Le 18/06/2013 19:23, // "". a écrit :
>> "The USA is the anomaly: the survival of such strong religious
>> beliefs in an otherwise developed country is a contradiction.
>> Compared to Canada the percentage of believers in the USA just
>> shows that most of people are unable to grasp any rational thinking
>> - yet they use the latest technologies that prove science and
>> modern philosophy to be right."
>>
>> It is the false dichotomy, faith vs. science and philosophy.
>
> "Science and philosophy are based on questioning and rejection of
> all tradition, beliefs and dogmas."
>
> No, in fact they are themselves the same as cultural products.
> Philosophy is in fact a redo of cultural ideology which is the
> content of which you speak.
Source ?
Philosophy starts with both Socrates' question: "What really is ?" and
Descartes': "What can I be absolutely certain of ?"
Science adds the method, also provided by Descartes who elaborated over
William of Occam.
>
> "Don't hold for granted anything that you haven't experienced and
> explained by reason alone."
>
> That would include faith, no?
>
Of course, faith belongs to the realm of myth or precritic thinking.
Husserl pushed one step further, saying that "the thesis of the world
[ie considering that the world exists] is also a belief".
> "Faith is doxa, ie belief. It relies on myths and dogmas that have
> been forced in you only because they were part of your
> family/country environment. You're Christian because you were born in
> a Christian family/country. Were you born in Saudi Arabia, you'd be a
> Muslim and hold Islam as the one true faith as spontaneously as you
> presently hold Christianity."
>
> Pointing out the obvious as to place of birth is trivial. But in the
> same process is found your views about faith and science and
> philosophy, no?
>
No, anybody anywhere can start questioning about truth without resorting
to beliefs. One only needs language and the ability to form articulate
thought. That's why logic was invented, as a formal language describing
the value of truth of any assertion even prior to any empirical content.
In high-school my first year of philosophy was dedicated to learning how
to ask questions that are actually relevant, and not the fruit of
slogans, habits or other beliefs repeated under various forms by a lazy
intellect.
> "But it's just brainwashing and habits based on them. There's no
> opposable content that you can demonstrate or explain objectively.
> The mystical experiences are mere daydreams and fuzzy feelings caused
> by natural processes, like deprivation or food, sleep and sexual
> gratification."
>
> Then if questions raised by faith are not subject to an empirical
> program then science stands mute and dumb, no?
Faith is empty of actual content. It's purely wishful thinking.
On one hand it helps most of people cope with anxiety by forgetting,
even if only at times, about our true condition, yet on the other hand
it implies that we consent to give certain people authority on the
conditions of our (delusional) well-being. That's why religion is the
most effective tool of power in the hands of leaders.
> Philosophy is such a culturally sodden mess as to be useless for the
> purpose.
>
What are you exactly referring to ?
> You have in only more words expressed that with which we began. It
> is a false dichotomy to oppose faith with science and philosophy.
>
Science rejects faith as long as its predicates are not fully proven.
Starting with the existence of God.