03-07-2009, 02:53 AM
Hi,
First, I cannot speak for Jester, but these discussions are, to me, the equivalent of discussions of the weather or of sports. The serious business of my life was doing science. I hope that one day soon it will be teaching science.
Second, in these discussions I do try to do something minor but useful. I try to lay out the position of those who are not convinced by the attitude of the multitude or the precedents of the ancients. I try to instill a questioning attitude that may lead someone, sometime, to introspection. To rational self doubt. And, possibly, to a reconciliation and acceptance of the unlimited ignorance which is our common heritage. When a person can accept 'I don't know' as a valid explanation in place of 'god did it', then that person is, I think, on the path to truth. If the path ends with god, so be it. But if it starts with god, then there is no path at all -- the destination is the start and no progress exists to be made.
--Pete
Quote:So, if as Pete, Jester, or others here believe that they have the "right" answer and everyone else are "deluded by fairy tales", then move past it and do something useful with this insight.I truly don't understand this.
First, I cannot speak for Jester, but these discussions are, to me, the equivalent of discussions of the weather or of sports. The serious business of my life was doing science. I hope that one day soon it will be teaching science.
Second, in these discussions I do try to do something minor but useful. I try to lay out the position of those who are not convinced by the attitude of the multitude or the precedents of the ancients. I try to instill a questioning attitude that may lead someone, sometime, to introspection. To rational self doubt. And, possibly, to a reconciliation and acceptance of the unlimited ignorance which is our common heritage. When a person can accept 'I don't know' as a valid explanation in place of 'god did it', then that person is, I think, on the path to truth. If the path ends with god, so be it. But if it starts with god, then there is no path at all -- the destination is the start and no progress exists to be made.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?