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From: rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Professor Wagstaff)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Rosen on reason, etc.
Message-ID: <749@pyuxd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Mar-85 20:51:50 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxd.749
Posted: Fri Mar 22 20:51:50 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Mar-85 03:51:35 EST
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Organization: Huxley College
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> you keep missing it. There are some things that we do not know because
> we don't have enough information (but we might get it some day). There
> are other things that it is simply impossible to ever know. The assumption
> that ``all things are knowable'' (if not at the present time, then at
> least in some possible future time) is as much an act of faith as anything
> else.  [LAURA]

Gee, this is funny.  Am I assuming that "all things are knowable" (I never
said that) when I refer to things we don't have enough information about?
Or are YOU assuming something when you *assert* that there ARE (!!!) some
things that it IS simply IMPOSSIBLE to ever know?  I don't know if that's
true, so I keep seeking and learning.  You assume that it is true, so
what do you do?  Do you stop at a certain point and say "the rest I will
picture the way I like because we can NEVER know this?"  It's funny because
you're doing exactly what I've been accusing so many others of doing.  Looks
like you're not that different, and perhaps your belief systems should be
classified with the same name.  :-?

> Do tell me what knowledge you will need to know before you can tell me
> why we have a law of gravity at all? Saying that asking why to such a
> fact presupposes a creator will not wash -- what you are saying is that
> ``the universe is that way and it does not have to justify itself''
> which is okay as an answer, but also what I was saying earlier.

The answer does not only wash, it cleans and brightens and softens as well.
I'm not seeking a justification or reason for the way the universe is,
precisely because I don't assume that it was designed to be that way.  We have
no reason to speculate on design plans or reasons here.  Unless we assume a
designer.
-- 
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, you'll suffer.
 Superstition ain't the way."		Rich Rosen  ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr