Comments by Brian English

Comment #210500 by Brian English on July 14, 2008 at 5:29 pm

Poor Augustine, not regarded as significant.

Comment #210498 by Brian English on July 14, 2008 at 5:24 pm

Radesq that's the trouble with Latin works, or Greek words given a Latin spin. :)

Just in case you were wondering
Posterior = towards the rear/behind (as in your posterior), that which comes later in time.
Analytics = duh
Sophitic = relating to the Sophists, what we'd call the spin doctors these days.
Enlenchi = refutations.

1103. The Politics of God

Comment #210495 by Brian English on July 14, 2008 at 5:20 pm

From IEP:

It is reported that Aristotle's writings were held by his student Theophrastus, who had succeeded Aristotle in leadership of the Peripatetic School. Theophrastus's library passed to his pupil Neleus. To protect the books from theft, Neleus's heirs concealed them in a vault, where they were damaged somewhat by dampness, moths and worms. In this hiding place they were discovered about 100 BCE by Apellicon, a rich book lover, and brought to Athens. They were later taken to Rome after the capture of Athens by Sulla in 86 BCE. In Rome they soon attracted the attention of scholars, and the new edition of them gave fresh impetus to the study of Aristotle and of philosophy in general. This collection is the basis of the works of Aristotle that we have today. Strangely, the list of Aristotle's works given by Diogenes Laertius does not contain any of these treatises. It is possible that Diogenes' list is that of forgeries compiled at a time when the real works were lost to sight.

1104. The Politics of God

Comment #210493 by Brian English on July 14, 2008 at 5:14 pm

Laurie, I mean according to tradition, Aristotle's works were lost. He taught in the Lyceum. Then after he died his manuscripts went to a nephew or student or someone. Then they disappeared. They were supposedly rediscovered a few centuries later in a cave. A bit the worse for wear. Then they were translated into Latin.

1105. The Politics of God

Comment #210491 by Brian English on July 14, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Carto, I'd think you'd need more than reasonable Latin wouldn't you? You'd need a good working knowledge of medieval Latin I'd imagine.

1106. The Politics of God

Comment #210486 by Brian English on July 14, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Laurie, Aristotle was 'lost' for a few hundred years. Neo-platonism reigned for a while, that's why Augustine was neo-platonic. Platonism is sort of amenable to Christian doctrine with it's use of non-temporal perfect forms, from where we get the ideas of a perfect love. In Plato's republic, gods were to be perfect, above human failings. Also Plato gave us a good description of souls going to Hell or heaven....

1107. The Politics of God

Comment #210485 by Brian English on July 14, 2008 at 4:50 pm

Latest dispatches:
http://philosophicalneuron.blogspot.com/2008/07/science-fiction.html

1108. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #210116 by Brian English on July 14, 2008 at 1:01 am

Though unless he meant his statement to be taken as anything other than an assertion, I don't think he was begging the question.

But the point that MPhil made was from the point of view of a Catholic who believes it's more than a cracker, it is begging the question. This doesn't change just because it's not begging the question when read by atheists....

1109. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #210094 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 11:29 pm

Mitchell. Do you really think PZ was just offering an opinion and didn't meant to tell Catholics that their beliefs are crazy? Why offer the opinion?

1110. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #210057 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 8:17 pm

Bruce is refuting the other Bruce's attempt to provide support for the Platonic sheep dip I believe. Some error in his conception of the rouse-a-bout.

1111. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #210047 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Thanks Laurie. I was just channeling David Robertson. He seems to think that anybody who asks for evidence is a logical positivist....

1112. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #210045 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 7:47 pm

But then it would begin to sublimate

That's the word I was looking for! Sublimination. Cool. It's been 15 years since I did any geology. That was probably the last time I'd heard of it.

1113. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #210043 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 7:42 pm

Evidence Laurie? Bah, you logical positivists and your verification principle! It's all evidence, evidence, evidence. Can't you just feel it in your heart? :P

I'm leaving one Wednesday. I should be safe from hearing about World indoctrination week and Darth Ratzinger then.

Quine, I think it will rattle a few people who haven't really given their beliefs much justification. We can hope....

1114. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #210036 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 7:32 pm

I think you're right Laurie. If the person is inclined to persuasion by argument. If the person is a dogmatic nutter then you'll have your work cut out for you. :)

I'm not sure you can prove or disprove transubstantiation by the way. It's just postulated, and so long as it's not internally contradictory, it is untouchable. I could be wrong on that though.

1115. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #210031 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 7:21 pm

Excuse my potty humor Scot. I'd have thought with the Martian atmosphere being no where near as dense as Earths that water would go straight to vapor when exposed.

1116. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #210024 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 7:11 pm

Metaphysics sucks sometimes. You can postulate anything and so long as it's internally consistent, it can't be falsified because it's untouchable by experience or measurement.

Occams razor only appeals to people who value parsimony. People who value a world for of fairies, ghosts, or whatnot won't see the virtue in the ol' razor.

1117. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #210022 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Therefore, it seems to me special pleading before it could be repacked as begging the question.

I've not explained myself well as normal. If a Catholic holds that the Eucharist has the substance of Jeebus, then just saying it's a cracker begs the question against him. The issue to be proven is its just a cracker when arguing against him. It doesn't mean you're wrong, but that you'd need to argue with him that it's a cracker.
For example, you may hold that the sun is a giant nuclear furnace in which explosive expansion is stabilized by gravitational attraction. Someone else my walk up to you and say 'no it's not, it's Amun Ra on his sky chariot'. Wouldn't he be begging the question against you? You've got arguments to support your supposition, you'd like him to show those arguments wrong first, then show that Amun Ra exits, etc. I guess for the Catholic, you'd have to show first that the idea of insubstantial substances (Aristotelean mumbo) is wrong before he'd accept it's just a cracker. Of course, you can just tell him he's wrong, without argumentation and he'll ignore you because you've begged the question. If you're trying to show someone they're wrong, it's probably more convincing to argue why than just assert it.

That probably made no sense.

1118. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #210019 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 6:56 pm

Finally, think about the state of the Martian atmosphere and ask yourself what would happen if large amounts of liquid water were exposed at the surface. I'm sure Txpiper has a firm grasp on basic thermodynamics, so this problem should be trivial.

Something similar to what happens when I eat a lot of beans? That is, a lot of gas?

1119. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #209992 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 5:47 pm

I agree with Steve and MPhil*. If a religious believer holds that proposition X occurs. To deny proposition X without arguments is to beg the question as far as the believer is concerned....The religious person isn't arguing that you hold his belief to be true, only that s/he does. So, for you convince the person otherwise, you need to show that proposition X is wrong, not just assume that stating it concludes the argument...

*It's always wise to agree with those two guys, unless you have a watertight argument. :)

1120. Pope confirms sexual abuse apology

Comment #209673 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 1:30 am

I'll be in Fiji on the 19th. So, moon the Pope for me Laurie thanks. :)

1121. Pope confirms sexual abuse apology

Comment #209666 by Brian English on July 13, 2008 at 1:07 am

It must be clear ... that being a real priest is incompatible with this (sexual abuse) because priests are in the service of our Lord.

No true Scotsman?

1122. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209154 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 4:32 pm

You're probably right Sciros, but if all he gets every time he posts is evidence of his own lack of logic, he may just give up. This seems more profitable to me than defending evolution and atheism against his irrational claims. Then we're on the back foot.

1123. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209151 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 4:26 pm

I just like to be a pain to them and repeat the same question. Turn about is fair play. Also, it puts the burden of proof onto them.

1124. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209145 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Come now ertu. Please be upfront on this question. It's very simple, and inline with your statements. Have you seen the designer of the universe designing this or any other universe?

1125. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209144 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 4:16 pm

ertu my friend. Now that you're back, perhaps you can answer this question which you avoided.
You say that we know that houses are designed because we see people designing houses. You also say that you know the universe is designed. This must be because you've seen the designer of the universe. Correct?

1126. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209129 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:51 pm

WE have to find a way to create a violence free society or we're all doomed.

False dilema Jiten.
We can find forms of interaction in societies that minimize violence and give the greatest amount of security and peace without excessive coercion. But to say we must eliminate all violence or we are all doomed is to ignore the middle that is possible.

1127. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209117 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:29 pm

Yeah, it will take a few generations to get the Aboriginals to the same level of opportunities I think. Your point about it being the cultural norm to share all you have is a good one. It drags down anybody who has a bit more. Sad.

1128. An Irishman's Diary

Comment #209107 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Hey, you're probably correct, but She complains to whomever seems right. Then again I got He went with Naomi and me wrong because I though it sounded too casual.....

1129. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209103 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Al, some men are more equal than others....

Goodnight.

1130. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209101 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:14 pm

Steve, simple translation: If it involves God, it must be true.
Simpler translation: God did it. :)

1131. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209097 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:13 pm

Him and his sockpuppet, God - heck, together they could probably even outsmart Stephen Fry.

Steve, I've read some objectionable comments on this site. Some have made my blood boil. But none have been as ludicrous as this. Smarter than Stephen Fry? Next you'll tell me that something can both be and not be.....

1132. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209095 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:11 pm

Good move, first burn up some calories, then replace the calories in the form of life giving beer.

1133. An Irishman's Diary

Comment #209094 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:10 pm

Sciros, isn't the will listen clause subordinate or something to the main clause She complains to and thus the subject is she, and the object is whom?

1134. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209086 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 3:01 pm

Time for a smoke now? It must be late over there. You should hit a bar or something.

1135. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209083 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Well, I'm Irish then! Bloody English oppressing us Irish. :D

Time to go to the Births,Deaths, Marriages office and get a name change.

How does Brian Irish sound?

1136. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209082 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:59 pm

I don't think we have a specific cut of point. It would be racist to ask someones racial identity so that the can receive racist money. ;)

1137. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209079 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:56 pm

fizhburn, if it's necessarily true, it's a tautology. The claim you're making is that you make it necessarily true, whereas I'm claiming God makes God necessarily true. :D

Al, I think you've shot your load :)

1138. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209077 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:53 pm

It's interesting that you say Obama is black, though his mum was white I believe. The same happens here with Aboriginals.

An person can call themselves Aboriginal when they have so little Aboriginal ancestry that they just look like they've stepped of the plane from Ireland for example. Why would someone do that? Because at various times, the governments have given lots of welfare (good money) to help out those of Aboriginal ethnicity. So having a great, great, great grandmum who was part Aboriginal can be lucrative. This hasn't helped of course. But, you end up with the absurdity of someone who's blond, blue eyed and pale skinned being called black like they were from Arnhem land and have never lived in a house.....In the US and here it seems like you're black even if 99.9% white, like white is some pure faction....weird....

1139. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209073 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:46 pm

fizhburn, what do my comments rate in your tripartite notion? Am I well, erhm, endowed in the inane sense?

1140. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209069 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:44 pm

fizhburn, I believe most deductivo-theists will assert that usage of the God connective # is tautological. It's not an epistemic claim in that it requires justification or a good beating of anybody who challenges the claim because you're a bad-ass. God is always logical, thus tautological. QED.

Al, That was a good description.

1141. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209064 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:39 pm

Steve, 1 = 2 for large values of 1. :)

1142. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209063 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:38 pm

Poor old wooter. Either brain dead, or a bad joke that won't end.

You're a sick puppy Al.

1143. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209062 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:36 pm

Good points. It is more like the native American's situation than the Afro-Americans. I dislike that part of the Afro-American culture that you see in gansta culture and the hip-hop videos. They seem to treat women as property and all that other shit you mention.

1144. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209058 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:33 pm

Al, is that the sword of Allah per chance?

1145. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209054 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:31 pm

Steve, I'm just developing a theistic deductive calculus. Fizhburn is more of a logico-biblical literalist, that is, it's logical because God said so.

1146. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209052 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Fishburn, my truth table demonstrates that any usage of the God connective involves a tautology.

1147. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209038 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:20 pm

Let's see:
1) The symbol phi stands for a sentence.
2) The symbols ~phi stand for a sentence that is the negation of phi.
3) The symbols (phi -> psi) stand for a sentence.
4) The symbols phi # psi stands for a sentence.

Thus, (A -> ~(B # C)) is a valid sentence

Derivation:
Show (A -> ~(B # C))
A (assumption of conditional)
Show ~(B # C)
Show B # C
B (assumption of god)
Therefore C (God did it!)

Truth table:
A B C B # C ~(B # C) A -> ~(B # C)
T T T___T_______T________T
T T F___T_______T________T
T F T___T_______T________T
T F F___T_______T________T
F T T___T_______T________T
F T F___T_______T________T
F F T___T_______T________T
F F F___T_______T________T

Thus demonstrating that any equation involving the assertion of God is a tautology and cannot be questioned!

1148. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #209035 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:17 pm

Yes fizhburn, but you've missed the beauty of a variable constant. It can't exist, like a certain deity....Still your connective is very cool. Can you develop a logical calculus with it?

1149. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #209031 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:12 pm

I have some mixed feelings about alternative action. I don't think charity works, but some people have been discriminated against for so long that there are not the pathways to success, even if there now is a level playfield. For example, here in OZ, the Aboriginals have much worse health and die much younger, many don't have great opportunities in education and live in abusive communities. If a smart aboriginal kid living in the outback or in a poor suburb in the city wants to go to Uni, the chances are very slim. We have government funded education (you pay a bit back through the taxation system), but the poor kid won't get to finish High school, so won't qualify for Uni and will probably end up with alcohol and social problems.

None of this is the kids fault. Aboriginals are on average as intelligent as the rest. The main reason is that they've been discriminated against since European settlement. They didn't get a vote and weren't even citizens until 40 years ago. They've always been excluded and marginalized. Things are a bit better now I suppose, but not much.

Affirmative action seems like it could help, if you don't think about it too deeply...

1150. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #209025 by Brian English on July 11, 2008 at 2:07 pm

Steve, it's standard practise. Provoke outrage, then claim the outraged party is the provoker and you're the innocent lambs who are being persecuted. Very clever. Muslim don't mind this either.