Ask an atheist

[ciphergoth]

In a discussion about religion in wildeabandon's journal, meihua writes: "this seems to have turned into me interrogating you. [...] Is there anything you'd like to challenge me on, instead?"

I think it's only fair enough to open up my own beliefs to the challenges of others, since I'm always keen to respond when theists invite me to give my perspective on some aspect of their beliefs as wildeabandon has in a series of recent posts. So, is there anything you'd like me to respond to?

Rules:

• You don't have to read this thread. This post is an invitation, not a challenge; if you don't like to read me talking about this then feel free to skip this.
• Be honest. Please don't advance arguments you don't personally buy, unless you're also an atheist and you want to discuss how best to counter it.
• If you come to change your mind about the validity of an argument, think about how you can generalise the lesson learned so as not to misassess similar arguments in future.
• Don't just match the politeness of what you reply to, but try to exceed it - see Postel's Law. Otherwise it is very easy to end up with a thread where each contributor thinks they are merely matching the snark level of the other, and yet the thread starts with the very slightest suggestion of rudeness and finishes with "please choke on a bucket of cocks".

Comments

Rational argument as good belief-forming mechanism

[jhg.livejournal.com]

You make an important point that this is an assumption.

It's an imperative (from the word should), and I'm not sure that any argument can really be made for it morally, only that it seems to be a good, reliable belief-forming mechanism that serves us well as individuals, as groups and as a species.

I am aware that this argument is subject to the problem of induction, but isn't everything?

Re: Rational argument as good belief-forming mechanism

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

You're trying to make a rational argument for rational argument?

Re: Rational argument as good belief-forming mechanism

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Certainly.

Rational behaviour (if I may use that shorthand for a complex series of belief-forming mechanisms and the behaviour they tend to give rise to) has served us very well over the ages, indeed it's made us the top species on the planet.

It also, generally, serves individuals well in achieving their ends.

...

You may call the above a rational argument, and I'll gladly take the compliment.

But if it is, so what?

Not all circularity is vicious.

Re: Rational argument as good belief-forming mechanism

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's useful to see how we come to be equipped with mechanisms for making halfway sensible decisions sometimes, but what I mean is that if someone says "Why should I let myself be persuaded by rational argument?" there's no answering them.