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My argument against materialism

Also, punshhh, you made the claim that some have said that we know everything. I would like you to provide links to the posts where such claims have been made, or retract your claim. Thanks.
 
laca said:
Right... Remember, it is your definition. Show us why the set of unknown unknowns contains at least one element.
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You are joking,I take it. An April the 1st gag? How on earth do you expect him to know what an element in a set is?
 
punshhh said:
I take an open minded approach.




An open minded approach does not rule out fairies, or what fairies might be. For example you and I might be fairies under the illusion of being humans.



We're back at this old chestnut again, how big do you think the set of unknown unknowns is?

I don't know, but assuming it is less than infinite is quite restrictive, especially if thoughts were included. I would include thoughts because it is through thought that we can be aware that there are unknowns.
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We're infinite faeries dancing at the event horizon of the formless?
 
I think what punshhh means is that there is a set of unknowns ("Is there life on other planets?" "Dunno") and a set of unknown unknowns, which are things we dont know where we dont even know to ask the question.

Its cock and nonsense of course, but I think thats the distinction.
 
devnull said:
I think what punshhh means is that there is a set of unknowns ("Is there life on other planets?" "Dunno") and a set of unknown unknowns, which are things we dont know where we dont even know to ask the question.

Its cock and nonsense of course, but I think thats the distinction.
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There's no end to that,what about the unknown unknown unknown........unknowns. Maybe that is punshhs's idea of infinity. It's a load of monkey's kidneys,I agree,but it seems to keep him happy.
 
laca said:
Also, punshhh, you made the claim that some have said that we know everything. I would like you to provide links to the posts where such claims have been made, or retract your claim. Thanks.
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punshhh, so far at least I thought you were honest. Why not address the above?
 
laca said:
Also, punshhh, you made the claim that some have said that we know everything. I would like you to provide links to the posts where such claims have been made, or retract your claim. Thanks.
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I didn't say that, I was thinking of the numerous times posters have stated that its pointless or mere speculation to give any weight to the value of unknowns.
 
PixyMisa said:
Why would we do that? Science actually works.


No. It's just an excuse to pretend that the idea that fairies are real isn't entirely idiotic.


How do you know?


No. No-one has said anything remotely resembling that.
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Perhaps I should rephrase that, its an unbounded set.
 
Belz... said:
Your questions HAVE no answers, but you keep demanding that we provide them like a petulant child asking "why?" over and over.
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I am merely pointing out that there are things we don't know and we shouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water.
 
punshhh said:
Perhaps I should rephrase that, its an unbounded set.
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What is an unbounded set? I only know it as a part of number theory but I suspect that you are making up your own definitions again.
 
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punshhh said:
I didn't say that, I was thinking of the numerous times posters have stated that its pointless or mere speculation to give any weight to the value of unknowns.
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It is pointless. How do you know that these unknowns are there? Why would they have value? Does speculating about the Tooth Fairy have any value?
 
Robin said:
It is the fact of there being something rather than there not being anything.

The answer would be true whether Materialism, Idealism, Theism or anything else was the case.

Or did you mean "of what is existence constituted?"

In which case the only possible answer is "it is what it is".

No possible answer.

If you had an answer "it exists by agency X" then you only have another question "how does X exist?

Two possible answers.

1. absolute non-existence is impossible or
2. ultimately things exist for no reason at all.

You are punshhh - you are a human being.
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I agree with this however I would change point 2,

Ultimately reason cannot explain what or why it exists.

The last question takes us onto a whole other subject for which this not the appropriate thread.

Who and what am I?

I am not punshhh, except in a minor role on this forum.

I am a human being, well that is only appearances, nothing more.
 
punshhh said:
laca said:
Also, punshhh, you made the claim that some have said that we know everything. I would like you to provide links to the posts where such claims have been made, or retract your claim. Thanks.
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I didn't say that, I was thinking of the numerous times posters have stated that its pointless or mere speculation to give any weight to the value of unknowns.
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Oh, you didn't? What's this supposed to mean then?

punshhh said:
laca said:
Are you trying to say that we must acknowledge we don't know everything? Of course we don't. Luckily we have science to help us find out more.
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Yes, some on this forum have stated otherwise.
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:confused:
 
punshhh said:
I am merely pointing out that there are things we don't know and we shouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water.
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If you don't know how do you know there's a baby or bathwater to be thrown out?
 
punshhh said:
I agree with this however I would change point 2,

Ultimately reason cannot explain what or why it exists.

The last question takes us onto a whole other subject for which this not the appropriate thread.

Who and what am I?

I am not punshhh, except in a minor role on this forum.

I am a human being, well that is only appearances, nothing more.
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You're reptilian? You might find the DI forum more congenial.
 
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