(December 19, 2008 at 5:18 am)CoxRox Wrote: Why does 'absolute' matter? In philosophical/relgious debates it appears, but in real life it doesn't seem to be that important. At the end of the day, we all decide what we 100% believe e.g I 100% believe I exist, I do not doubt this in any way, so to me my existence is absolute. It may not be to you, but it's how I perceive it that matters.
I think that rationality matters, therefore the irrational matters inasmuch as it is anti-rational. It matters because we have a duty to teach our kids to the best of our ability which means teaching them what we understand (rational) rather than what we believe (irrational) and because if we don't get our kids to understand the difference they will treat religion, astrology, ufology, acupuncture, reflexology, claims to Atlantis being real & Egyptians having technical knowledge greater than ours as real.
I know you'll probably disagree with the first one and everyone is entitled to believe what they want but to the rationalist these are all the same and it's important that these things are not allowed to hold sway over reality.
Imagine you're reading a newspaper, perhaps 75% (maybe more) of the articles require some understand, some comprehension of science and rational concepts.
(December 19, 2008 at 5:18 am)CoxRox Wrote: Am I talking gobaldy gook?
No but it might be gobbledegook lol ... no, it was an entirely valid question
Kyu
