Pragmatism Morphed into a Reasoning System

[Les Sleeth]

In discussions of philosophy participants rely on a reasoning system. Some are put together haphazardly, others seem distilled from a commitment to beliefs or a particular philosophy, while still others appear carefully constructed. In this thread I want to suggest that a reasoning system derived from a variation on the philosophy known as pragmatism may be most suited for philosophical debates at PF.

But first, let me briefly explain what I mean by “reasoning system,” and limit the definition to philosophical discussions. Within the context of philosophy, reason is the avenue for the exchange of ideas about the nature of reality, and how one thinks properly about it. A reasoning “system” then, is a collection of components in service to the overall reasoning function.

Strictly for the sake of quickly moving ahead to the point of this discussion, I’ve selected a list (incomplete, I’m sure) of reasoning components as key quantitative and qualitative contributors to the ideal of reason. I’ve also situated them in three levels I’ll call foundational, advanced, and vanguard.

The chosen foundational components are: information, logic, and integrity. About information one might say it needs to be accurate, while logic should obey the formal rules (i.e., not one’s own version of logic), and integrity means being fully committed to using accurate information and correct logic. For the advanced components we might settle on: comprehensiveness and depth. Comprehensiveness refers to finding and using all relevant information, not just that which supports one’s argument; and depth means of understanding, and so it’s a commitment to think things out thoroughly rather than superficially. Finally, like the tip of a strong pyramid rests on a solid foundation and quality materials, so too does the vanguard of philosophical reasoning: inference. Inference is truly the most advanced skill of philosophical reason, and totally dependent on doing all the other components well.

Okay, let’s get to pragmatism and what sort of reasoning system might be derived from it. Those who’ve read any of what I’ve written here or at the previous PF know I have been influenced by quite a variety of people. But when it comes to philosophical debate, no idea has influenced me more than pragmatism. Pragmatism is a uniquely American development that began in the late 19th century with the insights of C.S. Peirce and later William James, John Dewey, A.J. Ayer (who I’ve quoted often), and many others, and it is still vital today.

I am going to express a pragmatism principle first by how I’ve come to see it, and I’ll admit it’s a bit simplistic. Principle: if something “works,” then at least some part of it is based on the true nature of reality. For example, if you lift rock and drop it in a deep lake, it will fall and make a “kerplunk” noise. If you do that because you know it will make that noise and so signal your friend on the bank, then you’ve correctly assessed the way reality works. If you drop your rock in a shallow area of the lake hoping for that sound, the lack of the “kerplunk” tells you that you have not assessed reality correctly.

Peirce, in my opinion, was the man in terms of developing a practical, objective approach with pragmatism. James, who is also known for his contributions to pragmatism, gives it a psychological twist that can become idiosyncratic. James might say, “if it works for you there’s some truth to it, which Peirce didn’t like at all (nor do I except in a limited way). Taken to the extreme, one could say, “it worked for Stalin to kill everyone he perceived as a threat to him.” To evaluate this one has to consider every effect of Stalin’s approach (comprehensiveness). What effect did it have overall and long-term, did it really work for everyone? Did it enrich the economy, did it spawn creativity, did it strengthen the society, did it even make Stalin happy?

Anyway, in terms of philosophical debate at PF, people make various philosophical proposals. My standard for evaluating a proposal is to look for evidence that any element of the proposal has been proven effective (again, comprehensively). Heusden preaches dialectical materialism, so I look for instances of it working. LG proposes an all-mind theory, and I look for examples of that working somewhere. Some people say chemistry can spontaneously start life, so I look for chemistry working that way.

Now here is where we reach the “vanguard” of reason. If you can’t show something works so well, then how far can you leap with inferences using it? Obviously different categories of things have different standards for what “works.” A theory, for example, doesn’t have to work by achieving what it theorizes, but it should work in the sense of accounting for lots of observed phenomena and not being unequivocally contradicted by anything. With the pragmatism principle I’ve outlined, one can only leap inferentially as far as one’s concept is supported by evidence that it works. Works little, leap little; works lots, leap lots. At a science-oriented site, to me this seems like a good standard for philosophizing.

What do you think?

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by LW Sleeth
Principle: if something “works,” then at least some part of it is based on the true nature of reality.

Would this be the same as empiricism?

It sounds like you are saying that philosophy should be approached in the same way that science is approached. I agree with this; as I've argued in FZ's thread "limits of reasoning" (or something like that), there is no such thing as a purely deductive proof of anything pertaining to reality. That kind of "pure logic" is reserved for proofs on abstract objects (like mathematics and logic itself).

Anyway, in terms of philosophical debate at PF, people make various philosophical proposals. My standard for evaluating a proposal is to look for evidence that any element of the proposal has been proven effective (again, comprehensively). Heusden preaches dialectical materialism, so I look for instances of it working. LG proposes an all-mind theory, and I look for examples of that working somewhere. Some people say chemistry can spontaneously start life, so I look for chemistry working that way.

If I'm right on your take on philosophy (that is, that it should be approached in the way science is approached), then we should not be looking for instances in which the philosophy works, we should be looking for instances in which it fails.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by Tom
Would this be the same as empiricism?

To keep my opening post reasonably short, I decided I'd cover all the particulars and exceptions when people brought them up. Let's call what I described "pragmatic reasoning," and there is at least one way it isn't really empiricism.

One of the defining principles of empiricism is the role of experience in both proof and hyphothesizing. I have quoted A.J. Ayer a few times saying, “All propositions which have factual content are empirical hypotheses; and the foundation of an empirical hypothesis is to provide a rule for anticipation of experience . . . “ I like that concept because it places serious responsiblity on the theorizer.

However, the standard for experience in empiricism is sense experience only. You probably know I am open to a certain other type of experience as the basis for hypothesizing (such as the Buddha's experience of enlightenment). Nonetheless, even with that I apply the pragmatic rule, and so I have searched for instances of how or if the enlightenment experience "works."

Originally posted by Tom
It sounds like you are saying that philosophy should be approached in the same way that science is approached. I agree with this; as I've argued in FZ's thread "limits of reasoning" (or something like that), there is no such thing as a purely deductive proof of anything pertaining to reality. That kind of "pure logic" is reserved for proofs on abstract objects (like mathematics and logic itself).

Yes, exactly. I think those days when philosophers depended so heavily on a priori reasoning was a time when they didn't have the means for acquiring good information. But now we do. Plus, we have understood the role of experience in knowing. With all that, I would love to see a whole new standard develop for philosophizing that is both restrained and encouraged by any and all types of evidence.

Originally posted by Tom
If I'm right on your take on philosophy (that is, that it should be approached in the way science is approached), then we should not be looking for instances in which the philosophy works, we should be looking for instances in which it fails.

Well, philosophy is more speculative than hard science, so I wouldn't have such a tough standard. As a regular test of proposals I can see it because if it fails anywhere, then obviously it has a problem. But sometimes enough of a philosophical idea is right that a few mistakes might be ironed out rather than throwing the whole thing away.

 

[N_Quire]

Just a technicality, pragmatism can't be uniqely American if you're including a Brit. A. J. Ayer. But then I wouldn't lump him in with the pragmatists. He's a modified logical positivist. But, yes, pragmastism is American and without Ayer. It might have been better to have included Rorty instead of Ayer. As you say, it's important to get the basics right before we proceed.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by N_Quire
Just a technicality, pragmatism can't be uniqely American if you're including a Brit. A. J. Ayer. But then I wouldn't lump him in with the pragmatists. He's a modified logical positivist. But, yes, pragmastism is American and without Ayer. It might have been better to have included Rorty instead of Ayer. As you say, it's important to get the basics right before we proceed.

Indeed. I skimmed the details to get to my point -- what I meant was that it originated in the US. I cited Ayer as someone whose ideas I appreciate, and who understood the notion of pragmatism whether he fully endorsed Peirce or not (he did, by the way, agree with Peirce's key ideas). But then it doesn't really matter so much who supported pragmatism as what it means. If it's principles work, then as far as I'm concerned Rin Tin Tin could've developed the pragmatism concept without diminishing it's significance.

 

[Lifegazer]

Excuse my ignorance, but at the end of the day, isn't 'pragmatism' just a fancy-term for 'materialism'?

 

[wuliheron]

That pragmatism is one of those american classics is not surprising to me. Like the blues and jazz, it has attitude that reaches up from the ground through the souls of your feet yet reaches for the stars. What you have described thus far is the conservative of pragmatism, it is the blues and the rudiments of jazz before the invention of swing. It classical steps are ill suited to modern dance floor.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
Excuse my ignorance, but at the end of the day, isn't 'pragmatism' just a fancy-term for 'materialism'?

I think this is a great question for you to ask LG because sometimes I think you resist certain rules of reason thinking it is going to lead to materialism.

Let's take your over-riding idea that all creation is a manifestation of God's mind (forgive me if I've been less that precise in describing your belief). If it is true, then shouldn't your theory "work" in every way you believe it is true?

Now, often you propose ideas meant to demonstrate your belief, and just as often you find individuals competent in working with materials who dispute your proposals. Why? Is it that you are wrong? Or might it be that the steps you take to argue your point don't conform to the standards of reason?

If God exists, it would wonderful if you could "prove" it objectively. But if God exists, he/she/it is not an object. Think about it, just as you are held to demonstrating something works through pragmatism, so are the materialists. Do you believe they are making claims beyond what they can prove? If you have faith in your beliefs, then you also should have faith that you can find a problem in their theories.

What I am suggesting is not materialism, but rather a fair standard for a debate. Can you demonstrate chemistry can spontaneously generate life? NO? Then don't speak to the world like it's all but been accomplished. Can you demontrate God made creation in 6 days? NO? Then don't speak to the world with confidence that it's true.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by wuliheron
That pragmatism is one of those american classics is not surprising to me. Like the blues and jazz, it has attitude that reaches up from the ground through the souls of your feet yet reaches for the stars. What you have described thus far is the conservative of pragmatism, it is the blues and the rudiments of jazz before the invention of swing. It classical steps are ill suited to modern dance floor.

Wuli, you are speaking my language. I especially like bluesy, swinging jazz. Hopefully I won't seem too ethocentric here, but philosophy (and music) from the Earth-up seems to me to be what Americans do best.

 

[wuliheron]

Originally posted by LW Sleeth
Wow Wuli, you are speaking my language! I love jazz, and especially bluesy, swinging jazz. Hopefully I won't seem too ethocentric here, but philosophy (and music) from the Earth-up seems to me to be what Americans do best.

America's innovations tend to be stylish as much as fashionable. That is, we invent classics as well as fashion trends. Pragmatism and the blues are classics from which countless new works branch out, competing and collaborating to express themselves and the world around them. They can be equally artform and science to any extreme. It is these flexibly vague yet distinctive attitudinal styles that is the source of their power to surprise us. And their power to still surprise us, that is half their strength.

Often jazz will take us where eventually more plodding classical methods would have taken us eventually anyway. Other times, the process is reversed and a more plodding approach reveals what no one could have maybe found in any other way. The blues and pragmatism have room for all attitudes, and not just sad songs, because they share this openness to experimentation. Each is as rudamentary as you can get, but leads to unparalleled complexity. From my own point of view, they share an accepting attitude, affect, and expression with room for all others.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by LW Sleeth
What I am suggesting is not materialism, but rather a fair standard for a debate. Can you demonstrate chemistry can spontaneously generate life? NO? Then don't speak to the world like it's all but been accomplished. Can you demontrate God made creation in 6 days? NO? Then don't speak to the world with confidence that it's true.

Amen to all of that.

 

[FZ+]

But at some point you have to make assumptions on available data, and there is more evidence that chemistry created life than God. Not confidence, but a matter of the current picture of things.

 

[Royce]

lw,
As you know I admire your writing and thinking and this post lives up to all the rest that I've read; however, I have a problem with Pragmatism. Perhaps I do not fully understand it and/or am to influenced by the definition of pragmatic.
I think that pragmatism as a branch of philosophy is necessary and beneficial but I find it too limiting as it, in my understanding, it does away with pure abstract and ideal thinking which to me are just as necessary in philosopy as reason and pragmatism.
As a System of Reasoning I believe as you do, I think, that it goes hand in hand with logic and the scientific method. That is all well and good even in pure abstract, ideal and, if you will, artistic thought and writing. It gives form, meaning, clearity and coherence to our thinking and writing and for those reasons alone it should never be abandoned; but, Pragmatism is and should, IMO, remain a branch of Philosophy and this is the philosophy forum.
Hopefully to better illustrate my thinking, is it possible to describe Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, four dimensional spacetime and infinitities, all major theories in modern physics that are completely outside human experience and common sense, in a purely pragmatic way?

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by FZ+
But at some point you have to make assumptions on available data, and there is more evidence that chemistry created life than God. Not confidence, but a matter of the current picture of things.

What are you making assumptions for? For empirical research, for making practical decisions, for maintaining your own personal philosophy, or for discussing philosophy with others?

Let’s say it is research, and you assume “chemogenesis” is the origin of life for the sake of helping you investigate if it happens that way . . . then I would agree with you. Similarly, if you need to make practical decisions then it has to be based on your best guess. And if the only evidence you know of is that which supports chemogenesis, then again it makes sense to maintain that as your “current picture of things.”

Then there is discussing philosophy with others. I don’t know if you recall any of my debates with DT Strain on chemogenesis, but there was a grueling exercise for me because his assumption that chemistry can spontaneously generate life was carved in stone. DT would list all the evidence supporting his position, then I would point out the gap in the evidence, plus I introduced other evidence. He consistently ignored or belittled by points (even though he know nothing about what I referring to), and then would lecture me again with his evidence.

That sort of approach to reason is why I included in my little pragmatic reasoning pyramid “comprehensiveness” at the advanced level. If you are already committed to and/or more interested in being a materialist or theist over the desire to know the truth, no matter what the truth turns out to be, then you will be far less likely to seriously consider any evidence that contradicts your commitment. In my opinion, this is exactly why some of the debates here are hopeless. You can almost see someone starting to bolt or shut down when you introduce any evidence or logic contrary to their beliefs.

Of course, it isn’t only here one finds over-commitment to beliefs, we merely reflect the state of things in society. And it isn’t just the theists you catch advocating without evidence – I see it in science publications and documentaries all the time where one expects to see objectivity instead.

I mentioned in another thread a special I saw on one of the Discovery channels where a neuroscientist claimed it was her duty as an empiricist to prove consciousness is the result of only material processes. Is that the proper approach to research? I could’ve agreed if she’d said her job was to discover the material processes that contribute to consciousness, but she openly declared her pre-committed belief and that she was going to try to prove it. To me, she was trampling on the principle comprehensiveness and letting us all know she was going to single out that evidence which supported her beliefs. It also lacks integrity to use a platform that claims objectivity (science research) to make your theories appear more trustworthy.

So, my suggestion of a morphed pragmatism is to suggest a standard for philosophical debate (and public claims) rather than whatever personal views one maintains.

(Regarding there being enough evidence to assume chemistry can spontaneously generate life, I'd be more than happy to debate that with you. )

 

[Lifegazer]

Excellent points LW. I made a lot of similar remarks in my "corrupt philosophy" thread.

 

[wuliheron]

Originally posted by Royce

[Pragmatism] gives form, meaning, clearity and coherence to our thinking and writing and for those reasons alone it should never be abandoned; but, Pragmatism is and should, IMO, remain a branch of Philosophy and this is the philosophy forum.
Hopefully to better illustrate my thinking, is it possible to describe Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, four dimensional spacetime and infinitities, all major theories in modern physics that are completely outside human experience and common sense, in a purely pragmatic way? [/B]

The mistake some people make with pragmatism is to think of it as glorifying common sense and personal experience by sacraficing all else. Pragmatism is as much a social endevor as anything else and need not sacrafice anything. Quite the opposite, pragmatism is inclusive by the very nature of it to avoid placing abstractions on a pedestel.

According to one story Plato once asked his students how many teeth a nearby horse in a field had. One after another his students speculated on the issue until one of them actually walked over and began counting the horse's teeth. According to the story plato immediately expelled the student from his school.

Modern physical theories only have meaning in the sciences in their pragmatic applications and expressions. The theory of Quantum Mechanics in particular can be said to be an utterly pragmatic theory due to the fact that exactly what QM describes is hotly debated. Instead of an abstract idealistic theory compatable with the human mind and perception, it is a pragmatic statistical one based on observation. Relativity is a more idealistic theory not entirely outside of human cognition, but there is room within a pragmatic approach for idealistic approaches as well when the occation apparently warrents their use.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by Royce
Perhaps I do not fully understand it and/or am to influenced by the definition of pragmatic. I think that pragmatism as a branch of philosophy is necessary and beneficial but I find it too limiting as it, in my understanding, it does away with pure abstract and ideal thinking which to me are just as necessary in philosopy as reason and pragmatism.

I don’t believe it is true that philosophical pragmatism does away with any sort of thinking. However, let me make it clear that I am not an expert in or advocate for any formal version of philosophical pragmatism. To be honest, I only read enough of it (mostly Peirce and James) to get the idea of “if something ‘works,’ then at least some part of it is based on the true nature of reality.” That appealed to me instantly as a basis for discussion (rather than using it for say, research or thinking), and I’ve relied on successfully in debates ever since (hey, there’s some pragmatism right there).

Originally posted by Royce
As a System of Reasoning I believe as you do, I think, that it goes hand in hand with logic and the scientific method. . . . but, Pragmatism is and should, IMO, remain a branch of Philosophy and this is the philosophy forum.

Hopefully to better illustrate my thinking, is it possible to describe Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, four dimensional spacetime and Infinitities, all major theories in modern physics that are completely outside human experience and common sense, in a purely pragmatic way?

This is why I used the word “morphed” in the title of this thread. I am not pushing pragmatism, but instead I am looking for standards which can help make philosophical discussions more realistic. If you have to demonstrate a practical connection between reality and your theory, and are constrained in your inferences by how much you can make such connections, that will bring the theory down to Earth pretty fast.

Also, remember there are different sorts of philosophical discussions. When Heusden advocates dialectical materialism, the first thing I want to do is ask for instances where it has worked (plus point to all the dismal failures with it). I personally don’t think dialectical materialism makes sense philosophically (knowing what I do about human psychology), but if we only discuss it theoretically a person can reason in circles forever. But ask someone to cite examples of it working, or even elements of it working, then that makes the discussion more realistic right away.

In your examples of QM, relativity etc., these are theories. A big part of good theorizing is when one’s theory accounts for facts better than alternative explanations. So theories in development like QM gain status as we find more and more supporting evidence. That standard for theory development is close to Ayers pragmatic principle that along with a hypothesis should be the expectation of confirming experience. It doesn’t mean one can’t think wildly creative ideas, such as the way Guth now is theorizing about bubbling universes, but it would, using my little reasoning system, limit how far one would inferentially leap from that theory. Already at this site I’ve seen it stated as fact that the zero point energy figure means energy can come from nothing. That is not a fact at all, it is one possible interpretation of zero point energy.

 

[Royce]

Your point is well taken and as I said I agree completely if used as a reasoning tool or method. I meant it quite literally that "I" have a problem with Pragmatism. (Probably in part because my wife is such a pragmatist)
Wuli said that Pragmatism, while it has it feet firmly angored to the ground, can still reach for the stars; but, can it reach beyound the stars? It's hard to soar the heavens with your feet stuck in the mud. "I"

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by Royce
Your point is well taken and as I said I agree completely if used as a reasoning tool or method. I meant it quite literally the "I" have a problem with Pragmatism. (Probably in part because my wife is such a pragmatist)

Ha! My wife too (though that sort of pragmatist and the philosophy of pragmatism are two different things). I admit she helps keep my feet on the ground while my head is in the clouds.

 

[wuliheron]

Originally posted by Royce
Your point is well taken and as I said I agree completely if used as a reasoning tool or method. I meant it quite literally that "I" have a problem with Pragmatism. (Probably in part because my wife is such a pragmatist)
Wuli said that Pragmatism, while it has it feet firmly angored to the ground, can still reach for the stars; but, can it reach beyound the stars? It's hard to soar the heavens with your feet stuck in the mud. "I"

Pragmatism can't reach beyond the stars using a classical western dialectic either-or approach, but Asian philosophies such as Taoism can and have often been described as pragmatic. Just as the object of QM is unknown, the paradox of existence remains an enigma that may well extend beyond the stars for all we know. By pragmatically addressing everything between the ground under our feet and the stars above we do not deny the possibilities of transcendence and the supernatural, but instead, simply expand our awareness.

 

[Royce]

Wuli,
Completely off the subjuct but a question I've been wanting to ask. I Chen, Zen a Buddist sect baised on Tao? I,m familar with both and like to consider myself a student of them. I read the Tao fist in my late teens then at least once again as an adult. I then started reading and studying about Zen. I, as a westerner, (occidental?)found them very similar.

 

[wuliheron]

Originally posted by Royce
Wuli,
Completely off the subjuct but a question I've been wanting to ask. I Chen, Zen a Buddist sect baised on Tao? I,m familar with both and like to consider myself a student of them. I read the Tao fist in my late teens then at least once again as an adult. I then started reading and studying about Zen. I, as a westerner, (occidental?)found them very similar.

Zen or Chuan Buddhism is a combination of Buddhism and Taoism. Buddhism has proven remarkably adaptable to just about any school of thought, and from its inception has a long history of missionaries. The distinction Between Zen and Tao is largely one of style rather than substance and Zen has been compared to Taoism in wolf's clothing.

In comparison to Taoism, all the popular world religions and philosophies are much more masculine. They are assertive, aggressive, and dramatic where Taoism is accepting, nurturing, and understated. The Zen, for example, first brought the dramatic idea of "instant enlightenment" to china where for millennia the concept of gradual enlightenment had prevailed.

This is also why pragmatism can span both eastern and western thought. Rather than taking a dramatic and firm stance on issues, it takes a much more flexible and understated one.

 

[FZ+]

I don’t know if you recall any of my debates with DT Strain on chemogenesis, but there was a grueling exercise for me because his assumption that chemistry can spontaneously generate life was carved in stone.

But, if he was arguing the "can", ie. the possibility of chemogenesis, then this assumption is justified by some evidence, and in fact non-disprovable. Gaps in his evidence is certainly not enough to dispute the possibility. If he was instead arguing that chemogenesis MUST have occured, in a sort of "Proof for the material origin of life", then he is being unneccessarily confident. But not if he argues that it is possible. In which case, the reversal of the situation, that your belief that chemogenesis - and hence materialism - cannot explain life wholly seems an expression of over-confidence. At least, so it seems to me.

If you are already committed to and/or more interested in being a materialist or theist over the desire to know the truth, no matter what the truth turns out to be, then you will be far less likely to seriously consider any evidence that contradicts your commitment.

LG, take note NOW.

I mentioned in another thread a special I saw on one of the Discovery channels where a neuroscientist claimed it was her duty as an empiricist to prove consciousness is the result of only material processes.

I agree in this case. This particular scientist is seriously screwed up over his logic... Duty as an empiricist?
Then again, similar examples can be found on the other side of the border...

(Regarding there being enough evidence to assume chemistry can spontaneously generate life, I'd be more than happy to debate that with you.)

Later...

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by FZ+
But, if he was arguing the "can", ie. the possibility of chemogenesis, then this assumption is justified by some evidence, and in fact non-disprovable. Gaps in his evidence is certainly not enough to dispute the possibility. If he was instead arguing that chemogenesis MUST have occured, in a sort of "Proof for the material origin of life", then he is being unneccessarily confident. But not if he argues that it is possible. In which case, the reversal of the situation, that your belief that chemogenesis - and hence materialism - cannot explain life wholly seems an expression of over-confidence. At least, so it seems to me.

His argument was that it was a perfectly reasonalbe explanation. My argument was not that chemogenesis isn't possble, but that the confidence with which scientism devotees proclaim in textbooks, public documentaries, etc. that chemogenesis is the most likely origin of life overstates their case; and that is because there's not enough evidence chemistry can spontaneously behave in such a way. I have not (that I recall) expressed any confidence materialism will never explain it, although I personally don't think it can. My focus has been on inferences which leap too far -- part of the theme of this thread.

 

[FZ+]

But there is also absolutely no evidence for any alternative, which puts chemogenesis as a imperfect, but only workable hypothesis. At least, unlike the other possibilities, we can investigate it. And it is perfectly reasonable, according to the available evidence. Though that of course does not imply it is true.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by FZ+
LWS: "If you are already committed to and/or more interested in being a materialist or theist over the desire to know the truth, no matter what the truth turns out to be, then you will be far less likely to seriously consider any evidence that contradicts your commitment."

LG, take note NOW.

It's impossible to invalidate the Mind-hypothesis with reason.
That's not a boast. It's just a fact which most members of this forum have come to see for themselves.
And I know - through reason - that science cannot ever find the absolute-origin of any universal-effect, using observation. Sooner or later, science will have to understand that the source of universal-sensation cannot be observed within sensation itself. Because sensation is an effect of that source.
But reason is not confined to what is sensed. Reason has unveiled concepts which simply cannot be sensed. Reason can take us beyond the senses. In fact, it is reason which has also taken us inside the sensations - defining those sensations using concepts created beyond-sensation.
So interestingly, our sensations have been understood by reason which uses concepts that do not exist within those sensations. And yet we still manage to define this reality in a manner which can predict future sensations (science) - thus prooving that our method of reasoning is sound.
As such, rational arguments which seek to draw readers to the mind-hypothesis, are worthy of rational contemplation. I shouldn't have to listen to assertions about matter, as the basis of a refutation against my argument. But that's what always happens. LWS is correct.

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
It's impossible to invalidate the Mind-hypothesis with reason.

The problem is, it is also impossible to validate it with reason. That was one of LW Sleeth's main points. He is forwarding this "pragmatism" idea because he recognizes that it is impossible to prove things about reality with nothing but deductive logic (never mind the fact that you don't even use deductive logic!).

As such, rational arguments which seek to draw readers to the mind-hypothesis, are worthy of rational contemplation. I shouldn't have to listen to assertions about matter, as the basis of a refutation against my argument. But that's what always happens.

LOL, so instead of listening to materialist assertions, you should be able to forward your own assertions with no counter argument, is that it?

LWS is correct.

Yes, I think he's on to something too. It's too bad you are only taking the selections of what he said that suit your needs.

 

[FZ+]

It's impossible to invalidate the Mind-hypothesis with reason.

Then why do you fail consistently to see the reverse? I am talking about your utter confidence in the theory as not just a possibility but a proof, and your self proclaimed role of disproving materialism. While you are quick to declare "corruption" in others, you fail to see the assertion you make yourself because of your self-declared viewpoint. I am happy to accept any theory as a possibility. However, I will not allow the declaration of being absolutely correct to pass uncommented.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by Tom
The problem is, it is also impossible to validate it with reason.

Arguable, obviously.

That was one of LW Sleeth's main points. He is forwarding this "pragmatism" idea because he recognizes that it is impossible to prove things about reality with nothing but deductive logic (never mind the fact that you don't even use deductive logic!).

Then I disagree with him too, on this particular issue. Actually, science is the proof that he is wrong. Reason has obviously unveiled facts about reality. The physical-laws are facts, are they not?
Actually, scientific-reason has unveiled facts about the order within our sensations. I argue that an extension of reasoning can unveil the source of these sensations. What possible reason insists that reason cannot discuss the causality of sensation?

LOL, so instead of listening to materialist assertions, you should be able to forward your own assertions with no counter argument, is that it?

Usually, I present an argument-of-reason that leads to the Mind-hypothesis. I'm clearly hoping to debate my argument from a point-of-reason alone. Hence, I agree with LWS upon this point. But invariably, I am told that "matter created the brain" and "matter created life" and "the universe needs no cause beyond matter itself", etc.. I.e., I am refuted via assertion. And when I ask for a clear explanation of how these processes unfolded, none is given - because there is none to give. You know yourself that science can account for any fundamental philosophical-enquiry. And so how can these assertions have any merit in discrediting things which I have argued? They cannot have any philosophical merit.

Yes, I think he's on to something too. It's too bad you are only taking the selections of what he said that suit your needs.

Try presenting an argument of your own. I can promise you that I will try to refute that argument directly. I will analyse each statement you make, and look for errors of reason within those statements (if there are any). I won't just assert that "The Mind did it; and therefore your argument isn't worth listening to.". Or words to that effect.
That's exactly what DT Strain's post ammounted to, in the other thread. He simply asserted his own premise - ignoring my argument - and then proceeded to explain why his premise was correct. Even though everyone knows that there is no reasonable-argument for proving that matter creates thought.
At the end of the day, DT Strain's post amounted to a defense of an asserted-premise which is non-provable. It was a prime-example of what LWS himself is talking about.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by FZ+
Then why do you fail consistently to see the reverse? I am talking about your utter confidence in the theory as not just a possibility but a proof, and your self proclaimed role of disproving materialism.

The very fact that it's impossible to argue against (directly), and the very fact that it conforms to known physical-law and knowledge; is what makes it a strong argument.

While you are quick to declare "corruption" in others, you fail to see the assertion you make yourself because of your self-declared viewpoint.

The whole point of my arguments is to avoid assertion. I build from direct-sensation. Am I making an assertion, for example, when I state something like "Knowledge of existence is known via the reasoning of sensation."?

I am happy to accept any theory as a possibility. However, I will not allow the declaration of being absolutely correct to pass uncommented.

Fair enough. Then challenge my argument directly, and refrain from materialistic-assertions as the basis of your rebuttal. As LWS implies.

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
Then I disagree with him too, on this particular issue. Actually, science is the proof that he is wrong. Reason has obviously unveiled facts about reality. The physical-laws are facts, are they not?

The minor quibble here is that no, physical laws are not 'facts'. They are abstracted from facts (namely, the results of experiments). The major quibble is that you aren't really proving that he's wrong, because science is not pure deductive reasoning. There is the inductive element I mentioned.

Actually, scientific-reason has unveiled facts about the order within our sensations. I argue that an extension of reasoning can unveil the source of these sensations. What possible reason insists that reason cannot discuss the causality of sensation?

The fact that we know nothing about it, for starters.

Usually, I present an argument-of-reason that leads to the Mind-hypothesis. I'm clearly hoping to debate my argument from a point-of-reason alone. Hence, I agree with LWS upon this point. But invariably, I am told that "matter created the brain" and "matter created life" and "the universe needs no cause beyond matter itself", etc.. I.e., I am refuted via assertion.

That's not exactly how it goes with your threads. The counter usually comes in the form of a one-two punch:

1. The logical errors in your argument are pointed out.
2. An alternative is presented.

Once it is demonstrated that your argument is invalid (and it always is), then that does in fact make room for an alternative explanation. If the alternative is also consistent with what we know, then it is also plausible.

The question is then: Which one is more plausible, and why?

And when I ask for a clear explanation of how these processes unfolded, none is given - because there is none to give.

How do you know?

As for myself, I can only talk about physics with any kind of authority. I know very little about cognitive science (but I am trying). What I object to are your unprovable assertions such as this one...

You know yourself that science can account for any fundamental philosophical-enquiry.

I assume you mean "cannot account for..."

In which case, I say, "No, I don't know that, and neither do you." You really do shoot yourself in the foot by making these kinds of claims, because they are unprovable. You don't know what science can or cannot accomplish given the time to do it. This is just as unprovable as your claim that AI scientists will never make a machine that can think like a human. You simply do not know, and neither does anyone else!

And so how can these assertions have any merit in discrediting things which I have argued? They cannot have any philosophical merit.

See above. If an alternative is plausible, then your idea cannot be taken to be "The Answer".

Try presenting an argument of your own. I can promise you that I will try to refute that argument directly. I will analyse each statement you make, and look for errors of reason within those statements (if there are any).

I will post my argument in favor of LW Sleeth's idea in my next post in this thread. Happily, it is right on topic.

That's exactly what DT Strain's post ammounted to, in the other thread. He simply asserted his own premise - ignoring my argument - and then proceeded to explain why his premise was correct. Even though everyone knows that there is no reasonable-argument for proving that matter creates thought.

I still think you do not understand the nature of a deductive proof. If someone can forward an alternative explanation, using the same premises, then your argument does not prove anything. DT Strain did that, and that is sufficient to overturn your claim that "all is Mind, and I can prove it".

If you would change that to, "It is possible that all is Mind", I think most people would agree with you.

At the end of the day, DT Strain's post amounted to a defense of an asserted-premise which is non-provable. It was a prime-example of what LWS himself is talking about.

But you do the exact same thing! And what is worse, you have no evidence to back up your arguments. There is no way in which this idea of yours "works", because it has no bearing on anything that we observe. This all comes back to do with the inefficacy of "pure reason" when it comes to reality.

And that is what LW Sleeth was talking about.

 

[FZ+]

*sign*

Forget it LG. You obviously cannot contemplate the idea of self-reflection and acceptance of fallibility. Maybe you'll learn it eventually. When you are so locked into your beliefs, trying to reason with you, even simply raising the possibility of an alternative, is futile.

 

[quantumdude]

Here is my argument supporting my position that pure reasoning can only reveal things about abstract forms, and not about reality.

From FZ's topic The limits of reason

First, the prescriptive laws of reasoning (aka logic) cannot be proven "right" within the system of logic itself.
Second, all arguments rely on unproven axioms (aka assumptions).


All systems of logic can be put into one of two categories:

1. Deductive
2. Inductive

I explained all this in detail in my Logic Notes thread, but let me give a rundown here.

Deductive Logic
An argument is deductive if its premises necessarily imply[/color] its conclusions. With a mandate to construct such a system of logic, one is led directly to a formal structural language that strongly resembles mathematics. It contains rules for types of inferences that can always be trusted. This should not be misunderstood to mean that deductive logic can be used to derive absolute truths about reality. In fact, deductive logic is completely silent in this regard. It should be understood as follows:

I may not know whether the premises are correct, but I do know for certain that: If the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true.[/color]

That conditional statement expresses the only idea of which we can be confident using only deductive logic. Deductive logic does not contain a procedure for testing the truth or falsity of propositions (except for some propositions about deductive logic, of course).

Inductive Logic
An argument that is not deductively valid is inductive. The premises of an inductive argument provide only partial support for its conclusion, and as such the conclusions of inductive arguments are accepted only tentatively. This may prompt one to ask, "Why bother with inductive logic?" Good question. The answer is that it is impossible to reason about anything that cannot be known a priori without inductive logic. So, the price we pay for inductive reasoning may be the lack of absolute support for the conclusion, but the benefit is that we obtain the ability to say something meaningful about reality.[/color] In other words, inductive logic provides a means to judge the truth or falsity of propositions, but only in a probable (as opposed to absolute) sense.

The discipline of implementing these two kinds of reasoning to learn about reality is called science.

Continuing:

If truths about reality are destinations, then deductive reasoning is the car that gets you from one to the other. The initial post of the thread boils down to: How far can that car get us?

Is there some limit to the understanding that logic alone can provide? I have answered that question emphatically in the affirmative, on the following grounds:

We have two kinds of logic: deductive and inductive.

The former is concerned with arguments whose premises give absolute support[/color] to their conclusions. The problem is that it gives no decision procedure for determining the truth or falsity of propositions with absolute certainty (actually, it's damn near completely silent on the issue).

The latter is concerned with arguments whose premises give probable support[/color] to their conclusions. The advantage is that this logic does indeed either lend support to, or outright falsifies, the conclusions that are brought under its analysis.

Since those are the only two kinds of logic at our disposal, I state that absolute truths about reality (known absolutely!) are beyond the capacity of human logic.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Joint Response

I decided to respond to you three (Tom, FZ and LG) all in the same post because it helped me make a few points I wanted to make.

Originally posted by Tom
We have two kinds of logic: deductive and inductive.

The former is concerned with arguments whose premises give absolute support[/color] to their conclusions. . . . The latter is concerned with arguments whose premises give probable support[/color] to their conclusions. . . . Since those are the only two kinds of logic at our disposal, I state that absolute truths about reality (known absolutely!) are beyond the capacity of human logic.

Nicely reasoned. That is exactly the conclusion philosophers came to after two millennia of rationalistic speculation. It reminds me of a friend I had who was always dreaming big dreams, but doing little to realize them. In his dreams he was always on the verge of success, and so when friends tried to warn him he was headed for trouble, he would answer with some part of his perfect dream. He got away with that until the day reality came down on him so hard he finally woke up. Similarly, with pure rationality there is no meaningful test of what one reasons because like a fox watching the henhouse, the only test is the idea’s own internal logic.

The great thing about pragmatism is that it assumes there is a reality (which let’s say is all that exists, or potentially can exist), that it works in very specific ways (i.e., there’s nothing arbitrary about reality), and therefore a perfect test of one’s theories is to find ways to apply the theory. If a theory is in line with the rules of reality, it will work on some level. How well it works indicates how in line with reality it is. If only part of it works, then it needs adjustment, and so on. That feedback from reality, to me, is the most powerful teacher that could possibly exist because reality is the truth waiting right there for us to discover.

Now, the most impassioned debates here seem to be about the nature of reality, primarily between those who say material reality is probably all there is, and those who say there is at least “something more” which is probably immaterial. Although the main theme of this thread is about reason, I also was hoping better debates might happen between those two groups by suggesting reasoning standards both sides could agree to.

I have something else I want to say about your first post in this thread, but I am going to save it for my response to FZ.

Originally posted by FZ+
But there is also absolutely no evidence for any alternative, which puts chemogenesis as a imperfect, but only workable hypothesis. At least, unlike the other possibilities, we can investigate it. And it is perfectly reasonable, according to the available evidence. Though that of course does not imply it is true.

I am glad you said that because it is the example I need to demonstrate the bias that stems from believing something too strongly.

In Tom’s first post here he asked if when applying the pragmatic reasoning concept I was proposing, it might not be a good idea to test a theory by “. . . looking for instances in which it fails.” I still don’t think that should be the primary approach (in philosophy at least), but I think he is right too. The way I would do it is, after all the ways an idea is shown to work, then look for how it fails to work (of course, some ideas are so bad they only fail to work, so you can just jump right to that).

Okay, you say chemogenesis is “perfectly reasonable according to available evidence,” but really it isn’t and I think if you weren’t over-committed to a materialistic explanation for life you already would have seen that.

There is a major problem for the materialist theory there which I can’t believe isn’t noticed. The problem is that chemistry cannot be shown to spontaneously exhibit, on its own, the kind of functional and organizational system building that is present in even the simplest life form. The inferential leap from amino acids spontaneously forming and such to the sort of consistent self-organizing change needed to reach life is HUGE.

You say “there is also absolutely no evidence for any alternative,” but not only is that not a good enough reason to assume chemogenesis, that missing organizing force actually is evidence of a type. Say you were a detective investigating a report of vandalism to a house. You go there and find it is covered in mustard. There are no people around, no mustard jars, no evidence of any kind that the mustard came from somewhere else. Would you conclude that the house is oozing mustard on its own? Isn’t the lack of a means for getting that mustard there really evidence it must be somewhere else because houses are never known to ooze mustard?

Similarly, how can materialists conclude that chemistry does it alone when they can’t duplicate the kind of self-organization necessary for life? How do you build other materialist theories, such as purely physical explanations of consciousness, on top of a theory which has such a colossal evidence gap in it? Where at least is the doubt of the materialist explanation (for chemogenesis), and the openness to another variety of force present in life that would explain such self-organization?

I say the way materialists casually roll past the spontaneous self-organizing problem is a symptom of blind faith; they so are “blinded” by their belief in materialism they cannot see just how significant the chemogenesis issue is. In terms of the theme of this thread, it doesn’t matter how successful a discipline is in other areas, it doesn’t mean they get to circumvent the standards of evidence and proof for their pet theories.

I have a little more to say about this which I will do while answering LG.

Originally posted by Lifegazer
Then I disagree with him too, on this particular issue. Actually, science is the proof that he is wrong. Reason has obviously unveiled facts about reality. The physical-laws are facts, are they not?
Actually, scientific-reason has unveiled facts about the order within our sensations. I argue that an extension of reasoning can unveil the source of these sensations. What possible reason insists that reason cannot discuss the causality of sensation?

I think you are mixing together ideas that need to be considered separately to make sense. Using Tom’s explanation of logic types, you are mixing deductive and inductive logic together and then talking about them as though they are the same. The word “proof” in science represents a deductive process that culminates in observation (experience). When reason has helped lead researchers to setting up the correct experiment that proves something, that often was helped along by induction. Induction cannot prove something that needs to be experienced, it can only posit the reasonability of searching for certain verifying experiences.

When you claim your mind hypothesis cannot be disproved, all you are really saying is that we have no way to test it by way of experience. The same thing is true of say, Zeus . . . that is, we cannot experience him either but there is no reason to be certain of a theory that believes in him because he can’t be disproved.

Then you argue for the efficacy of “extension of reasoning.” But what are you extending reason from? This is exactly the problem with rationalism sans experience, your house is built on an uncertain foundation. It’s the same criticism of the materialist notion of building consciousness theories on top of a non-existent foundation of chemogenesis. Don’t you think you first better establish that your foundation is correct before you start building a bunch of theoretical rooms on it? If so, how do you create a foundation?

This is where I think you need to come up to speed because if you study the history of success with philosophical ideas, it is dominated by those which could be demonstrated they “work.” The working philosophies have so outdistanced all that old rationalistic stuff that many thinkers today believe classic philosophizing is dead. For something to be said to work, one has to be able to witness it working. This then, is the standard for proof -- that you link your claims to experience.

Are we who think there is something more to reality than physics left without recourse to proof? When it comes to objective proof, it appears we are; that does not mean there isn’t inner or subjective experience which reveals the “something more” to reality. It just means the only witness to that is to be the subject himself.

If there is “something more” to reality than physics, are we left without a means to challenge materialist claims that physics and mechanics is it? Not at all. If you have faith that “something more” is necessary to explain how at least life and consciousness “work,” then the materialist argument is going to have problems, and that is where you focus your attention (i.e., on exposing the problems). And it doesn’t mean you can’t have your theory, it only means you have to stop trying to rationally “prove” it. Let the facts or lack of facts naturally lend support to your concept.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by LW Sleeth
When you claim your mind hypothesis cannot be disproved, all you are really saying is that we have no way to test it by way of experience.

No I'm not. I'm saying that it cannot be disproven by logic, since my logic matches known laws of science. In other words, you've already tested my hypothesis, because it matches all-known laws - which have already been tested.
My arguments are founded upon laws and reason. Via the direct-experience of sensation. When you say that there is no way to test it by way of experience, you ignore the fact that my argument is founded upon the experiences we are all having now. I have not based my arguments upon anything but experience. And that's a fact.

The same thing is true of say, Zeus . . . that is, we cannot experience him either but there is no reason to be certain of a theory that believes in him because he can’t be disproved.

Firstly, can Zeus explain his own origin? I.e., can the philosophy "of Zeus" explain *everything*, rationally? If it cannot, then Zeus is of God. Not God himself.
The point is obvious. Reason can rip-apart specific concepts, until those concepts have explained everything, including themselves.
And when these concepts cannot explain such things, then these concepts are all but worthless.
You have reason to invalidate crackpot-theories. And yet you sit there saying you cannot disprove it because you cannot experience it. That's incorrect LWS.

Then you argue for the efficacy of “extension of reasoning.” But what are you extending reason from?

From itself. Reason is a system which seeks to define the relative-world in relation to absolute-scales of existence. Reason stretches towards absolute-concepts. The mind unquestionably-knows about absolute-concepts of existence.
Hence, there is no reason whatsoever why an argument founded upon reason, cannot take us to the absolute-source of existence.
You cannot discard this notion by repeating that you've had no experience of such things, and so cannot disprove them. Because you have the essence of all knowledge to disprove of such thoughts. You have reason itself. And if you are going to be sincere unto your own earlier thoughts, then you should listen to what I'm trying to say to you. You are a materialist LWS. To what degree, I do not know. But I do know that logic does not allow for a bias towards experience as the basis of all knowledge. Logic was/is the true source of all knowledge. The sensations don't know a thing about themselves.
You cannot abandon reason to a bias. You've said so yourself.

Don’t you think you first better establish that your foundation is correct before you start building a bunch of theoretical rooms on it? If so, how do you create a foundation?

By logic, from sensation.
The sensations are the only thing which we can confirm exists, within 'awareness'.

The working philosophies have so outdistanced all that old rationalistic stuff that many thinkers today believe classic philosophizing is dead.

Well my philosophy 'works' too. It explains everything (because it embraces science), and it also has profound repercussions for humanity. I'm not stupid. I'm aware that most of you are aware of this. My philosophy is almost impossible to believe, even if you see the sense in it. For look at the conclusion! How can we believe that?!
How can there be 'a God'?!
Catch 22. You can't fight emotion with reason. It'll drive you crazy, in the long-run. Not unless you can get the emotion to recognise its own folly, and allow the reason to take over.

For something to be said to work, one has to be able to witness it working.
This then, is the standard for proof -- that you link your claims to experience.

Do scientific-laws accurately depict the order inherent within our sensations? Of course they do. Therefore, it is an absolute-fact that the physical-laws are reflective of sensed-experience. You cannot argue that the physical-laws are wrong, and that our sensations are telling us something else. For reason would beg to differ - since reason unveiled those laws, from those sensations.

Are we who think there is something more to reality than physics left without recourse to proof?

Evidently so.
Mother-reason weeps, I say.

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
No I'm not. I'm saying that it cannot be disproven by logic,

So what? Materialism cannot be disproved by logic either. For that matter, neither can the Easter bunny, Santa Claus, or invisible fairies dancing around your head.

since my logic matches known laws of science. In other words, you've already tested my hypothesis, because it matches all-known laws - which have already been tested.

My arguments are founded upon laws and reason. Via the direct-experience of sensation. When you say that there is no way to test it by way of experience, you ignore the fact that my argument is founded upon the experiences we are all having now. I have not based my arguments upon anything but experience. And that's a fact.

No, it is not.

I've had quite enough of this nonsense. It has been explained to you over and over that your ideas do not "match" the laws of science, and that tests of scientific laws are not confirmations of your ideas.

Firstly, can Zeus explain his own origin? I.e., can the philosophy "of Zeus" explain *everything*, rationally? If it cannot, then Zeus is of God. Not God himself.

"The Mind" cannot explain its own origin either, and neither can it explain everything rationally.

In fact, it cannot explain anything rationally.

The point is obvious. Reason can rip-apart specific concepts, until those concepts have explained everything, including themselves.
And when these concepts cannot explain such things, then these concepts are all but worthless.

No. Reason cannot test premises; only observation can do that. That is the whole point of this thread.

You have reason to invalidate crackpot-theories. And yet you sit there saying you cannot disprove it because you cannot experience it. That's incorrect LWS.

No, he is right. Reason can only tell you if a crackpot theory is internally inconsistent. It cannot tell you if the premises or conclusion are wrong.

Only observation can do that.

From itself. Reason is a system which seeks to define the relative-world in relation to absolute-scales of existence. Reason stretches towards absolute-concepts. The mind unquestionably-knows about absolute-concepts of existence.

No, reason has nothing to do with existence.

The laws of logic are prescriptive laws pertaining to inferences. It has only to do with form, and very little to do with the content of statements.

Hence, there is no reason whatsoever why an argument founded upon reason, cannot take us to the absolute-source of existence.
You cannot discard this notion by repeating that you've had no experience of such things, and so cannot disprove them. Because you have the essence of all knowledge to disprove of such thoughts. You have reason itself. And if you are going to be sincere unto your own earlier thoughts, then you should listen to what I'm trying to say to you.

Given that you are wrong about what reason is, this is totally off base.

LW Sleeth correctly observed something about you. He said that you are mixing up notions of inductive and deductive logic into some kind of "superlogic". Specifically, to your mind it seems that logic has the certainty of deductive validity not only for inferrential forms, but also for testing of premises[/color], and that is false.

This "superlogic" does not exist except as a figment of your imagination, just like "The Mind". If you come up with a third one, then your religion can have its own Trinity.

You are a materialist LWS. To what degree, I do not know. But I do know that logic does not allow for a bias towards experience as the basis of all knowledge.

"Logic" doesn't have anything at all to say on the matter. In fact, if all we use is logic, we have the opposite problem: any and everything you can imagine becomes a candidate for a theory of reality.

That is another main point of this thread.

Logic was/is the true source of all knowledge.

Wrong: Logic does not supply knowledge at all.

Well my philosophy 'works' too. It explains everything (because it embraces science), and it also has profound repercussions for humanity.

This is false. Your ideas contradict science in that you must twist scientific theories around to suit your biased conclusion. We have explained this to you many, many times.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by Tom
So what? Materialism cannot be disproved by logic either.

True logic cannot take you to a materialistic-position. We both know that a "leap-of-faith" is required to state that there is an existence beyond sensation. As such, logic cannot advocate any such stance. And I did in fact produce an argument to challenge the notion of external-reality. Reason can challenge any concept.

For that matter, neither can the Easter bunny, Santa Claus, or invisible fairies dancing around your head.

It takes blind-faith to believe in all of the above. For reason simply cannot accept such concepts as being true. Upon what possible basis could it? But this is the philosophy forum Tom. Not the religion forum.

No, it is not.

I've had quite enough of this nonsense. It has been explained to you over and over that your ideas do not "match" the laws of science, and that tests of scientific laws are not confirmations of your ideas.

Is my mind-hypothesis compatible with the base indeterminancy of QM? Is my mind-hypothesis compatible with 'relativity'? Is my mind-hypothesis compatible with other known laws? Does my mind-hypothesis challenge the equations of any known laws?

"The Mind" cannot explain its own origin either, and neither can it explain everything rationally.

Existence is fundamentally eternal. It's very easy to prove this. Something cannot come from absolute-zilch. Therefore, something has always existed.
"The Mind" has no origin. And it has no end.

In fact, it cannot explain anything rationally.

Such as?

No. Reason cannot test premises; only observation can do that. That is the whole point of this thread.

The whole point of the thread is to assert that only sensations can confirm that a process of reasoning is correct? Then what price mathematics, with her 'zeroes' and 'infinities'? Can you show me a tangible-sensation whereby I can see such things for myself?
Reason is apart from sensation. And it makes sense of it. It also makes sense of concepts which exist beyond sensation.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
You have reason to invalidate crackpot-theories. And yet you sit there saying you cannot disprove it because you cannot experience it. That's incorrect LWS.

I still think you haven't understood the idea of proof.

Originally posted by Lifegazer
Reason is a system which seeks to define the relative-world in relation to absolute-scales of existence. Reason stretches towards absolute-concepts.

Some reason does, but some reason reaches toward garbage. It almost sounds like you consider reason just short of divinity. Like Papal infallibility, you seem to believe reason can never fail. Reason is only a mental discipline.

Originally posted by Lifegazer
The mind unquestionably-knows about absolute-concepts of existence.
Hence, there is no reason whatsoever why an argument founded upon reason, cannot take us to the absolute-source of existence

.

That is too much . . . look at what thought is! It is an abstraction that is not even as an accurate a representation of reality as a TV image is. How is it going to take one to the absolute source? It is just like those people who argue endlessly about what is the proper religious "beliefs." In the end, how much power does a belief have? With belief alone, one can't believe oneself into anything except delusion. Sure, combined with a plan, and then action, a belief can be motivating, but to say it can be so powerful as to get one into heaven or send one to hell ignores the nature of belief.

Similarly, you are imparting to thought power it doesn't exhibit. If thought had that power, we wouldn't need our bodies or appliances or construction machinery . . . we could just will it all to happen without a physical medium.

Originally posted by Lifegazer
You cannot discard this notion by repeating that you've had no experience of such things, and so cannot disprove them. Because you have the essence of all knowledge to disprove of such thoughts. You have reason itself.[/I]

.

First of all, I am not trying to discard your notion of Mind. I am saying that so far you haven't done what it takes to prove it. Secondly, I think you already know that experience is the basis of knowing.

For example, if you were going to have heart surgery done, who would be your first choice? A surgeon with lots of successes under his/her belt, or a great theoritician who has never operated? When you are hungry, will a concept of food satisfy your hunger or do you need the experience of food?

Experience is where you find reality, mind is where you work out what experiences to pursue.

Originally posted by Lifegazer
And if you are going to be sincere unto your own earlier thoughts, then you should listen to what I'm trying to say to you. You are a materialist LWS. To what degree, I do not know. But I do know that logic does not allow for a bias towards experience as the basis of all knowledge. Logic was/is the true source of all knowledge. The sensations don't know a thing about themselves. You cannot abandon reason to a bias. You've said so yourself.[/I]

.

That's cold man, calling me a materialist.

LG, you don't understand me at all. I am a materialist when it comes to reasoning about material issues. I am also a husband when my wife gets home in a few minutes, a son when my mom calls, a friend when I get together with them, a racquetball player in the tournament that's coming up, a meditator tomorrow morning at first light . . .

You have everything all mushed together. Why can't you keep your faith and experience of God in its own realm? Why try to mix it with rules that have nothing to do with that? I can't see how they are compatible.

Originally posted by Lifegazer
Mother-reason weeps, I say.

Yes, because you are trying to turn your mother into a goddess rather than loving her for what she is.

 

[FZ+]

I am glad you said that because it is the example I need to demonstrate the bias that stems from believing something too strongly.

In Tom’s first post here he asked if when applying the pragmatic reasoning concept I was proposing, it might not be a good idea to test a theory by “. . . looking for instances in which it fails.” I still don’t think that should be the primary approach (in philosophy at least), but I think he is right too. The way I would do it is, after all the ways an idea is shown to work, then look for how it fails to work (of course, some ideas are so bad they only fail to work, so you can just jump right to that).

Okay, you say chemogenesis is “perfectly reasonable according to available evidence,” but really it isn’t and I think if you weren’t over-committed to a materialistic explanation for life you already would have seen that.

There is a major problem for the materialist theory there which I can’t believe isn’t noticed. The problem is that chemistry cannot be shown to spontaneously exhibit, on its own, the kind of functional and organizational system building that is present in even the simplest life form. The inferential leap from amino acids spontaneously forming and such to the sort of consistent self-organizing change needed to reach life is HUGE.

You say “there is also absolutely no evidence for any alternative,” but not only is that not a good enough reason to assume chemogenesis, that missing organizing force actually is evidence of a type. Say you were a detective investigating a report of vandalism to a house. You go there and find it is covered in mustard. There are no people around, no mustard jars, no evidence of any kind that the mustard came from somewhere else. Would you conclude that the house is oozing mustard on its own? Isn’t the lack of a means for getting that mustard there really evidence it must be somewhere else because houses are never known to ooze mustard?

Similarly, how can materialists conclude that chemistry does it alone when they can’t duplicate the kind of self-organization necessary for life? How do you build other materialist theories, such as purely physical explanations of consciousness, on top of a theory which has such a colossal evidence gap in it? Where at least is the doubt of the materialist explanation (for chemogenesis), and the openness to another variety of force present in life that would explain such self-organization?

I say the way materialists casually roll past the spontaneous self-organizing problem is a symptom of blind faith; they so are “blinded” by their belief in materialism they cannot see just how significant the chemogenesis issue is. In terms of the theme of this thread, it doesn’t matter how successful a discipline is in other areas, it doesn’t mean they get to circumvent the standards of evidence and proof for their pet theories.

Kinda off topic... but I disagree. Then again, it could be my "bias" talking..
(a) I believe that there is nothing special about life, and there is further nothing special about our form of life. I do this because the evidence I have seen suggests this. Because I cannot see a real border between life and non-life in reality, I feel that the decision of life or not is purely subjective. Ie. we consider life special because we are alive. We are the genesis of the life concept.
(b) Spontaneous self-organisation into equilibriums is observed throughout chemistry. Notice for example the way prions can rearrange other proteins around them to cause harmonisation. And how computers can program themselves in the right conditions. I have heard of a mathematical proof that ALL systems where each component can change it's behaviour based on the others eventually reach self-organisation - this is used to explain things like flocks of birds, and fire flies, which form without an unifying system. This is not on the scale of life, but it can and does occur. We have shown that such self organisation occurs.
(c) A belief in the possibility of chemogenesis is justified. Everything has a possibility - unless there is an expressed reason that there is no possibility. There is a possibility that God exists. That material laws are just lucky chance. Investigations into life has thus far revealed nothing other than chemistry. It is reasonable to use this extrapolation, but given lack of data without too much confidence.
(d) It is not a proof for chemogenesis, but this theory's superiority to others is that it can be rationalised to at least some degree. It is possible to do work on chemogenesis to disprove it, to improve the theory and our understanding of the processes involved. However, other theories do not allow this. You cannot investigate God. Hence, chemogenesis exists as a working hypothesis, even if this line of investigation forms a disproof by contradiction. Like prove root 2 is irrational - to begin with the assumption it is irrational leads nowhere - you begin by assuming what you can tests, and see if you are forced into the other option.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by FZ+
. . . I cannot see a real border between life and non-life in reality, I feel that the decision of life or not is purely subjective. Ie. we consider life special because we are alive. We are the genesis of the life concept.

Possibly so.

Originally posted by FZ+
Spontaneous self-organisation into equilibriums is observed throughout chemistry. Notice for example the way prions can rearrange other proteins around them to cause harmonisation. And how computers can program themselves in the right conditions. I have heard of a mathematical proof that ALL systems where each component can change it's behaviour based on the others eventually reach self-organisation - this is used to explain things like flocks of birds, and fire flies, which form without an unifying system. This is not on the scale of life, but it can and does occur. We have shown that such self organisation occurs.

I will do my best to keep what I say within the bounds of this thread. My challenge was that the theory of chemogenesis does not "work" sufficiently to justify the confidence with which it is preached by the scientific community. Doing so therefore violates the pragmatic rule of reason.

I bet you anything if you were to consider the above rational you gave for explaining the self-organization of life with the same sceptism you ran your "Debunkathon" over in the pseudoscience section, you'd find it just as full of holes as I do. You have in actuality offered very little evidence of spontaneous chemical organization (and you can't use computer programs or bird flocks as examples because they are either humanly created or are already living -- you need to show chemistry doing it from scratch).

Have you ever read how a skilled creationist will try to reconcile biblical accounts with scientific discoveries? They link up the Bible with something here and there, and then conclude the Bible had it right all along. Meanwhile the gaps between the coincidences far outweigh what they have. That is what your examples amount to. What you show is the potential for chemistry to be made to undergo organizational growth, but you don't show it can do it by itself.

All purely physical (i.e., outside the influence of life or consciousness) spontaneous organization just goes on for a few steps in repetitive patterns, while life’s organization has been essentially perpetual and highly creative. Citing as significant the spontaneous formation of organic molecules, such as amino acids or the development of proteinoid microspheres fails to take into account that chemical complexity is an essential part of life, and that life most likely developed out of Earth’s chemistry, so we should expect elementary bio-stuff to result in the right conditions.

This is where your reasoning turns false because you don't address the actual objection to finding chemogenesis "perfectly reasonable." The potential for merely spontaneously forming organic molecules etc. is not the issue. The issue is full chemogenesis that spontaneously begins with perpetual development; and not just perpetual development, but of systems; and not just any system but functioning systems; and not just any functionality but hierarchally arranged functionality; and not just any hierarchally arranged functionality, but one which develops in support of the overall organization; and finally, not just any organization but one which metabolizes, reproduces and evolves.

That is the kind of organization even the lowest life form exhibits, and thus far the observed potentials of chemistry to spontaneously act fall vastly short of that level of self-organization. And this is exactly what I mean by being blinded by one's commitment to some philosophy, because it is so difficult for someone who wants to believe their philosophy to even see such a glaring problem their theory.

Originally posted by FZ+
A belief in the possibility of chemogenesis is justified. Everything has a possibility - unless there is an expressed reason that there is no possibility. There is a possibility that God exists. That material laws are just lucky chance. Investigations into life has thus far revealed nothing other than chemistry. It is reasonable to use this extrapolation, but given lack of data without too much confidence. . . . It is not a proof for chemogenesis, but this theory's superiority to others is that it can be rationalised to at least some degree. It is possible to do work on chemogenesis to disprove it, to improve the theory and our understanding of the processes involved. However, other theories do not allow this. You cannot investigate God. Hence, chemogenesis exists as a working hypothesis, even if this line of investigation forms a disproof by contradiction. Like prove root 2 is irrational - to begin with the assumption it is irrational leads nowhere - you begin by assuming what you can tests, and see if you are forced into the other option.

Possibly you just indicated part of your reason for holding so tightly to your philosophy. Who said anything about God?

I am perfectly willing to accept chemistry as capable of self-organizing itself into life if you can show me chemistry's potential for that. I believe another principle is involved only because there are no examples of chemistry behaving that way by itself . . . but that principle doesn't have to be God! What do I care what the principle is, I just want the truth. But something unusual is going on there, why can't you see it?

If one is committed to materialism or theism, or anything really other than the truth, then one's theories have to exclude the chance for a competing theory to be correct. This leads to ignoring or "dismissing" contradictory evidence and ideas, glossing over problems that really need to be solved in order to have full confidence in a theory, and then reasoning with that compromised mess until it leads to the conclusion one wants.

This is precisely why I suggested the pragmatic reasoning concept.

 

[quantumdude]

True logic cannot take you to a materialistic-position.

You aren't paying attention: I am telling you that "true logic" cannot take you to any position!

Here is some "true logic":

p-->q
~q
_____
~p

Now, did that take you to any "position"? No?

Me either.

We both know that a "leap-of-faith" is required to state that there is an existence beyond sensation.

Well then you shoot your own argument in the foot, because you yourself argue for such an existence. You call it "The Mind".

The fact of the matter is, using only logic + awareness of my own sensations, I can only get to solipsism without making use of an inductive argument (namely, the argument that concludes that there are other minds besides mine).

As such, logic cannot advocate any such stance. And I did in fact produce an argument to challenge the notion of external-reality.

All of your arguments are invalid, and we have explained why in great detail.

Reason can challenge any concept.

Again, you seem to be referring to that "superlogic" that doesn't exist.

It takes blind-faith to believe in all of the above. For reason simply cannot accept such concepts as being true. Upon what possible basis could it? But this is the philosophy forum Tom. Not the religion forum.

Exactly! So it is time for you to start philosophizing, and stop preaching. You consistently use the invalid arguments of appeal to ignorance "The Mind cannot be disproven, therefore The Mind exists" and appeal to incredulity ("I cannot accept that a material world exists, therefore the material world does not exist").

That is the basis of all religions, including your own.

Is my mind-hypothesis compatible with the base indeterminancy of QM? Is my mind-hypothesis compatible with 'relativity'? Is my mind-hypothesis compatible with other known laws? Does my mind-hypothesis challenge the equations of any known laws?

Blah, blah blah.

Ahrkon and I have both explained to you that compatibility is not the same as logical entailment.

As usual, you just keep ignoring it.

Existence is fundamentally eternal. It's very easy to prove this. Something cannot come from absolute-zilch. Therefore, something has always existed.
"The Mind" has no origin. And it has no end.

I agree with the first sentence, but not with the last.

I hate to break it to you, but "The Mind" has only existed since you made it up, and it will cease to exist once you drop this foolishness.

Tom: In fact, it (edit: The Mind) cannot explain anything rationally.

LG: Such as?

When I say "anything", I mean "anything". Your Mind hypothesis does not offer any explanation for anything that we observe. In fact, no a priori argument does that.

The whole point of the thread is to assert that only sensations can confirm that a process of reasoning is correct?

You aren't even trying to see LW Sleeth's point, which is too bad because it's a good one.

OK, maybe this will get it through to you. In one deft stroke, I am going to use pragmatism and show the whole forum how it does not necessarily exclude anything nonmaterial. Ready? Here goes:

I, Tom challenge you, Lifegazer to present the decision procedure by which you determine the truth value of any given premise. Note that I am not asking you to present your ideas on reality, but on logic. It would be best if you would lay it out in much the same way as I did in my thread, Logic Notes. Then, we can all use it to determine the truth value of statements that are known to be true, such as "Some apples have red skins".[/color]

If you can't do that, then it is time for you to concede that "absolute truth" about reality is unattainable by any existing logic, and that observation is needed to get anywhere with it.

 

[FZ+]

I will do my best to keep what I say within the bounds of this thread. My challenge was that the theory of chemogenesis does not "work" sufficiently to justify the confidence with which it is preached by the scientific community. Doing so therefore violates the pragmatic rule of reason.

But you see, the subjectivity inevitable come in when you define your "sufficiently". How well does a theory has to work? How well does a theory in development has to work? IMHO, and that is very humble, sufficient in science means better than other theories. If we have another scientific theory (Defined by Popper as one which is falsifiable), then chemogenesis would be compared to it and may well fail. But as of now, it's the best we have got. Back in the 18th century, should we have dumped Newton, because Relativity may replace it?

I bet you anything if you were to consider the above rational you gave for explaining the self-organization of life with the same sceptism you ran your "Debunkathon" over in the pseudoscience section, you'd find it just as full of holes as I do. You have in actuality offered very little evidence of spontaneous chemical organization (and you can't use computer programs or bird flocks as examples because they are either humanly created or are already living -- you need to show chemistry doing it from scratch).

But notice in Debunkathon, than was a focus on finding alternative approaches. Skepticism is fruitless without such alternatives. (Besides, the computer program I mean are done with genetic programming, and hence are not really created by man, chemical crystal self-organisation are certainly not alive, firefly investigation is based on them as being astonishingly stupid, there is a certain chemical reaction that does generate rythmic pulses of colour etc etc... Look for a book called "Sync: The emerging science of spontaneous order", by Steven Strogatz. It goes on more about this.)
There lies my key objection to your system, which I just now made up on the spot and is kinda a bit of a devil's adocate. Who decides the pragmatism? Who decides sufficient proof? With such uncertainty, it seems that anyone can use it to suggest the strength of their theory. What is to safeguard pragmatism becoming morphed into a flexible system of self-excusing?

Have you ever read how a skilled creationist will try to reconcile biblical accounts with scientific discoveries? They link up the Bible with something here and there, and then conclude the Bible had it right all along. Meanwhile the gaps between the coincidences far outweigh what they have. That is what your examples amount to. What you show is the potential for chemistry to be made to undergo organizational growth, but you don't show it can do it by itself.

But you cannot prove the impossibility of their creationism, can you? You can demonstrate the inconsistency of their arguments... until you get bored of it... But you cannot firming say - God cannot make life. Or whatever. The change about chemogenesis is the capacity for further development. The bible is already written - chemogenesis is not. Give it time before you burn the book! BTW, the book is called spontaneous order, because it does so by itself.

All purely physical (i.e., outside the influence of life or consciousness) spontaneous organization just goes on for a few steps in repetitive patterns, while life’s organization has been essentially perpetual and highly creative. Citing as significant the spontaneous formation of organic molecules, such as amino acids or the development of proteinoid microspheres fails to take into account that chemical complexity is an essential part of life, and that life most likely developed out of Earth’s chemistry, so we should expect elementary bio-stuff to result in the right conditions.

This is where your reasoning turns false because you don't address the actual objection to finding chemogenesis "perfectly reasonable." The potential for merely spontaneously forming organic molecules etc. is not the issue. The issue is full chemogenesis that spontaneously begins with perpetual development; and not just perpetual development, but of systems; and not just any system but functioning systems; and not just any functionality but hierarchally arranged functionality; and not just any hierarchally arranged functionality, but one which develops in support of the overall organization; and finally, not just any organization but one which metabolizes, reproduces and evolves.

But notice one difference between the computer models, that make chemogenesis more likely in real life - the fact the real environment changes! Creativity emerges out of unexpected factors! If we left life in a static environment, free from influences, then it too stagnates. Remove the physical prompts to change, the entrance of mutations etc, and what do we have? A highly repetitive series of binary fissions, resulting in bacteria... and more bacteria... and more bacteria... Early life was very boring...

You see, whenever a creationist looks at natural selection, they ask - isn't it just the same old thing recirculating? How can we get development? How do we get these systems? This is because of the direct input of originality from the environment and from physicality - this is what they forget. Life isn't creative - it feeds on the creativity, the potential wells of the world around it. Is that glaringly obvious?

Possibly you just indicated part of your reason for holding so tightly to your philosophy. Who said anything about God?

Second objection to system follows: contravenes classic law of debate the argument, not the arguer. If you make the presumption of the other's "corruption", you lay yourself open to big bias, and blind yourself to rational discussion. I raised God, because I thought it was the only open alternative. But if it was anything else, it still falls to the same problems - it isn't testable, and hence is not scientific, and hence cannot be shown one way or the other. Of course, if you have one that is, don't hide it from me! As yet, ironically enough, chemogenesis is the only scientific theory, because it is the only one we can prove FALSE. It's the only path we can make progress on, even if it is proving it false.

If one is committed to materialism or theism, or anything really other than the truth, then one's theories have to exclude the chance for a competing theory to be correct. This leads to ignoring or "dismissing" contradictory evidence and ideas, glossing over problems that really need to be solved in order to have full confidence in a theory, and then reasoning with that compromised mess until it leads to the conclusion one wants.

But chemogenesis doesn't exclude the chance for any alternatives. Because the other alternatives aren't even on the same playing fields. A material theory can never affect one that is based on spirituality, or any other non-material concepts. You see, we don't gloss over the contradictory evidence, because we don't have a lot of evidence at all yet. Chemogenesis is a young science, and one that seems from the progress made to hold promise. As to the problems, the fact is, they are still being solved. For the time being, the fact it still remain the only theory we can solve, that we can check for problems, that we do not know everything in, that still contains unknowns, makes it one to have confidence in, at least in it's possibility. Because right now, we don't actually have a choice. It's a crime of desperation. Give me some leniency!

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by Tom
Well then you shoot your own argument in the foot, because you yourself argue for such an existence. You call it "The Mind".

The Mind does not exist beyond sensation, any more than the mind exists beyond its own thoughts or its own feelings. This is just a misunderstanding of my philosophy on your part.

You consistently use the invalid arguments of appeal to ignorance "The Mind cannot be disproven, therefore The Mind exists"

The Mind is proven by direct experience. The existence we experience is one of mindful-attributes. Sensation; reason; emotion; imagination; will. Abstract existence.

and appeal to incredulity ("I cannot accept that a material world exists, therefore the material world does not exist").

Rather: there is no reason to prove that an external-reality exists. Therefore, being a reasonable-being, I cannot simply "believe" that an external-reality exists... any more than I can simply believe in 'santas'.

Ahrkon and I have both explained to you that compatibility is not the same as logical entailment.

Do you know of any other hypothesis which makes-sense of the duality of classical-physics and QM? Do you know of any other hypothesis which makes-sense of the individuality of space-time experience?
You scoff at my hypothesis, yet it is highly significant that my hypothesis is compatible with science.

When I say "anything", I mean "anything". Your Mind hypothesis does not offer any explanation for anything that we observe. In fact, no a priori argument does that.

My argument proceeds from direct experience - not assumption. And since it can explain the apparent duality of existence, I say that it explains quite alot.

You aren't even trying to see LW Sleeth's point, which is too bad because it's a good one.

LWS is not practising what he is preaching. He believes that reason cannot be confirmed without sensationed-verification. In that case, we need to abolish mathematics, for starters.

OK, maybe this will get it through to you. In one deft stroke, I am going to use pragmatism and show the whole forum how it does not necessarily exclude anything nonmaterial. Ready? Here goes:

I, Tom challenge you, Lifegazer to present the decision procedure by which you determine the truth value of any given premise. Note that I am not asking you to present your ideas on reality, but on logic. It would be best if you would lay it out in much the same way as I did in my thread, Logic Notes. Then, we can all use it to determine the truth value of statements that are known to be true, such as "Some apples have red skins".[/color]

I'll respond to this later. I

 

[Fliption]

Originally posted by FZ+
There lies my key objection to your system, which I just now made up on the spot and is kinda a bit of a devil's adocate. Who decides the pragmatism? Who decides sufficient proof? With such uncertainty, it seems that anyone can use it to suggest the strength of their theory. What is to safeguard pragmatism becoming morphed into a flexible system of self-excusing?

FZ,

You are right in that this pragmatic approach involves some subjectivity. But surely science already does this sort of thing now? If science doesn't have a rigid process that helps it move from statements like "nature could be doing this" into statements like "nature IS doing this", then no wonder we have so many people with opposing views claiming their views are the Truth. I think LWSleeth is proposing a rigid method that involves less subjectivity then what is currently being used; in these forums for sure.

Because right now, we don't actually have a choice. It's a crime of desperation. Give me some leniency!

At the risk of putting words in LWSleeth's keyboard, let me say that I don't think LWSleeth is saying that his method of pragmatism should be used to completely write a theory off and eliminate it's research efforts. I think the main point is that this method should be used to determine what can be considered "confident knowledge". It can tell us whether we should be confident enough to sign on to physics forums and talk about a theory as if it's true. Which happens here all the time.

So, I don't think LWSleeth's point is to take away leniency from you in researching this new theory. But you don't have leniency when it comes to preaching this theory as the truth. It seems you agree with this with regard to Chemogenesis as you said there was a lot of progress to be made. Perhaps you can help remind people like DT Strain of this when they are preaching it as gospel.

And to interject my own opinion here, science cannot claim to be searching for truth when it's scope is only on what is falsifiable. THE TRUTH MAY NOT BE FALSIFIBLE. Overall I think the mustard example was one of the best I've heard. It may be true that the only thing we are capable of doing is to research how mustard leaks from the house. But that doesn't mean that's the way it happened. So should we be going around and claiming that it is the way it happened simply because our only other alternative is to say "I don't know"? There's nothing wrong with this phrase. I say this phrase all the time. Because it's usually true. And truth is what I'm interested in.
I would much rather someone say this phrase then to pretend their best guess is truth.

 

[FZ+]

You are right in that this pragmatic approach involves some subjectivity. But surely science already does this sort of thing now? If science doesn't have a rigid process that helps it move from statements like "nature could be doing this" into statements like "nature IS doing this", then no wonder we have so many people with opposing views claiming their views are the Truth. I think LWSleeth is proposing a rigid method that involves less subjectivity then what is currently being used; in these forums for sure.

I am just raising the possibility of a dark side to this... And the possibility that this pragmatic approach may not be so different from what we do already anyway...

At the risk of putting words in LWSleeth's keyboard, let me say that I don't think LWSleeth is saying that his method of pragmatism should be used to completely write a theory off and eliminate it's research efforts. I think the main point is that this method should be used to determine what can be considered "confident knowledge". It can tell us whether we should be confident enough to sign on to physics forums and talk about a theory as if it's true. Which happens here all the time.
So, I don't think LWSleeth's point is to take away leniency from you in researching this new theory. But you don't have leniency when it comes to preaching this theory as the truth. It seems you agree with this with regard to Chemogenesis as you said there was a lot of progress to be made. Perhaps you can help remind people like DT Strain of this when they are preaching it as gospel.

*cue self righteous ranting*
The point is that the possibility of chemogenesis at present cannot be denied - I didn't make a statement on probability. I didn't say chemogenesis has to be true, but rather it can be true. To say as a statement that chemogenesis cannot be true is a statement in itself, and one that claims more absolute (and hence unreasonable) knowledge that a statement of possibility. Rather, I am not preaching this theory. I am saying - yes, there are problems, yes there are things that need to be solved, but as far as we see, this theory has promise. It has possibility. Denial cannot, in my humble opinion be justified. Though I disagree profoundly with creationists, I cannot go so far as to say creationism is impossible. In a statement of "can", the acceptance has to be made that anything "can". It's a matter of "does". Lack of data, instead of contrary data, cannot be a DISPROOF for a theory.

And to interject my own opinion here, science cannot claim to be searching for truth when it's scope is only on what is falsifiable. THE TRUTH MAY NOT BE FALSIFIBLE. Overall I think the mustard example was one of the best I've heard. It may be true that the only thing we are capable of doing is to research how mustard leaks from the house. But that doesn't mean that's the way it happened. So should we be going around and claiming that it is the way it happened simply because our only other alternative is to say "I don't know"? There's nothing wrong with this phrase. I say this phrase all the time. Because it's usually true. And truth is what I'm interested in.

Well, what do you know? I disagree!
The fact is that science is about the search for truth. Science accepts that truth may not be reachable. What is truth really? If we have something that is true, how do we know that? This is where science is the key. Science works by eliminating untruths, and creating understanding. IMHO, there is no other way. Let's say that the truth is that God exists. How can we tell? We can't. We really can't. The result is that science can be really the only process searching for the truth, as opposed to guessing at the truth. It's the only route to progress. Science is about progress. And falsifiability, testability is the road to progress. Science isn't about Truth - it's about looking for the truer, and throwing out the untruth. You may be interested in the Truth, but you will never reach it. Especially if it is not falsifiable. No one claims there best guess is the truth - rather it is apparently more true than the others.
"I don't know" is never an answer. It is only the beginning of a road. If "I don't know" was an answer, then there is no reason for life, for knowledge. Apathy is the enemy of the search for truth.

 

[Fliption]

Originally posted by FZ+
I am just raising the possibility of a dark side to this... And the possibility that this pragmatic approach may not be so different from what we do already anyway...

Perhaps. But I think it has a lot more structure than what most people here do. Maybe this idea just needs some further definition?

The point is that the possibility of chemogenesis at present cannot be denied - I didn't make a statement on probability. I didn't say chemogenesis has to be true, but rather it can be true.

I agree with all you're saying. But there are people who post in this forum who do not concede the "problems" that you mention. It is simply "truth" to them. I think this attitude is what has motivated LWSleeth.

The fact is that science is about the search for truth. Science accepts that truth may not be reachable. What is truth really? If we have something that is true, how do we know that? This is where science is the key. Science works by eliminating untruths, and creating understanding. IMHO, there is no other way. Let's say that the truth is that God exists. How can we tell? We can't. We really can't. The result is that science can be really the only process searching for the truth, as opposed to guessing at the truth. It's the only route to progress. Science is about progress. And falsifiability, testability is the road to progress. Science isn't about Truth - it's about looking for the truer, and throwing out the untruth. You may be interested in the Truth, but you will never reach it. Especially if it is not falsifiable. No one claims there best guess is the truth - rather it is apparently more true than the others.
"I don't know" is never an answer. It is only the beginning of a road. If "I don't know" was an answer, then there is no reason for life, for knowledge. Apathy is the enemy of the search for truth. [/B]

I understand everything you've written and can agree with it for the most part. But I still have trouble with a discipline that admits it cannot have complete knowledge but yet won't acknowledge where that lack of knowledge resides. If all we're going to do is accept our best guess as truth then how do we reconcile that with the idea that we cannot have complete knowledge? For if a falsifiable best guess is all we need, then surely we can have a "truth" for everything. I realize that you said "truer" and not "true" but others here HAVE taken this attitude. It's good to see that you aren't.
I'm not arguing for apathy. I'm arguing for proper representation of what we know and what we don't know.

Actually, I don't think you and I disagree at all. But there are people here who will not acknowledge the "problems" of their pet theories or, if they do acknowledge them, will not acknowledge that those problems could lead to a better theory. It is these people that should be put in check. But I agree the research should continue. Let's just be honest about how good our best theory is. And for me, if 2% confidence is all we can claim, then "I don't know" is the best answer. At least until more knowledge is gained.

 

[FZ+]

I agree, but the problem is you can't really quantify things like that. The question "What percentage of everything do we know?" is nonsensical, because we happen not to know how much there really is to know - or whether there is an infinite amount to be known. You see, since we don't have the knowledge, we can't really always point out where the lack of knowledge lies - just that it is in there "somewhere"...

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by Tom
OK, maybe this will get it through to you. In one deft stroke, I am going to use pragmatism and show the whole forum how it does not necessarily exclude anything nonmaterial. Ready? Here goes:

I, Tom challenge you, Lifegazer to present the decision procedure by which you determine the truth value of any given premise. Note that I am not asking you to present your ideas on reality, but on logic. It would be best if you would lay it out in much the same way as I did in my thread, Logic Notes. Then, we can all use it to determine the truth value of statements that are known to be true, such as "Some apples have red skins".[/color]

If you can't do that, then it is time for you to concede that "absolute truth" about reality is unattainable by any existing logic, and that observation is needed to get anywhere with it.

I prefer to do it in my own style, if you don't mind?
Anyway, I flow better when I'm not constrained by method.

"Lifegazer to present the decision procedure by which you determine the truth value of any given premise."[/color]
... is the challenge.

Existence is experienced through sensation, and understood via the reasoning of those sensations.
... Is what I would class as an absolute-truth. For how can it really be faulted? Everybody knows what I mean, and everybody has the exact same experience. I do not need to prove this premise, any more than you need to prove your own existence to yourself. And yes, the true identity of existence has not been proven by the premise alone. But it is a sound-premise upon which to build a philosophical-argument.

An external-reality does exist.
... Is what I call a challengeable-premise, for obvious reasons. Nobody has direct-experience of this premise, and there is no logical-argument to even prove that this is logically-acceptable. In short, the reader of the premise has to believe that the premise is true, in order to follow the conclusions of that premise.

Hence, the truth value of any given premise, is in the absoluteness of that premise. I.e., there is no reasonable basis upon which to refute the premise - since it is pointless to reason against the absoluteness of experience, when the absoluteness of experience is the foundation of known-existence.
This is why I think that scientific-Laws are sound premises for an argument. They mirror the behavioural-order of our sensations. We all share the same laws of sensationed-behaviour. Therefore, there is an absoluteness about the physical-laws. A singularness.

If reason emanates from the self, and reason is founded upon direct self-experience, then there are some absolutes which can be declared about this sensationed-Existence.

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
The Mind does not exist beyond sensation, any more than the mind exists beyond its own thoughts or its own feelings. This is just a misunderstanding of my philosophy on your part.

No, I understand your religion just fine. This point that I made really is part of why it is so incoherent. You say on the one hand that there is no way to prove that an external reality outside of one's mind, and then you claim the existence of some "Super Mind", which is definitely outside of one's mind.

Surely you see the contradiction there.

The Mind is proven by direct experience. The existence we experience is one of mindful-attributes. Sensation; reason; emotion; imagination; will. Abstract existence.

Sure, my mind is proven by direct experience. As for "The Mind", that is not.

Rather: there is no reason to prove that an external-reality exists. Therefore, being a reasonable-being, I cannot simply "believe" that an external-reality exists... any more than I can simply believe in 'santas'.

Sorry, you cannot have it both ways. You cannot say on the one hand that there is no external reality (and thus be a solipsist) and then claim that there is a god (and thus be a theist). Those two notions directly contradict each other.

Do you know of any other hypothesis which makes-sense of the duality of classical-physics and QM? Do you know of any other hypothesis which makes-sense of the individuality of space-time experience?
You scoff at my hypothesis, yet it is highly significant that my hypothesis is compatible with science.

Again: Blah, blah, blah.

It has been explained to you repeatedly that:

1. Your hypothesis does not explain any of those things.
2. It is completely insignificant that your hypothesis is compatible with science. Any nonfalsifiable hypothesis is compatible with science.

My argument proceeds from direct experience - not assumption. And since it can explain the apparent duality of existence, I say that it explains quite alot.

You are wrong on both counts. First, your argument makes plenty of assumptions. All one has to do is insert the missing logical links to see them. One of your assumptions is that a mind can exist without a brain, for example. Second, your argument does not explain anything observed in nature. I don't know why we have to keep repeating that to you.

LWS is not practising what he is preaching. He believes that reason cannot be confirmed without sensationed-verification. In that case, we need to abolish mathematics, for starters.

You are so confused.

The whole point of this exercise is that pure logic can only be used on abstract objects, and not on the concrete objects of reality. This is because only abstract objects can be known a priori. The objects of mathematics are abstract objects, and so pure logic is fine to give mathematical proofs. Proofs about the objects of reality, that cannot be known a priori, must include evidence.

All of this has been discussed in detail in this very thread, and you seem to have ignored all of it.

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
Existence is experienced through sensation, and understood via the reasoning of those sensations.
... Is what I would class as an absolute-truth. For how can it really be faulted? Everybody knows what I mean, and everybody has the exact same experience. I do not need to prove this premise, any more than you need to prove your own existence to yourself. And yes, the true identity of existence has not been proven by the premise alone. But it is a sound-premise upon which to build a philosophical-argument.

OK, but I am noting that you aren't offering a proof of this.

An external-reality does exist.
... Is what I call a challengeable-premise, for obvious reasons. Nobody has direct-experience of this premise, and there is no logical-argument to even prove that this is logically-acceptable. In short, the reader of the premise has to believe that the premise is true, in order to follow the conclusions of that premise.

OK, I agree that this cannot be proven with deductive logic alone. That leaves us stuck with solipsism, without making an inductive leap, namely the leap to "other minds".

Hence, the truth value of any given premise, is in the absoluteness of that premise. I.e., there is no reasonable basis upon which to refute the premise - since it is pointless to reason against the absoluteness of experience, when the absoluteness of experience is the foundation of known-existence.

This is where you hit a brick wall. This is nothing more than the argument from ignorance that you are so fond of. It says, "X has never been proven/disproven, therefore X is false/true."

That is invalid reasoning, and it has been explained to you repeatedly.

This does not qualify as a deductive decision procedure for establishing the truth of a premise.