RE: What are the Characteristics of a NT Christian?
April 24, 2017 at 1:34 pm
(This post was last modified: April 24, 2017 at 2:12 pm by Kernel Sohcahtoa.)
SteveII Wrote:1A. I don't have a problem with that description. Isn't the framework that you mention simply the supernatural world?
Out of curiosity, what if my example framework of consciousness is not supernatural? What if it is of a nature, possibly one of innumerable natures that is beyond humanity's understanding?
SteveII Wrote:To propose that reality might not be the way that we perceive it leads to a relativism that undermines the pursuit of knowledge.
Could you clarify more on the relativism that was mentioned in the quote above? Why do you think that it would undermine the pursuit of knowledge?
SteveII Wrote:2. While metaphysical questions might be a product of the human mind, metaphysical truths are not. Metaphysical does not mean subjective meaning or something similar. It seeks concrete answers about reality.
Regarding metaphysics, here's a definition that I found in one of my books:
"Metaphysics is the study of the nature of reality, asking the following questions: What is the nature of reality and of the things that exist? Specifically, such questions as the following are asked: Is there really cause and effect and, if so, how does it work? What is the nature of the physical world, and is there anything other than the physical, such as the mental or spiritual? What is the nature of human beings? Is there freedom in reality, or is everything predetermined?"(Thiroux and Krasemann, 2015, pg 2)
Now based on this definition, if humans can ponder these questions, then it seems logical to conclude that there are metaphysical truths that would exist regardless of whether humanity ponders them or not. However, out of curiosity, if metaphysical questions are a product of the human mind's attempt to understand the nature of reality, then could the human mind also be projecting the existence of metaphysical answers/truths onto reality? In other words, how can humanity accurately discern objective metaphysical truth from preconceived notions of metaphysical truth?
References
Thiroux, J. P. & Krasemann K. W. (2015). Ethics: Theory and practice (11th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
