RE: virus: Scientists and Philosophers

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• [ Next ][ Previous ] In reply to: Richard Brodie Next in thread: Richard Brodie

Richard,

>3. Is it faith if you believe something without evidence, or do you have to
>believe something IN SPITE OF evidence?
[...]
>3. It's a difference of degree. Faith is more like not wanting to look at
>evidence; the issue is closed in other words.

I don't ask for evidence for things that appeal to my intuition or common sense. Is this faith? By a certain definition of the word perhaps, but if so, the word becomes almost meaningless. It is overloaded. The same word is used to describe "this chair will hold me" and "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." By the way, do you see a qualitative difference between these phrases?

Another question for you: After somebody sees evidence for a phenomenon, are they exercising faith when they believe that the phenomenon is real?

• [ Next ][ Previous ] In reply to: Richard Brodie Next in thread: Richard Brodie