RE: ...Truth?
June 28, 2017 at 3:40 pm
(This post was last modified: June 28, 2017 at 3:50 pm by Definitely Disillusioned.
Edit Reason: ugh autocorrect doesn't like plural worldviews
)
The theist would say that, because their god is the source of all truth and the ultimate end, a search for truth is an endeavor to get closer to god. After the necessary Kierkegaardian leap of faith into whatever worldview, theists do have a reason to find truth.
As for this being fundamentally rational, I'd argue that there are no worldviews that are fundamentally rational. All require the leap into belief. I can argue this if you like. Past that point is what I'm talking about. Once theists establish a reason to be rational and a foundation for it, they then have an impetus to search for truth. I don't see the same in atheism—after establishing rationalism and a foundation for it, I don't detect an immediate reason to find truth.
As for fake news about sabertooth cats, that's a completely different matter. Telling the truth about something, while beneficial in some instances, isn't in many others, and that's beside the point. These are two different issues: "functional" truth such as "there's a sabertooth cat about to attack" and philosophical truth such as "do I even exist." For the atheist, sure, there's a reason to value the former, but I see no reason to value the latter.
As for this being fundamentally rational, I'd argue that there are no worldviews that are fundamentally rational. All require the leap into belief. I can argue this if you like. Past that point is what I'm talking about. Once theists establish a reason to be rational and a foundation for it, they then have an impetus to search for truth. I don't see the same in atheism—after establishing rationalism and a foundation for it, I don't detect an immediate reason to find truth.
As for fake news about sabertooth cats, that's a completely different matter. Telling the truth about something, while beneficial in some instances, isn't in many others, and that's beside the point. These are two different issues: "functional" truth such as "there's a sabertooth cat about to attack" and philosophical truth such as "do I even exist." For the atheist, sure, there's a reason to value the former, but I see no reason to value the latter.