This question can be interpreted in at least two different ways, based on internal ambiguities. From one perspective, we can take it as a inquiry about those things we have knowledge of our own lack[…]
Month: February 2008
On one hand, arguments are supposed to be objective – something which is true is always true, for everyone. On the other hand, if person says “P exists because X,Y,Z”, while he personally has seen the evidence (x,y,z) for P, and another person says “P exists because X,Y,Z” and he has only read about X,Y,Z from second sources – their knowledge is actually very different. Where is that difference (crucial one) reflected in logic?
I think your question is rooted in the fact that we generally consider two distinguishably different subjects under the umbrella of logic. The first is the art of argument as it takes place in natural[…]
I would take a standard textbook on math, where all the propositions are correct. Write down 99 correct mathematical statements. And then add “Zeus exists”, and compile a text. Then I would argue, that if we have a box, from which we sample randomly 99 balls and they are have the property of being black, we can think with good reason that the next one will be black. And therefore, since 99 of the math propositions in the texts are have the property of being correct, there is good reason to think that “Zeus exists” is also correct. It seems wrong somewhere. But where?
No matter how strong an inductive argument is, it cannot guarantee results the same way a deductive argument can. It is always theoretically possible for the premises of an inductive argument to be true and[…]
Is Lucifer interpreted as pining for the God he once loved and has been cast down by” sorry more of a theological question here (agnostic’s novel research)
Thanks for your question. One important thing to remember here is that with a few brief exceptions, the devil is barely mentioned in the Bible itself –and in fact, the one mention of “Lucifer” by[…]
explain how doubt leads descartes to postulate human essence as non material
I have the unpleasant intuition that someone may be trying to get me to complete their philosophy homework or essay question here. Nonetheless, applying the principle of charity and assuming this query is legitimate, I’ll[…]
whats (if anything) is wrong with epiphenomenalism?
I’ve already answered several questions on this subject, but here’s a quick summary of my view: Epiphenomenalism fails to offer an adequate alternate explanation for the phenomenon it disbelieves –i.e. the subjective experience of making[…]
A circular argument is technically a valid argument. For every case in which the premises are true, the conclusion will be true. So what makes it a bad one?
Thanks for your question. Although we tend to focus on validity in logic, it is actually only the minimal baseline requirement for a “good” argument. Valid means that the conclusion is guaranteed to be[…]