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Comments by Fiziker


1. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Comment #198317 by Fiziker on June 23, 2008 at 2:49 pm

I can't believe Mr. Conductor is dead. I also can't believe they let the author of "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television". But most importantly for him, he couldn't believe--I certainly hope God doesn't have access to HBO or YouTube.

See you in hell, George. You'll be missed.

2. Flea of the week

Comment #163551 by Fiziker on April 18, 2008 at 1:52 pm

The titles are getting worse and worse. I guess all of the good parodies were already taken.

3. Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

Comment #146252 by Fiziker on March 18, 2008 at 8:24 pm

I've been meaning to read one of his books. I was hoping to start before he died. Oh well.

I can always wait for "magic" capable of bringing him back before I start reading.

4. Satellite shows Saturn moon might have rings

Comment #139921 by Fiziker on March 6, 2008 at 6:38 pm

"Flyby pictures taken in 2005" and now it is being reported?

These things take time.

5. Please Call Earth. We Still Haven't Found You.

Comment #137641 by Fiziker on March 3, 2008 at 9:36 am

What I found very odd was when a friend of mine, who is very religious, said that she'd really like to see extraterrestrial life discovered. If that life is intelligent, the theologians are going to have a hard time coming up with a rationalization for the absence of a reptilian Jesus (although they've faced of worse).

On another note: I've seen Seth Shostak claim that I thinks that extraterrestrial intelligence will be discovered by 2025. I think he's very likely to be wrong, but I'd love him to be right.

6. The argument from oranges

Comment #128255 by Fiziker on February 16, 2008 at 4:07 pm

The classic argumentum ad citrum fallacy, a subset of the ever so popular argumentum ad fructum.

7. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #111449 by Fiziker on January 14, 2008 at 4:25 pm

You've had wonderful accomplishments so far in life. Best of luck in accomplishing another with the surgery.

8. What is the role of free will to an atheist?

Comment #98468 by Fiziker on December 13, 2007 at 5:10 pm

if when you are in time depends on where you are in space, as well as your speed through spacetime, then haven't our choices "already" been made?


Exactly. That is why this is a simple matter of one's definition of what free will is. The definition that requires the Cartesian Theater (I just heard Dan Dennett use that term for the first time) is incorrect and depending on how else you construct your definition then the answer is yes or maybe.

9. What are your qualifications to question religion anyway? Just who are you?

Comment #98409 by Fiziker on December 13, 2007 at 2:58 pm

Diacanu-

At the very least debating dolphins might be more constructive than some (although not all) human theists. However, regardless of his followers playfulness, the Great Porpoise is fiction--although an omnipotent cetacean would be very interesting.

USA_Limey-

I don't like what these pages do to the RSS feed but I just thought I'd comment on how you are annoyed how they mess up the 'latest visitor comments' section and yet your comment has done what you find irritating.

10. What is the role of free will to an atheist?

Comment #98355 by Fiziker on December 13, 2007 at 2:04 pm

I agree fully with the statements of rnewson. The lack of free will, at least in the sense needed by theists is a great problem for those you talk of gods ready to punish you for your actions.

I really dislike question, do we have free will? What does one mean by free will!? We are simply atoms (not eliminates but uncuttable particles) interacting in the void. Everything happens based on the laws of physics, without inherent meaning &c. This results in me being able to make decisions. We have free will in that we make decisions--although those decisions are ultimately the result of particle interactions--and we don't have free will in that there are no homunculi inside our heads. There is no real answer because free will has no definite meaning.

11. What are your qualifications to question religion anyway? Just who are you?

Comment #98343 by Fiziker on December 13, 2007 at 1:47 pm

Tom Morris wrote:

A human being


Not to nitpick but I would be more general than that. Any being of enough sapience would be capable of questioning religion. In fact, a nonhuman might be even better because it would more dispassionate about the subject then most humans are. All anyone needs is to know the facts about the subject and be able to critically reason.