Relativist

The hypothesis needs further testing. I suggest you help elect Bernie Sanders to test whether the stress this induces in conservatives results in thei...

I think it's a product of the pedagogy of mathematics, physics, logic and some related fields. We're taught that triangles and laws of physics (expres...

I disagree with describing it "narrow". It is parsimonious, but leaves nothing unaccounted for. It's reasonable to methodologically treat abstractions...

Distance exists in the real world as an ontic relation between two objects (two states of affairs) separated in space. Time exists as an ontic relatio...

Mathematical models don't entail the independent existence of platonic entities. Consider the simple case of the relations between electrons and proto...

OK, so you think it extremely important that people start taking Medicare for All seriously. I presume you believe that this provides the optimal path...

Zero is second order: it is conceived as a negative fact, like removing the apples from a basket, one by one, ultimately leaving 0 apples. Negative fa...

You do realize that Medicare for All will not pass even if Sanders is elected, right? Are you just interested in getting the idea taken seriously, wit...

The article states: "In fact, unless inflation went on for a truly infinite amount of time, or the Universe was born infinitely large, the Universe ou...

The first article showed that, according to accepted physics, spatial extension can only be infinite if there is an infinite past - that's why I focus...

Your suggesting that: since concrete objects entail abstract objects, that all abstract objects entail concrete objects. That does not follow; it comm...

Yes, I assume that the images in our mind are different from the objects beyond our minds. Only you have access to your mind's contents; the content i...

Each TV has its own set of pixel producing devices, and while you and I may perceive nearly identical images, the images in my brain are in MY brain, ...

You have described an uncomp!etable task,not an existent. Negative facts do not establish what exists. We can abstractly consider geometrical objects ...

I'm not insisting that only physical objects have existence - I'm open to other possibilities, but I suggest we should be parsimonious in our assumpti...

Only in your mind, because you're considering the possible presence of apples on the table. Suppose there were oranges and bananas on the table. The n...

Physics will never be able to prove the past is infinite, all it can possibly do is to show that no past boundary of time has been found. Thanks for t...

Setting aside the question of what quailia are, colors are first order - we consider objects that are red, and abstract redness from the memory of tho...

One of my focuses is whether or not physicalism is true. Each of the 4 questions you raised are pertinent to that question. If physicalism is true: 1)...

Indeed the Way of Abstraction is grounded in the real world: first order abstractions are mental creations formed by considering several similar (actu...

I was referring to that fact that infinity is not a number that is mapped to. That fact doesn't entail an upper bound. And yet, if space is finite, it...

You disagree with foundationalism, but do you have any other particular system for evaluating the reasonableness of your beliefs, and the beliefs of o...

You are giving weight to changing the "status quo" and it seems you are saying Bernie, and only Bernie can possibly do that. What specific status quo ...

That seems to suggest he did not believe there are laws of nature, because these entail necessitation. Perhaps he had a Humean view of regularities ra...

I don't think anyone, or any group, has rigged it. Nature is taking its course, and voter complacency (regardless of reason for it) helps define the c...

It's a de facto ologarchy, but one can't just blame the "oligarchs". The populace has the power, but to exercise it they'd have to take the time and m...

There are components of the future that are determinate, for example: the positions of the planets with respect to the sun, at this exact time tomorro...

The odds are against governments eliminating the problem, but there's a good chance governments can produce meaningful benefits - so it's wothwhile to...

I can respect the libertarian principle that less is best for government, even though I don't embrace it. But where collective action is needed, like ...

Sure, but intuitively - A and B have equal, independent ontological status, and his approach doesn't seem to acknowledge that. Instead, it treats that...

That judgment depends on what your priorities are. What happens to them in the likely event that he's ineffectual?

You have a good point but I think Plantinga might argue that a "proper functioning" person cannot sensibly doubt God's existence.

Trump has shifted the status quo toward xenophobia, racism, and celebrating inequality, and that will only get worse in a second term. And I seriously...

On the contrary, Plantinga claims that most people DO have direct exprerience - a sense of divinity that produces beliefs about God: The sensus divini...

By opposing any Green New Deal, does that mean you oppose any government interventiions that are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions? If yes, d...

That seems problematic, since it makes existence relative, and both A and B have being.

Hypothetically, suppose there are 2 "universes" (A and B), the products of independent big bangs, but separated by sufficient space (or dimensionally)...

Sure, Trump's a symptom of a cancer, but another term will mean it's metastasizing. Metaphors aside, see my prior posts for some of my biggest concern...

Here's a few biggies: He would be likely to appoint a replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsberg who will have a similar judicial philosophy, and thus retain...

You can use whatever definition you like for purposes of your discussion. I was just making a general comment not directly related to what you were sa...

As far as I can tell, he'd be a significant improvement. Is there anything about Blomberg you"d like to ensure I'm aware of?

OK, but that definition of "miracle" doesn't seem very useful. It's useful to have a term that distingushes between events that are physically possibl...

(1) is clearly rooted in a basic belief (no pun intended) (2) is rooted in basic belief only if there is a God who speaks to humans and we actually ha...

Yes, I see that I made an error when I asked, "Why think miracles" possible? " and then shifting to "live" possibility. Sorry. But personally, I lean ...

There are no consciousness to consciousness connections. You speak words your mind has formulated, the spoken words are transmitted through the air as...

Mind independent ABSTRACT objects, right? The abstraction "triangle" that exists in your brain is spatially located in your brain, so it is not the id...

That is the general problem with foundationalism. Plantinga addresses this by arguing that beliefs that are "basic in the proper way" (i.e. properly b...

Not really. The relations between consciousnesses seems indirect.

No, because the structural properties exist only in the objects that have them. Platonism would entail their existence independent of those objects.

I agree, but we can still analyse any specific belief to determine whether or not it is warranted. A belief that is fully wartanted would rely only on...