A Pragmatist's Guide to God
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13-04-2017, 08:06 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 07:41 PM)Full Circle Wrote: tl;dr Yes. ![]() Pragmatism looks at the indeterminable metaphysical problem of the existence of god, and tries to weave its way through empiricism and rationalism to come to decision on whether to believe or not by ways of the belief's consequences rather than its proof. It doesn't try to prove the existence of god, instead it helps you weigh the conseqences if you did believe or not. James believes that the spiritual life is one of the most important aspects to our humanity, and that religion is proof for this need of spirituality. So the burning question is, is the pragmatic belief in god worthy of a principle in one's life or does it fall short. I hope this helps. |
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13-04-2017, 08:07 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 07:57 PM)GirlyMan Wrote: Why not? I wanna talk Euler's orgasm and Fibonnaci's gnocchis too. Damn you to hell, Girly! Now I want gnocchi! ![]() (Well, I would if it wasn't so late and if I was actually hungry, but still, I *love* gnocchi! Not this faux-gnocchi in the pic, though. The real, delicious, often made of potatoes, ones ![]() ![]() As for Euler, only thing I've got, is this: "The erotic connection between mathematical insight and sexual orgasm is simply impossible to deny." ![]() ![]() "E se non passa la tristezza con altri occhi la guarderò." |
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13-04-2017, 08:07 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 07:59 PM)Astreja Wrote: My version of pragmatism: I know from personal experience that I'm incapable of choosing to believe anything, and that my brain automatically rejects unsupported extraordinary claims. Therefore, unless a god wanders by in person, no action is required on my part. Yep, no reason to waste much time on this blather. If this alleged god exists it can poof itself right in front of everyone instead of relying on obtuse philosophical arguments over the internet taking hours of study to comprehend. ![]() Gods derive their power from post-hoc rationalizations. -The Inquisition Using the supernatural to explain events in your life is a failure of the intellect to comprehend the world around you. -The Inquisition |
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13-04-2017, 08:07 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 07:04 PM)Stephen Pedersen Wrote: There are many reasons to believe in God, some of which aren't very good. However, there are patterns and designs that suggest there might be a god, but this isn't the place for natural theology. What I would like to discuss is William James' pragmatism which attempts to make judgements and relieve the mind from problems that are otherwise indeterminable. We have to find a way to get on with the day without paralyzing hamletian indecision, don't we? William James' pragmatism is just that, so let's dive in and understand what William James has to say about pragmatism in his own words: TL;DR. Are you a physicist, or do you claim that they believe in some things like atheists do? You'll find some physicists here, me included. We're kind of rare, in the wild. If you can provide a concisely reasoned premise, I'd be happy to read it. Tossed word salad is beyond me. |
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13-04-2017, 08:09 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 07:04 PM)Stephen Pedersen Wrote: Nietzsche and James were roughly born during the same period and both were trying to wrestle with scientific discoveries and the impact they had on faith. Since the age of 14 I've never wrestled with the impact of faith or the need in a higher power. Although what you have written is interesting ultimately it has no basis other than trying to occupy and combine two differing views which I personally do not believe can be combined. (13-04-2017 07:04 PM)Stephen Pedersen Wrote: to the path in the woods now. If you were given a chance to live in a vibrant world of meaning, hope, and Beauty, would you choose that belief, the belief out of the woods, or would you rather live in a world based on the probablism of physics, which may seem mechanistic in its stiff materialistic stance? A chance to live in a vibrant world of meaning, hope, and beauty? I live in that place right now without a belief in a higher power or meaning. So I don't see the relevance. I get to decide what my life looks like, not the other way around. |
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13-04-2017, 08:10 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 08:06 PM)Stephen Pedersen Wrote: Pragmatism looks at the indeterminable metaphysical problem of the existence of god, and tries to weave its way through empiricism and rationalism to come to decision on whether to believe or not by ways of the belief's consequences rather than its proof. It doesn't try to prove the existence of god, instead it helps you weigh the conseqences if you did believe or not. James believes that the spiritual life is one of the most important aspects to our humanity, and that religion is proof for this need of spirituality. So the burning question is, is the pragmatic belief in god worthy of a principle in one's life or does it fall short. Not as much as Gwynnies. #sigh |
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13-04-2017, 08:11 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 08:06 PM)Stephen Pedersen Wrote:(13-04-2017 07:41 PM)Full Circle Wrote: tl;dr Depends on the belief system: ![]() Due to the replete examples of the depredations of religion, I wouldn't bother with it and I sure wouldn't depend on someone's interpretation to determine it's value. But if it promises some sort of magic to make life better, it better produce in convincing fashion. Wiggle that nose Samantha.... ![]() Gods derive their power from post-hoc rationalizations. -The Inquisition Using the supernatural to explain events in your life is a failure of the intellect to comprehend the world around you. -The Inquisition |
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13-04-2017, 08:12 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 08:07 PM)Fireball Wrote: TL;DR. Are you a physicist, or do you claim that they believe in some things like atheists do? You'll find some physicists here, me included. We're kind of rare, in the wild. If you can provide a concisely reasoned premise, I'd be happy to read it. Tossed word salad is beyond me. I thinks he's a philosopher, or a psycho-philosopher with a bunch of cognitive science thrown in so he can properly manipulate his mental state for his own amusement. ... I might be thinking of popsthebuilder though. ![]() #sigh |
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13-04-2017, 08:13 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 08:05 PM)GirlyMan Wrote:(13-04-2017 07:04 PM)Stephen Pedersen Wrote: Back to the path in the woods now. If you were given a chance to live in a vibrant world of meaning, hope, and Beauty, would you choose that belief, the belief out of the woods, or would you rather live in a world based on the probablism of physics, which may seem mechanistic in its stiff materialistic stance? Well, if the decision effects your life then you must choose or live in paralysis, no? |
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13-04-2017, 08:16 PM
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RE: A Pragmatist's Guide to God
(13-04-2017 08:13 PM)Stephen Pedersen Wrote:(13-04-2017 08:05 PM)GirlyMan Wrote: Don't have to choose, right. We pretend there's no problem of induction while simultaneously acknowledging "yeah, it's a problem" because I mean what else you gonna do? Ain't like we got a choice. Someone's still gotta make the doughnuts. And now we've pushed our models so close to reality that going any further requires admitting messiness into the mode itselfl. The model tells us as much. The models are now saying "Told you there was a problem with induction. There you go. Time to make the donuts. #sigh |
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