Recent content by Violator

I think there is a lot of confusion going on here around the use of the term chi. It seems as if multiple different causes and effects are all being called by the same name. We have the chi that allows people to call a wave through them to a point. We have chi that allows an adrenaline dump. We...

If the energy that composes us is not self-aware, does it make sense to call it "I"? How is it any more a part of me than the waste I pass in the morning, or the energy I expend while working out?

I think in terms of martial artists, what you are seeing described as Chi is primarily momentum. Its rather amazing the difference in force between a punch thrown from the shoulder and one thrown by twisting the hips and using the shoulder. Talking about sending a wave from the back foot to the...

I think the biggest impact of the bomb was demonstrating to politicians that scienctific dominance could dramatically alter battlescapes. Prior to the bomb, being more advanced tended to mean you used the same weapons they just worked better (i.e. banded armor versus plate, steel blades versus...

You make a rather large assumption about what we "are". But I do agree that science shows there must be something after death. However, that something could very well just be the energy contained in our matter decomposing and being redistributed throughout the universe. It is no way implies that...

Joe, I think I have identified the real point of contention between yourself and I. We differ in our definitions of faith. Not to say yours is wrong or mine is right, merely that to me, to accept something without strong evidence or proof is to accept it on faith. You seem to be viewing faith as...

I like your point here, however, I think it is an important distinction between the wsay logic is developed, and the way it is taught. I agree with you that the normal human experience of seeing patterns and such requires no faith. When I say logic requires faith I mean more so the system of...

Locke's response to Descartes ran something to the effect of "How about I push you in a fire and we see how you respond." His point being of course, you would try to put out the fire and live whether in a dream or not.

Do you want the meaning of life or the purpose?

This conversation has drifted towards a place I would rather not go. JoeDawg, both of us have begun trading barbs that are edging closer and closer to personal attacks and I would sincerely like to prevent that. I find your counterpoints interesting and I think you intelligent, so I would like...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductive_reasoning http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/dedind.php These two links explain inductive logic. I think there may be some legitimate confusion of terms going on because there is also mathematical induction, of which I know nothing. I just...

Right, your American Heritage dictionary contains none of the offensive and abusive sarcasm that the phrase "Faith is pretending ignorance is a virtue" does. I like how I am accused of attacking a person when I attacked a definition. I find it interesting that you think I am defending faith...

"Anyone can do whatever they want, with the only constraint being whether you own the biggest gun." I would be interested hear how the current situation of the world differs in anyway from this description of anarchy.

Induction is the argument that because something has happened in the past it is probable to continue happening. That is what inductive reasoning means. You are using inductive reason to support its validity. When you say induction has worked and probably will, that's i inductive reasoning. It is...

Indeed, as soon as someone "exercises authority" yoiu have government. And so, at least in my particular brand of anarchism, the real concern is with authority. Leadership and authority are not mutually dependent. If the members of this forum wanted to go to San Antonio together, and one of us...