http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/0 ... -out-of-us

"Given an arbitrary world and arbitrary fitness functions, an organism that sees reality as it is will never be more fit than an organism of equal complexity that sees none of reality but that is just tuned to fitness."

I agree with most of that article. The one part I'd question is how easily it is to differentiate the perception of reality from fitness functions. Don't most fitness functions require an accurate modeling of what's really going on around you?

I think what this points to is bias. We have many biases where our understanding of what we perceive doesn't match objective reality, or is heavily weighted. Perhaps this is what Hoffman's work points to, except that he's approaching it from a new angle.

I don't see how this article implies that materialism will turn on itself.

At his core, Hoffman says, he's a scientist with a theory that must either live or die by data.

So what data has he generated or what data is he working on to support or refute his theory?

Materialism's philosophical position is that nothing exists outside of what is "reality"
And as one prominent atheist Booktalk member proclaimed one time "the only thing intelligent is brains" perfectly exemplifies the most common attitude of hubristic atheism.

I find it ironic that TOE, which is often used by atheist blowhards to argue God does not exist, may in fact be telling us our understanding of the nature of reality is nothing more than a hack.

When will Dexter show up to deny tbe existence of the atheism i speak of?

ant wrote:Materialism's philosophical position is that nothing exists outside of what is "reality"

Oh, another ant thread. He's really got a pulse on the major issues -- those militant materialists must be at it again

Here's a nice musical performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfR5O2PXzfc

His youtube talk is excellent..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYp5XuGYqqY

Nothing exists outside of reality.

In other words, if it isn't real it doesn't exist. I can agree with that. You make materialism sound like a common sense position. I still don't understand how it turns on itself.

DB Roy wrote:

ant wrote:Materialism's philosophical position is that nothing exists outside of what is "reality"

Here's the part where the claim is made that Atheism simply means a lack of belief in God
You know, the same as a rock, or a tree, or dung doesn't believe in God.

Interbane wrote:Nothing exists outside of reality.

In other words, if it isn't real it doesn't exist. I can agree with that. You make materialism sound like a common sense position. I still don't understand how it turns on itself.

This is yet more evidence for your ignoring articles and videos people provide links to in their posts.
You comment, insinuate, then spin.

Did you read the article?
Also, listen to his TedX talk., it's great.


How's your book coming along?
Can' wait to purchase it.