An Incompatible-Properties Argument against Objective Values
In this post I want to sketch an argument against objective values (moral or otherwise). I shall first analyze the noun “value” and then the expression “moral value.” Finally, I will use these definitions to explicitly formulate an argument that objective values, so defined, have logically incompatible properties. In other words, the concept of an … An Incompatible-Properties Argument against Objective Values
Faith and the End of PoR – Part 2
John Loftus referred me to Chapters 7 and 10 of his book The Outsider Test for Faith (hereafter: OTF), so that I could get a better understanding of what he means by the word “faith” in his blog post arguing for the End of Philosophy of Religion (PoR). Chapter 7 was of no help. The … Faith and the End of PoR – Part 2
Faith and the End of PoR
John Loftus has advocated the End of Philosophy of Religion as a discipline. In his post defending this proposal, Loftus repeatedly talks about “faith”. The word “faith” occurs 23 times in the post, and it occurs in 7 out of the 13 paragraphs that constitute the post. Some paragraphs have multiple references to “faith”: It … Faith and the End of PoR
Philosophy as Astrology
A comment by hisXmark on one of my recent posts challenged the value of philosophy: The nature of knowledge is not to be found in philosophy, it is to be found in neuroscience and psychology. All that remains of philosophy is myth and fairy tale. Like its stepchild, theology, philosophy is fantasy that has lost … Philosophy as Astrology
Next Year
I wanted to retire this year, but that did not work out. I might be able to retire a year from now, though. There are a number of topics from this year that I plan to carry over into 2015: 1. The End of PoR? John Loftus has argued that public colleges and universities … Next Year
The Torture Report
BREAKING NEWS: According to the #TortureReport , Jesus was not tortured. The Jews & Romans simply used enhanced interrogation methods on him — Chris Rock (@ozchrisrock) December 10, 2014
Strategies for the Problem of Evil
A recent post on the problem of evil (PoE) drew over 250 comments, a new record, I think. The comments were lively, but went in various directions, making it hard to follow a clear thread of argument after a while. Here I would like maybe to help focus discussion by offering my synopsis of the … Strategies for the Problem of Evil
Why be Skeptical? Reason #1 (Lying Cheating College Students – Part 2)
If most people lie and if most people lie frequently, then that is a good reason to be skeptical. In previous posts I have provided evidence that very young children lie and that most children lie, that most teenagers lie and cheat and lie and cheat frequently, and that most college students lie and lie frequently. … Why be Skeptical? Reason #1 (Lying Cheating College Students – Part 2)
Christian Apologist: Theists Care About Science but Naturalists Don’t
Christian apologist Wintery Knight has written an unintentionally funny post against naturalists in which he attempts to turn the tables on those who would use science to argue against religion. Linking to an old article which explains how the planet Jupiter deflects comets and asteroids that might otherwise hit Earth, Wintery Knight argues that this shows our … Christian Apologist: Theists Care About Science but Naturalists Don’t
Index: The Evidential Argument from Physical Minds (APM)
The purpose of this page is to provide an index for my blog series on the evidential argument against theism based on the dependence of human minds upon physical brains. See also: