How real are you?

Royal Institute of Philosophy ^ | Mary Midgley

[Ethan Clive Osgoode]

If we are no more than a collection of atoms connected by a nervous system, then Mr. Dawkins writings are no more valid than a billion monkeys typing on typewriters.

Charles Darwin wrote of a similar argument, with the difference that he succumbed to it. He said that, since our minds evolved from those of monkeys, and the sensibilities of monkeys are not particularly impressive, there was no way he could trust his mind when it forms thoughts about the meaning of life and so on. "The horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of man's mind, which has developed from the mind of the lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy. Would anyone trust the conviction of a monkey's mind, if there are any convictions in such a mind?" If so, why then should we trust him regarding his convictions about man's mind developing from monkeys?

[jonno]

Very good.

I have also enjoyed this reading of Orthodoxy:

http://librivox.org/orthodoxy-by-gk-chesterton/

[BlueDragon]

"..."science does not deal in truths", they say, but in "useful models", the best science can do is provide evidence supporting a useful model concerning the cabbage..."

The time has come, the Walrus said...

[BenLurkin]

"Can reality have degrees?"

Who pays the salaries of these useless flakes?

[Drumbo]

Solipsism/Sophism Ping

[rwa265]

“Are you quite real? Are you (that is) at least as real as the parts that you are composed of - your cells, your genes, your molecules and electrons and quarks and the notions that are passing through your mind? Or are they more real than you?”

I don’t know about all this, but I do know that when I stub my toe, that toe is the most real part of me. Or when I have a headache, my brow is more real than any other part of me.

[ßuddaßudd]

I’m real, touch me...

[shibumi]

You drink, therefore you are.

I eat, therefore I fart.

[shibumi]

"Veni, Vidi, Vino.

“I came, I saw, I drank.”

"Veni, Vidi Vicki"

"I Came, I Saw, I'm like OMIGAWD!"

[shibumi]

And a “fear in a handful of dust” ping back atcha’!

[2harddrive]

It sounds like the person to whom you are referring could be a sub-atomic physicist!

[Salamander]

It only seems right to ping Slings And Arrows to this, ya know.

[ZeitgeistSurfer]

My mind is watching my mind watching my mind watching itself watch my mind watching myself. After five minutes of that, I prefer Professor Jack Daniels.

[Titan Magroyne]

I know you are, but what am I? ;o)

[Slings and Arrows]

Thanks for the ping!

I used to be real, but then some @#$! multiplied me by the square root of minus-one.

[Lady Jag]

Reality is merely an illusion, although a very persistent one

[Lady Jag]

[Slings and Arrows]

A fat guy with a chicken on his head: For when a bunny and a pancake just won’t cut it.

[TASMANIANRED]

Hammer + thumb x acceleration to the target=reality.

[Mr. Silverback]

Dawkins is a fountain of dumb.