Remster

Hello All

Do those contributors who describe themselves as 'agnostics' concerning the existence of God (e.g.) withhold belief or merely deny knowledge? That the two aren't the same is evidenced by the existence of 'agnostic theists', who believe in God but deny that their beliefs amount to knowledge.

Remster

romansh

Hi Remster

This is part of the definition wars.

For me, if I do not have sufficient evidence, I cannot have a testable theory and therefore validate it. Therefore I cannot believe.

Having said that ... I know I cannot prove a theory, only disprove it.

So when it comes to a god, I neither believe nor disbelieve. On a logic basis, I can rule out theistic gods from my belief system. Though I know I can't prove their absence, any more so than I can prove Newton's laws of motion.

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There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. ........... Douglas Adams

duck

I would define myself as part of both. How much of one way or the other would take me some time to define.

You pose a very interesting question, though. Thank you for bringing this up.

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Religion: The ultimate definition of verisimilitude

Lanya

I withhold belief. In general, I'm not sure whether one can know anything.

Remster

Folks

Many thanks for your replies. I've the impression that all three of you would like to align what you believe with what you know. I believe(!) that this is a forlorn hope and would be willing to argue that everyone – even the most hardened advocate of scientism – has at least some beliefs that don't amount to knowledge (I don't think we could function without them).

Remster

duck

Not sure I agree with that at all. However, that was a very interesting question that you posed.

My question: Where does scientism (??) come into the discussion? I am a follower of objectivism. To me, science is just science.

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Religion: The ultimate definition of verisimilitude

Lanya

Personally, I refer to those beliefs as assumptions, but yeah, I rely on them to make decisions.

I assume I do, anyway...

Remster

Ah, the joy of Web discussion boards! I didn't mean to suggest that anyone here was an advocate of scientism. I was just using advocates of scientism as extreme examples of those who think there's a significant difference between their 'justified' beliefs and the 'unjustified' beliefs of the religious.

Which bit? That everyone has, and must have, at least some beliefs that don't amount to knowledge? Or that you'd like to align what you believe with what you know (I'd be happy to give that one up)?

Remster

Fair point on terminology. But assumptions are a species of belief, aren't they, viz. unverified ones?

Lanya

I'm not sure what exactly you're trying to point out. Care to elaborate?