(February 28, 2015 at 9:24 am)robvalue Wrote: Sure, it all depends on how you define "know". That's a very complex question, and really you have to agree on what it means before you can discuss anything.
To know something as certain is only possible in an abstract sense, using logic within defined rules. And that requires the assumption that your premises are true still. Otherwise, when dealing with observations and models of reality, you cannot know anything for certain.
In any everyday less stringent sense of "knowing", as in a justified belief beyond reasonable doubt, then I "know" there is no God. I still wouldn't say I "know" I'll be alive in 5 minutes though, although I'd put a very high probability on it.
Yeah, definition 1 above is not the one generally used by atheists. It is very annoying that dictionaries can't all agree on the most commonly used definition.
Then there is "know" in the sense of knowing the way to work. Or knowing my wife or knowing myself. There are a lot of options packed into that word.
Do I know if gods exist? Hell I don't even know with certainty what the word "god" refers to let alone know if it is the same for everyone. No I don't know but I live my life without any concern regarding the status of gods. The correct answer for me is I don't care.
