RE: A simple challenge for atheists
January 26, 2015 at 2:40 pm
(This post was last modified: January 26, 2015 at 2:42 pm by SteveII.)
(January 26, 2015 at 2:27 pm)Esquilax Wrote:(January 26, 2015 at 2:19 pm)SteveII Wrote: Logic, numbers, and other metaphysical necessities do not cease to exist. Are you saying that in another possible universe 2+2 could equal 5
Yes: in a universe in which the expression we know as "2" instead meant the quantity that would be known as "2.5" in our universe. That is a universe in which the expression "2+2=5" would be mathematically correct.
Now, if you're asking whether a pair of objects and another pair of objects lumped together would make five objects, then no, but then, in that case we're talking about concrete physical objects and not the numerical label added to them for ease of communication. You aren't talking about "metaphysical necessities" above, Steve: you're talking about conceptual properties that are dependent on minds to exist. The number two doesn't exist as some objective state, through which our number two is derived; two is a conceptual label we give to a specific set in order to better quantify the universe.
Thank you for the correction. Do these concepts (sets) exist in all possible universes? Does logic exist? Are you saying that a mind has to be there for them to exist?
(January 26, 2015 at 2:37 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote:(January 26, 2015 at 2:35 pm)SteveII Wrote: If we cannot know anything, how can you rule out God?
How can you rule out universe-creating unicorns?
If they have all the necessary properties to accomplish the task, they cannot be ruled out. However, the definition of a unicorn is pretty firm so...the answer is no.
