What is "God"?

capecodindependant · Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 10:06 pm Post subject: Re: Intrinsically impossible

God is a loving Savior

TBR
Astrophysics & Cosmology
Friends & Mild Lunacy
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irondemon · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:51 am Post subject: Interbane

By enabling act I'm referring to whatever it is that allows existence, and which must, I think, simultaneously govern it (i.e. physical laws), if those are separate functions. If the universe simply cannot-not exist, then the enabling act is whatever it is which allows for the universe to not not-exist. I'm pretty sure that answer is circular, and I apologize. Am I not using as a premise that which I am trying to "prove?" I think so...I suck, lol. I have a final in 2 hours, and I'm trying to warm-up my brain.

Is that concept subjective or objective? I think that was your question. I don't know. I am dualist (not in the Cartesian sense) to the extent that I believe in the existence of the universe as object (primary), but I also believe that each sentient individual is quite literally carrying around in her mind an entirely subjective universe (secondary, but consisting of the same "stuff" as the primary), mostly closed to investigation, and which usurps the other - even though the latter would not exist but for the former. This seems to me to be a version of the mad scientist scenario, wherein a person is aksed to demonstrate how he or she knows that he or she is not actually just a brain in a vat of goo on the shelf of some cosmic mad scientist's laboratory, being manipulated for the sheer enjoyment of said madman (another definition of god?). One answer is that the person does not and cannot know, and that it doesn't matter because the secondary universe is the universe with which we concern ourselves, for the most part. When I say for the most part, I mean that occasionally we must touch on topics which none of our secondary universes can alter via subjectification, such as mathematics; 2 plus 2 will always yield 4, regardless of whose secondary universe does the math.

MadArchitect · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Interbane

I agree, my debates with MadArchitect have lead me to start reading philosophy, and I'm soaking up books like kids eat candy. It's fun, but at the same time, there's a little less 'magic' in everything I see.

Then you're going to want to work your way back around from time to time and reconnect yourself to that sense of wonder which Plato says is the basic experience of philosophy.

Interbane · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: Interbane

Quote:
Then you're going to want to work your way back around from time to time and reconnect yourself to that sense of wonder which Plato says is the basic experience of philosophy.

Yes, this has tickled my brain a few times. I need to take the ACT and go to college for philosophy, I think it's my calling - I have a ton of fun seeking the truth and setting aside falsities.


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