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From: arcline@phoenix.princeton.edu (Austin Cline)
Subject: Re: Reality...??? Purpose of Life...???
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Date: Fri, 30 Dec 1994 01:18:50 GMT
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In article <3dvg7s$6i1@ixnews2.ix.netcom.com>, roose@ix.netcom.com
(Richard Roose) wrote:

<snip>

> Greg,
> 
> Here is what she said:
> 
>                 "reality is a product of your beliefs"
> 
> I believe in Santa Clause.  Does that make Santa Clause REAL?  How the 
> F*** come he didn't leave me any presents this year.  I've been very 
> goody goody.  See how good!  This is the first time I have used nasty 
> words with you.
> 
> I believe the Big Dipper is going to tip over and spill hot, boiling oil 
> on everbody tomorrow.  Is my belief going to make it happen.
> 
> I believe if I throw you off of a cliff, and if you and I had enough 
> faith, you will be able to fly.  Want to try it? 
> 
> Wake up and smell the shit you are floundering in!

Richard:

The more you make posts like this, the more you demonstrate that you
aren't really interested in any kind of calm, rational discussion. You
state opinions and ideas and then, when people criticise them, you tend to
resort to abuse and insults, assuming that you are self-evidently right
with no responsibility to demonstrate, through rational argumentation, how
your position is any more worthy of consideration than someone elses. Your
position and opinions are not self-evident, and abuse of other people or
claiming "no one has given any decent objections to my ideas" aren't
sufficient defenses. Instead of insulting others, maybe you should trying
explaining why the other viewpoint is lacking. Intead of claiming that no
rational opposition has been demonstrated, why not post rational (i.e.
non-insulting) rebuttals, *showing* how the opposition doesn't hold up,
giving others a chance to see whether or not they agree with you.
Austin Cline; German Department; Princeton University
---
...it is still a *metaphysical faith* that underlies our faith in science - and we...godless ones and anti-metaphysicians, we, too, derive *our* flame from the fire ignited by a faith millennia old, the Christian faith,...that God is truth, that truth is divine. -Friedrich Nietzsche; The Gay Science, 344                                    
