Positive Atheism

[Purple Rabbit]

There can be well-justified beliefs... but that also is subjective. Its a pudding that tastes different to everyone.

Every single assertion is taken by faith. Including the one I just said We arrive at the conclusion of "I like blue" by 'scaffolding' ourselves up to that position (which we hold faith in each scaffold, including "i like blue".). It is an entire chain of faith... trusting that which we believe we can trust (by justifying it).

Essentially, even the holding of faith becomes circular. Even the most basic 'law?' of our universe (logic) is not unaffected by this. Why is A=A? Because it has to be, or else we can 'know' nothing in this universe, we essentially cannot 'reasonably' function, as all things are impossible to accept. So I suppose I'm a materialistic existentialist. I recognize that we cannot ultimately know anything... but that we must construct our individually accepted subjective meanings and definitions upon what we are familiar and confident with.

I'm confident with science. A theist is confident with their god(s). Is that not the 'problem?' we atheists have with theists?

A pity for this debate, but essentially I agree on most. Accept on your use of the word faith. The word faith to me has to much connotation on the macro level of belief systems, sets of convictions on meaning on a grand scale, molten together into dogmatic fortified strongholds. That I think is not a term that aptly describes the accepting of assertions on a basic level (for instance the assertion that there is an "I" that exists). There is no intricate system of convictions involved in the assertion that I exist, I just cannot operate without it.

Basically you too come up with a practical argument to accept some assertions. As ultimately science is driven by practical arguments (which model of reality works best in terms of explanatory and predictive power). There is no logical basis for a principle like Ockham's Razor in science. It just works best.