to hear you put that one in some context that suggests it means something other that what it actually says.
Ok and? Yep, still taking what they say out of context. Much in the same way far to many theists treat the word "theory" as a mere guess when in scientific language it is established fact.
They are not saying we should be emotionless or lawless. You wanting to frame it that way is your baggage, not theirs.
Key word you miss with the Dawkins quote is "astounding". He means that life is amazing with that sentence.
The Dennett quote you skip the "not in the systematically mysterious way that supports such doctrines". I'd say " not the bullshit superstitions and horror movies". By "zombies" he is talking about how down to the single atom which by itself acts a certain way. He means we are literally living fractals. Our atoms build up to become life, but the atoms that make up carbon based life are not aware as single atoms individually of what they are doing. Atoms are not conscious as single atoms. When atoms form certain living organisms that can build up to consciousness, but DNA as a individual strand isn't an entire in tact brain, so that one strand of DNA is one among trillions in our body and as individual strands they are not conscious. It is only the collection of those individual atoms and strands of DNA that lead to consciousness.
Again, you've had years of indoctrination of people selling you superstition so that is why you don't understand what they mean.
If you do not know, you should know that science proves that there is not one single atom in you now that was in you at the time of your conception, much less at your birth. Our bodies constantly take in atoms and expel atoms. That is the context you should be taking both quotes in, and that is what they think is amazing about life, that is what they mean by those quotes.