I'm not here to explain things to five year olds, I'm here to discuss
issues with people who can challenge my arguments. I'm fine with
answering questions, but we've gotten to the point where you've asked me
to explain the difference between describing one's bmindset vs
describing reality, how the scientific method tells us what's true, and
what makes A and not A the only two options.
If you want your arguments challenged, then you have to stress-test them. And one manner in which you can stress test your argument is through reduction. I'm doing nothing more than interrogating your position. Are you capable of explaining your arguments?
If you want to continue this conversation you need to participate in it.
I am participating in it by asking you questions about your position. Again, are you capable of explaining your arguments?
I've had the presuppositional apologetics debate
Where's the presuppositional apologism?
but not when I'm talking to someone who just keeps
asking "why" over and over again without offering anything.
If you have any questions about my position, or something I've stated, then feel free to ask.
You have my answers. Address them if you'd like to continue.
That's the thing you haven't given me answers. See:
I:
How does the scientific method help you determine what's real as opposed to what's not real?
You:
Ok, I'm really starting to wonder what the point of this
conversation is. The questions you are asking me are basic stuff, and
when I answer them you just keep asking more basic questions like a five
year old asking why over and over again.
If
there is a point to all this please make it. I'm not going to sit here
explaining how the scientific method helps us determine what's real. You
either understand that already or we have much bigger issues here.
I:
Yes, but you made it a point to argue a functional distinction
manifest in one's actions. So I'm trying to understand what actions are
theist, atheist, agnostic, etc. Case in point: could I not just argue
that a functional distinction between one who "lacks belief" and one who
"disbelieves" is that the former would sit in the pews of a church
"bored" while the latter would attend a Richard Dawkins "lecture"? Could
I not just as well argue that one who lacks belief would be just as
bored at a Richard Dawkins lecture? Your argument that there's no
functional distinction between one who "lack belief" and one who
"disbelieves" is a quantitative one, correct? Especially since we're
discussing actions?
And you didn't even follow up with a response.
I've already told you what I'm doing:
To understand your position, I'm engaging you in reduction--that
is, to reduce your argument to its barest and fundamental premise. I
assume that you understand the argument that the scientific method helps
us determine what's real, so why not explain it? If it helps, pretend
you're writing a paper on it. Who knows? Maybe explaining it can help
you have a better understanding of it as well.
That is to strip this discussion of all extraneous details until we reach your position's fundamental premise.
You have my answers. Address them if you'd like to continue.
I'm addressing them by asking you questions.