(July 11, 2012 at 12:17 am)Jeffonthenet Wrote: You don't think it is self-evident that Santa does not exist? if not, what evidence do you base your belief on that there is no Santa?
Santa has self-contradictory attributes. He is supposed to leave toys for all good girls and boys; but clearly there are many good boys and girls in the world who do not get toys for Christmas. In the case where toys are left, there are plausible alternative explanations for their presence. Santa is claimed to have supernatural powers of travel, cargo capacity, and breaking-and-entering; and there is no evidence that those feats are even possible.
Children are likely to believe Santa is real because they trust adults to know things they don't and tell the truth about them. When they reach a certain age, doubt about Santa is encouraged. It is likely that if adults made some effort to perpetuate continued belief in Santa, many people would believe all of their lives; just as people in a village where they believe the ghosts of their ancestors observe and intervene in matters of fortune believe all of their lives.
What differentiates the Santa myth is that the adults have to be complicit in the deception in order for the presents to be left, if they are never let in on the secret and continue to rely on Santa for presents as adults while preaching Santa, they would have very disappointed children. I suppose if they wanted to continue believing badly enough, they could blame the lack of presents on the misbehavior of the children, or reduce expectations for toy deliveries, perhaps claiming that they should thank Santa for the good things they already have, or credit Santa for giving them the means to provide toys to their children.
