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Just Addressing Yet Another Absurd, Dishonest Atheistic Argument

1137

Here until I storm off again
Premium Member
Wow! Can't say you've hit the nail on the head, or even glanced at it! As an atheist, I'd leave the box alone and ignore it if it were not my box. If it were my box, or I was asked what might be inside the box, I'd....wait for it...open the box and take a look.

Now the theist position seems to be, yes we open the box an even though we can't see, hear, touch, smell or taste, I KNOW FOR A FACT god is in the seemingly empty box.

Who is being dishonest?

Someone doesn't understand analogies and illustrative examples I see.
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
This is 2017.
Even in 2017 it is not some language rule that the component parts of a word define usage and meaning.

1. I believe that gods exist.
2. I don't believe that gods exist and I believe that gods don't exist.
3. I don't believe that gods exist and I don't believe that gods don't exist.

How can you combine the person 3 "I don't believe that gods exist" and person 1 "I believe that gods exist"? See post 739.
3 isn't just "I don't believe that gods exist." It is "I don't believe gods exist" and "I don't believe that gods don't exist."
 

Curious George

Veteran Member
Thanks, George.

I think my point is, as you point out, that it is arbitrary to label based on X-ness as opposed to Y-ness.

I also hold that there's no need for the labels "theist" and "atheist" to encompass every person. Especially since there's a third position. (And honestly, even that doesn't cover every person. It only covers all people who have considered the question.)

Indeed, I and some others go further and suggest that labeling so leads to obfuscation, equivocation, and forces us to include other arbitrary parameters. I am not fond of the way many have come to use the terms. But, communication is still possible. The obfuscation and equivocation is minor. And the arbitrary parameters only arise when discussing "Implicit atheism." So, I abide by their categorization when we need to have a discussion about anything.
 

ArtieE

Well-Known Member
3 isn't just "I don't believe that gods exist." It is "I don't believe gods exist" and "I don't believe that gods don't exist."
And since 3 includes "I don't believe gods exist" how can you possibly combine that with 1 "I believe that gods exist"?
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
And since 3 includes "I don't believe gods exist" how can you possibly combine that with 1 "I believe that gods exist"?
The same way you are combining it with "I believe that gods don't exist."

Both 1 & 2 are beliefs. 3 is rejecting both belief 1 & belief 2.

It doesn't believe that gods exist (excludes 1), and it doesn't believe that gods don't exist (excludes 2).
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
Indeed, I and some others go further and suggest that labeling so leads to obfuscation, equivocation, and forces us to include other arbitrary parameters. I am not fond of the way many have come to use the terms. But, communication is still possible. The obfuscation and equivocation is minor. And the arbitrary parameters only arise when discussing "Implicit atheism." So, I abide by their categorization when we need to have a discussion about anything.
Growl growl growl. You're right, I suppose.
 

ArtieE

Well-Known Member
The same way you are combining it with "I believe that gods don't exist.
There is no combination. "I don't believe gods exist and I believe that gods don't exist" is the complete definition of a strong atheist. They aren't two separate sentences. The original says and I quote: "2. I don't believe that gods exist and I believe that gods don't exist." One sentence, 13 words, one definition. 3 is also one definition.
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
There is no combination. "I don't believe gods exist and I believe that gods don't exist" is the complete definition of a strong atheist. They aren't two separate sentences. The original says and I quote: "2. I don't believe that gods exist and I believe that gods don't exist." One sentence, 13 words, one definition. 3 is also one definition.
Oh, you rascal. You changed 2, back at post 717, and I hadn't nocticed.

Here is my original list:

You cannot combine 3+1 or 3+2.

1 is "I believe that gods exist"
2 is "I believe that gods don't exist."
3 is "I do not believe that gods exist" and "I do not believe that gods don't exist."

They are mutually exclusive.

1 & 2 could then be split into gnostic/agnostic categories. But that isn't necessary to do up front.

And here is you agreeing to that list:

Your revised list was:

1 is "I believe that gods exist"
2 is "I believe that gods don't exist."
3 is "I do not believe that gods exist" and "I do not believe that gods don't exist."

This list is correct.

1. Theist.
2. Strong atheist.
3. Weak atheist.

So, I'm not sure which original you are quoting.
 
You can't express yourself in plain English then? How sad...
The 'plainness', if there exists such a word(if not, consider it invented), of English or any other language hinges both on ones level of comprehension and on one's ability to read and understand.

Besides, everything I said was boiled down as much as humanly possible. Ball's in your court now.
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
There is no combination. "I don't believe gods exist and I believe that gods don't exist" is the complete definition of a strong atheist. They aren't two separate sentences. The original says and I quote: "2. I don't believe that gods exist and I believe that gods don't exist." One sentence, 13 words, one definition. 3 is also one definition.
Your addition of "I don't believe that gods exist" to 2 is trivially true, by the way.

We can do the same thing to theist: "I don't believe that gods don't exist and I believe that gods exist."

It's a completely unnecessary addition because the "I believe X" part already means "I don't believe not-X".
 

ArtieE

Well-Known Member
The 'plainness', if there exists such a word(if not, consider it invented), of English or any other language hinges both on ones level of comprehension and on one's ability to read and understand.

Besides, everything I said was boiled down as much as humanly possible. Ball's in your court now.
Here is what you said and I quote:

"So, to narrow it down, a belief can be defined as holding a proposition as true.

Knowledge is defined in the field of epistemology as simply 'justified true belief'.

That makes belief and knowledge subjectively indistinguishable from each other, as what qualifies as 'justified' and 'true' will vary from subject to subject.

Your dichotomy is invalid."

and

"You don't believe something unless you also believe what you believe constitutes knowledge. You can't have knowledge without believing in the truth of a premise.

Your dichotomy is invalid."

Surely you are capable of expressing this in plain English?
 
Here is what you said and I quote:

"So, to narrow it down, a belief can be defined as holding a proposition as true.

Knowledge is defined in the field of epistemology as simply 'justified true belief'.

That makes belief and knowledge subjectively indistinguishable from each other, as what qualifies as 'justified' and 'true' will vary from subject to subject.

Your dichotomy is invalid."

and

"You don't believe something unless you also believe what you believe constitutes knowledge. You can't have knowledge without believing in the truth of a premise.

Your dichotomy is invalid."

Surely you are capable of expressing this in plain English?
No offense, and never one to back down from a challenge, but I'm really at as loss as to how to further simplify those statements.
 

ArtieE

Well-Known Member
Your addition of "I don't believe that gods exist" to 2 is trivially true, by the way.

We can do the same thing to theist: "I don't believe that gods don't exist and I believe that gods exist."

It's a completely unnecessary addition because the "I believe X" part already means "I don't believe not-X".
I have lost track. Feel like starting over?
 

Curious George

Veteran Member
You're not supposed to simplify them. Just use your own different words to describe what they say in plain English.
He is saying that knowledge is a particular type of belief, and the only thing that distinguishes knowledge from mere belief are factors which are not based on that individuals perspective. (I disagree). But if he is correct, then a person cannot claim to believe something unless they think rightly, or wrongly that it is knowledge. Hence, he objects to the validity of you saying that a person can believe something without also believing that it is true and justifiably so. He is thus saying either a person believes something and consequently believes it to be knowledge or a person does not really believe at all.
 
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