(August 15, 2010 at 7:18 am)downbeatplumb Wrote:(August 14, 2010 at 11:19 pm)tackattack Wrote: Then why is scientific method and evidential standards constantly applied by atheists (not all) to prove/disprove concepts of God? If I said I don't need to scientifically prove God, I've already done it philosophically do you know how many atheists would be up my ass about that?
Is anything ever proved by philosophy?
Cant think of anything off the top of my head.
Philosophy can make you think in new ways but can it be used as proof of anything?
on Googling the words philosphy and proof together the top posts are all about gods 'existance' (or not).
Philosophy doesn't necessarily need to prove anything. Its main purpose, I'd say, is to equip us with the skills to challenge the assumptions and fallacies of everyday thinking, and of other areas. Hence there is philosophy of science, philosophy of language, etc., all of which are quite influential in those fields. Most scientists would accept, for instance, what philosophers of science believe constitutes science (falsifiability, etc.). Similarly, epistemology can determine whether we are justified in believing certain things e.g. miracles. So, whilst some philosophical queries, like the mind-body problem, and skepticism about the external world, may never be answered, the basic tools are very useful indeed.
'We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.' H.L. Mencken
'False religion' is the ultimate tautology.
'It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions.' Mark Twain
'I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.' Abraham Lincoln
'False religion' is the ultimate tautology.
'It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions.' Mark Twain
'I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.' Abraham Lincoln