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Psychogenic
Tripped out jungle monkey



Registered: 05/26/14
Posts: 631
Last seen: 7 years, 7 months
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A good question
#23374615 - 06/23/16 05:59 PM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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How are people who are interested in science and understand it different from those who don't? I ruled intelligence out by this time, but I still think there are personality factors involved. I look at other peoples life's and it just doesn't make any sense what so ever how they can ignore this stuff day after day. They can sit and contemplate for a year and never really think deeply about their existence or question the nature of reality. They get too distracted with politics and trivial matters while science is the arena itself everything is taking place in or the universe that science has built a picture of!
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sudly
Darwin's stagger


Registered: 01/05/15
Posts: 10,812
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A basis of beliefs formed by a cultural upbringing.
E.g. Don't question the existence of your god.
If your fundamental beliefs are incompatible with the scientific method it's unlikely any progress will be made.
-------------------- I am whatever Darwin needs me to be.
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Psychogenic
Tripped out jungle monkey



Registered: 05/26/14
Posts: 631
Last seen: 7 years, 7 months
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Re: A good question [Re: sudly]
#23388662 - 06/27/16 06:31 PM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Yea, but I once had a conversation with a very smart girl and threw some very compelling and rational Q&A at her that should have changed her mind right on the spot. Nothing! It just reflected right off her like a computer cliché or something. The girl was very smart, so I should have persuaded her with logic. There could be genetic component at play here!
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sudly
Darwin's stagger


Registered: 01/05/15
Posts: 10,812
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She's probably convinced there's a brick wall between religion and science and therefore won't even tempt the thought.
-------------------- I am whatever Darwin needs me to be.
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DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Quote:
Psychogenic said: The girl was very smart, so I should have persuaded her with logic.
Two thoughts come to mind after reading this. First, never underestimate the power of death anxiety and the feeling of self-importance. These very emotional concepts can overpower smarts and feed the believer.
Second, know that two people can reach opposite conclusions while each being completely logical. Often when two disagree one will accuse the other of not using logic. This isn't always the case. Logic is a method of reaching valid conclusions via a set of rules, rules which the debaters may each follow. But valid does not equal true. What logic isn't - it isn't a method for finding true or correct conclusions. All logical inquiry is dependent on the axioms or postulates that are assumed for the sake of the inquiry. Two people can reach different conclusions that are each valid by assuming different postulates. Somebody can assume that the bible is the literal word of god. Then it would be rational and valid to conclude that the universe was formed in seven days. Somebody else assumes that the bible is not the word of god in any way. Then it would be rational and valid to conclude that the universe was not formed in seven days. Two different conclusions, mutually exclusive, each logical and valid but each are dependent on different postulates.
My advice, if you must debate a believer, don't attack their logic. It may be rock sold. Go straight for the juggler - attack their postulates. But know that you are also vulnerable with your postulates.
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