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Xenophanes' Protest Against Anthropomorophic Religion

ThePhilosopherFromDixie December 06, 2016 at 22:56 3100 views 3 comments
Howdy folks. I have a video that I thought that you guys would enjoy. Basically, it's an analysis and extension of Xenophanes' negative theology.

Do we have any Xenophanes fans on the forum?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwUZQ6DAd8k

Comments (3)

Terrapin Station December 07, 2016 at 15:29 #37391
A lot of your argument is based on likelihood. What are you basing likelihood on? (For example, when you comment that dog-gods, pug-gods etc. are unlikely)
Ciceronianus December 07, 2016 at 16:07 #37393
Quoting ThePhilosopherFromDixie
Do we have any Xenophanes fans on the forum


"One god greatest among gods and men,
not at all like mortals in body or in thought."

He's admirable in many ways, yes.

ThePhilosopherFromDixie December 07, 2016 at 21:06 #37409
Terrapin:

It's each additional addition that makes it progressively more unlikely. I had in mind the Sam Harris interview on The Young Turks.

Basically, he argues in the following way:

There is likehood x of Jesus coming back (as Christians claim). The likelihood decreases if you add that not only is He coming back, but that he's coming back to x location (Jacksonville, MS, if I recall correctly as the Mormon claim).

Likewise, the likelihood decreases the more additions you add.

God -> gods -> dog gods -> pug dog dogs -> pug dog gods who eat kibble and chase postal workers.

Admittedly, this "unlikely" argument isn't directly from Xenophanes. It's more an extension of what he's arguing.

I think, at its core, the bit that's really Xenophanes' directly is the psychological projection bit.