We are not skeptics.
Cool-mindedly evaluating possible truth situations does not require
that one start off with a bias, a prejudice, a predisposition toward disbelieving
anything that sits outside of one's base of understanding and knowledge
of reality. It does not require that one reject anything that can't be
seen, smelled, or scientifically repeated. Human sense is obviously limited
in scope, and science is limited in both scope of applicability and level
of advancement. Science cannot encompass anything that is not deliberately
repeatable. It cannot encompass anything that is not measurable with state-of-the-art
equipment. It allows us to sense things outside of our natural sensory
ranges, but it is still, to the core, founded on the human sensory modality
and what reality looks like from our perspective and what basic aspects
of reality we have incontrovertible perception of. It is a castle built
from there. It does not have Truth cornered.
If you type to me that you are wearing a red shirt, I will naturally
believe you unless I have a specific reason not to, science having little
to do with this kind of truth discerning. Matters more significant than
the color of one's shirt should be treated just as lightly, if one is to
remain objective. Why should one in daily life accept truths on all kinds
of basis not directly related to science, and then in matters of actual
significance claim that science is the sole proprietor of Truth?
Re evaluation, it does not require that one disbelieve something on
the basis that it seems extraordinary. If 500 people told you they saw
a ghost, each time you could disbelieve it because you had never known
a ghost to exist, but understand that using that excuse the 500th time
hinges on having used the excuse the 499th time, which hinges on having
used it the 498th time, etc. In the end, all of the theories that you had
to assume must be true of why each story is invalid (the person is lying,
the person hallucinated, the person exaggerated events in his head, etc.,
or the assumption that one of these had to be the case) add up to a lot
more assumptions and going out on a limb, than if you had simply accepted
that ghosts exist to begin with. Occam's razor cuts both ways. The paranormal
is not typically observed (including under scientifically controlled conditions),
for the very reason that it is para-normal. It is by definition the category
of those phenomena that are elusive or unlikely. It doesn't mean that they
don't exist. There exists in reality a spectrum of phenomena in all dimensions,
including those of human familiarity and understanding.
We do not debate just for the sake of Being Right, of arguing.
We understand that whatever we believe is true, there are reasons that
we believe it, and if another dissents, there are reasons for that too.
In a typical philosophical debate, one starts with an affirmative statement
of some kind and another retaliates, and the first retalitates that retaliation,
and so on, and each side will take specific positions as the thread goes
on just because they are or appear to be (per the adversary's coaxing)
the only positions
self-consistent with the original statement. Or, more
accurately, with the previous statement, as usually the original statement
has been completely lost by the time the argument settles down into oblivion
(with nothing resolved). The thread is forgotten, the loose branches are
ignored in favor of a one-dimensional flow, and the the cascade implications
of various wins and losses in sub-battles are not traversed. And most of
the conversation is not a true reflection of the actual reasons why one
side believes one thing or another, it is a creative process, each side
taking turns trying to find (invent) flaws in the other side's threats.
In #Truth the goal is that each side knows exactly and honestly why
the other believes what s/he does. The reasons do not have to bear the
pretense of being absolutely infallible. Ascertaining truth is not a perfect
science! But it can be a much more effective process when honesty is the
policy, as two minds are better than one (or two bent on sophistically
subverting one another).
And three minds are better than two. It is encouraged that ALL
present (sense 2) opinions are laid out on the table. Wins and losses aren't
the ends; The Truth is, and the more input the better. Ideally, we should
resolve specific truths (answers to questions, evaluations of oracular
websites, plausibility of users' opinions) as a group, and discuss
and discuss until we come upon an agreed answer/judgment, or at least
an agreement to disagree for reasons that are completely and mutually understood.
Founders:
Ayiel ()
LuxLucis
Rules of the channel:
No flooding.
This doesn't mean you can't say a lot at once or paste something that
is relevant and/or interesting, but if you flood for the sole purpose of
attention/disruption, you will be banned until the seas run dry.
Please regard the intent of the forum and respect others. Insulting other members of the channel will get you warned, slapped on the wrist, etc.
Live, learn, and have fun. =)