The Roles of Logic and Science in Questions of Theology

The upper-crust forum for scholarly, polite, and respectful discussions only. Heavily moderated. Rated G.
Post Reply
_JAK
_Emeritus
Posts: 1593
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:04 pm

Re: The Roles of Logic and Science in Questions of Theology

Post by _JAK »

Calculus Crusader wrote:
marg wrote:
Calculus Crusader wrote:
Without formal logic 'anything goes,' which is not acceptable to me.


It turns out my weekend is when I won't be able to access the Net.

You stated that logic is essential to theology. I don't see any justification for the "essential" part. JAK has pointed out to you and you might respond to him later, that value derived from logic is dependent upon reliable assumptions. In science there are scientific natural laws assumed because they hold up under testing and objective evaluation. It's a possibility they might be overturned in the future. But theories rest upon these scientific laws as the basic assumptions and build upon them. So science is logical in that way.

In theology the basic assumptions of the supernatural do not hold up to testing and objective evaluation. So those assumptions have no basis for merit as being actually true. JAK says it well "After many assumptions, theology may argue some causal link. The problem is that the initial assumptions were truth by assertion. Hence, applying “logic” following faulty assumptions really means we have no logic or we have flawed logic."


I accept Gödel's Ontological Argument as valid and work from there.


God is not established. (Above) In what you accept, God is assumed.

So from that leap of irrational claim “anything goes.” You make up what you like. Others with whom you disagree but also make a leap of irrational claim, and they have other things that go.

You can make it up, or you can accept someone else’s myth.

JAK
_Calculus Crusader
_Emeritus
Posts: 1495
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:52 am

Re: The Roles of Logic and Science in Questions of Theology

Post by _Calculus Crusader »

JAK wrote:
Calculus Crusader wrote:
marg wrote:
Calculus Crusader wrote:
Without formal logic 'anything goes,' which is not acceptable to me.


It turns out my weekend is when I won't be able to access the Net.

You stated that logic is essential to theology. I don't see any justification for the "essential" part. JAK has pointed out to you and you might respond to him later, that value derived from logic is dependent upon reliable assumptions. In science there are scientific natural laws assumed because they hold up under testing and objective evaluation. It's a possibility they might be overturned in the future. But theories rest upon these scientific laws as the basic assumptions and build upon them. So science is logical in that way.

In theology the basic assumptions of the supernatural do not hold up to testing and objective evaluation. So those assumptions have no basis for merit as being actually true. JAK says it well "After many assumptions, theology may argue some causal link. The problem is that the initial assumptions were truth by assertion. Hence, applying “logic” following faulty assumptions really means we have no logic or we have flawed logic."


I accept Gödel's Ontological Argument as valid and work from there.


God is not established. (Above) In what you accept, God is assumed.

So from that leap of irrational claim “anything goes.” You make up what you like. Others with whom you disagree but also make a leap of irrational claim, and they have other things that go.

You can make it up, or you can accept someone else’s myth.

JAK


Wrong. Gödel defines a God-like being, sets forth some axioms, then proceeds to prove such a being exists.
Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei

(I lost access to my Milesius account, so I had to retrieve this one from the mothballs.)
_Livingstone22
_Emeritus
Posts: 117
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:05 am

Re: The Roles of Logic and Science in Questions of Theology

Post by _Livingstone22 »

JAK wrote:
marg wrote:
There is a kind of logic in that. Of course it’s flawed in that the various assumptions made prior to the because statement were not logical. They were not derived from observation of evidence.

The various God claims were not made from rational exploration (logical study) of anything. Rather, they were invented. So causal links in theology are flawed in that they come from assertions which are not established.

When someone argues that logic is essential to theology, they short-circuit the logical process which we use in analysis and study today.

Yes, one can argue that logic is essential to theology.

However, if we press those who argue that, soon we find they are making claims which were not arrived at by rational investigation.

Many places in religion, theologians argue because for something.

Only if theologians are permitted all the claims and assumptions they want can they say they use logic.

Sorry you don’t have time to discuss presently, but it’s quite understandable.

JAK


Perhaps you misunderstand what logic really is. Logic doesn't come from observations or even true premises--a statement can be logically valid and have false premises. If the premises are true, and the argument is logically valid, the conclusion has also to be true. If the premises are false, and the argument is logically valid, then the conclusion is probably also false. If the premises are true, and the argument is not logically valid, then the conclusion may or may not be true--but by no virtue of the argumantal structure....the same if the premises are false and the argument is not logically valid. A logically valid argument is one that convinces people of the truth of a conclusion based on their accepted premises--but that doesn't have any bearing on what is actually true. A good argument, on the other hand, does have true premises (and is logically valid) and therefore necessarily leads to a true conclusion.

"Rational investigations," on the other hand, you may have a point about.
_JAK
_Emeritus
Posts: 1593
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:04 pm

Re: The Roles of Logic and Science in Questions of Theology

Post by _JAK »

Livingstone22 wrote:
JAK wrote:
There is a kind of logic in that. Of course it’s flawed in that the various assumptions made prior to the because statement were not logical. They were not derived from observation of evidence.

The various God claims were not made from rational exploration (logical study) of anything. Rather, they were invented. So causal links in theology are flawed in that they come from assertions which are not established.

When someone argues that logic is essential to theology, they short-circuit the logical process which we use in analysis and study today.

Yes, one can argue that logic is essential to theology.

However, if we press those who argue that, soon we find they are making claims which were not arrived at by rational investigation.

Many places in religion, theologians argue because for something.

Only if theologians are permitted all the claims and assumptions they want can they say they use logic.

Sorry you don’t have time to discuss presently, but it’s quite understandable.

JAK


Perhaps you misunderstand what logic really is. Logic doesn't come from observations or even true premises--a statement can be logically valid and have false premises. If the premises are true, and the argument is logically valid, the conclusion has also to be true. If the premises are false, and the argument is logically valid, then the conclusion is probably also false. If the premises are true, and the argument is not logically valid, then the conclusion may or may not be true--but by no virtue of the argumantal structure....the same if the premises are false and the argument is not logically valid. A logically valid argument is one that convinces people of the truth of a conclusion based on their accepted premises--but that doesn't have any bearing on what is actually true. A good argument, on the other hand, does have true premises (and is logically valid) and therefore necessarily leads to a true conclusion.

"Rational investigations," on the other hand, you may have a point about.


Logic does not begin with the syllogism.

A faulty major premise contaminates logic. A “valid form” does not make for a reliable conclusion.

Example:

All women are stupid.
marg is a woman.
marg is stupid

The “valid form” does not make for a logically sound argument.

It is not established that All women are stupid.

Failure to establish the major premise makes anything which follows unreliable as my example illustrates.

Livingstone22 stated:
Logic doesn't come from observations or even true premises--a statement can be logically valid and have false premises.


Incorrect. You write as if logic (or logical thinking) begins with a major premise. Logic is comprehensive. Logic includes the inductive process which leads to a conclusion used as a major premise.

A major premise which is flawed or wrong was not constructed by use of logic.

Livingstone22 stated:
A logically valid argument is one that convinces people of the truth of a conclusion based on their accepted premises--but that doesn't have any bearing on what is actually true.


The statement is a very narrow application of “valid.” The most important part of your statement is the last: “but that doesn't have any bearing on what is actually true.”

Hence in totality, we don’t have logic by your own admission in this statement.

Livingstone22 stated:
A good argument, on the other hand, does have true premises (and is logically valid) and therefore necessarily leads to a true conclusion.


No parenthetical relevance here. “Good” is subjective more than is accurate, correct, or established through evidence.

Rational investigation begins at the start. It’s pajorative to suggest that logic begins with a {major premise}. And, it’s false.

It appears to me that you fail to appreciate what “logic” is as I have detailed here.

On a previous post of yours, you purport: “Gödel defines a God-like being, sets forth some axioms, then proceeds to prove such a being exists.”

The problem is a clear absence of objectivity.

“...such a being exists” is not established by Gödel.

Gödel “defines”
Gödel “sets forth some axioms”
Gödel “proceeds to prove such a being (God) exists”

No objective, transparent, peer reviewed, testing here by other philosophers.

No evidence has been established “to prove (God) exists.

It’s a word-game which you apparently fail to recoginze.

Livingstone22 stated:
I accept Gödel's Ontological Argument as valid and work from there.


Your acceptance is fallacious. The very entity to be established by proof is actually assumed. God this, God that -- If God this, then God that, etc. There is no genuine proof here. There is a single and biased source.

It argues God by default. That’s a fundamental flaw. And you accept it.

The problem is that the argument makes assumption. It assumes that it is possible for an omniscient rational individual to exist. That’s a leap to conclusion not established. It's assumed.

As you stated previously and I confirmed: Gödel “defines” God. His definition is not established in objective, logical fashion. To continue is pointless having failed objective, rational conclusion.

Gödel makes multiple assumptions which further errode his credibility with regard to proof for God.

His “if/then” construction is flawed as well.

To accept the ontological arguments of Gödel, requires an irrational leap. His ontological argument has often been said to ascertain God's existence by a philosophical sleight of hand or a ruse of words. Gödel’s arguments are flawed, if by nothing else, his assumptions absent evidence. The minutia of his arguments tends to be intimidating. In any case, they are not transparent and philosophers today do not accept (universally) his assumptions and application of those assumptions to agree with Gödel’s conclusion.

You are incorrect to: “accept Gödel's Ontological Argument as valid...”

JAK
_Calculus Crusader
_Emeritus
Posts: 1495
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:52 am

Re: The Roles of Logic and Science in Questions of Theology

Post by _Calculus Crusader »

JAK,

You are evidently ignorant of modal logic.
Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei

(I lost access to my Milesius account, so I had to retrieve this one from the mothballs.)
_JAK
_Emeritus
Posts: 1593
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:04 pm

Re: The Roles of Logic and Science in Questions of Theology

Post by _JAK »

Calculus Crusader wrote:JAK,

You are evidently ignorant of modal logic.


Failed refutation for analysis presented Sat. Aug. 25, 2007 3:20 pm.

modal logic

JAK
_Calculus Crusader
_Emeritus
Posts: 1495
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:52 am

Post by _Calculus Crusader »

JAK:

There is only one person versed in methods of proof between us and it ain't you. In mathematics, we first define something, then prove it exists based on a set of axioms; it is standard procedure, your inability to apprehend the logic of it notwithstanding.
Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei

(I lost access to my Milesius account, so I had to retrieve this one from the mothballs.)
_JAK
_Emeritus
Posts: 1593
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:04 pm

No Refutation, CC

Post by _JAK »

Calculus Crusader wrote:JAK:

There is only one person versed in methods of proof between us and it ain't you. In mathematics, we first define something, then prove it exists based on a set of axioms; it is standard procedure, your inability to apprehend the logic of it notwithstanding.


Continued failure to address and refute specific analysis. Posted Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:20 pm

Generalized assertions have no status.

You appear to prefer religious dogma (the resurrection myth in another post) and philosophical sleight of hand or a ruse of words to an academic rejoinder to the detailed analysis before you.

I’m skeptical that you read modal logic or that you comprehend its fatal flaws.

You continue to evade Post Sat. Aug. 25, 2007 3:20 pm

I can supply a long list of present-day philosophers and rational analysts who reject your mind-set.

JAK
_The Nehor
_Emeritus
Posts: 11832
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:05 am

Re: No Refutation, CC

Post by _The Nehor »

JAK wrote:I can supply a long list of present-day philosophers and rational analysts who reject your mind-set.


Can I be on that list? :)
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics
"I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
_Calculus Crusader
_Emeritus
Posts: 1495
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:52 am

Re: No Refutation, CC

Post by _Calculus Crusader »

JAK wrote:
You continue to evade Post Sat. Aug. 25, 2007 3:20 pm

JAK


Your post lacks substance and evinces ignorance of how formal logic works. You need to either prove the underlying modal logic is in error or dispute the axioms.
Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei

(I lost access to my Milesius account, so I had to retrieve this one from the mothballs.)
Post Reply