RE: Atheism and the existence of peanut butter
October 21, 2021 at 3:18 pm
(This post was last modified: October 21, 2021 at 3:22 pm by Neo-Scholastic.)
(October 21, 2021 at 2:52 pm)Jehanne Wrote:(October 21, 2021 at 1:59 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: Maybe he'd say that was due to "formal" causes. The particular shape (or more precisely "form") of the electron causes specific interactions with specific things. Of course, Aristotle's observations were far too rudimentary to have picked up on quantum subtleties. It took scientists a couple centuries to apprehend these things even after Newton.
In other words, "woo-woo".
So your opinion is that unless someone, even someone as brilliant as Aristotle, explains everything in the professional nomenclature of quantum electrodynamics their contributions to human knowledge can be safely ignored. Got it. Perhaps you could humor me by sharing a layman friendly explanation of why you might think a particular physical fact undermines the metaphysical claims of Aristotle.
Fact is, I don't know what Aristotle might have said, but IMHO it is arrogant to dismiss any response he might have given as woo. Aristotle was a serious thinker for his time. Had the problem been current for him, I am sure he could have given a reasoned and informed reply.*
*A bit of a sensitivity for me. I think the great thinkers of the ancient world (both East and West) get far less respect on AF than they deserve.
<insert profound quote here>