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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank
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To: Neocon who wrote (69166)12/3/2002 11:11:11 AM
From: The Philosopher  Read Replies (1) of 82486
 
Ah. Now we're getting somewhere.

Yes, I think that mattering exists independently of minds contemplating it. I do not think it has to do with "caring", I think it has to do with making a material, or substantial, difference.

Okay.

Every single difference makes a substantial difference to something. You can't name me a difference that doesn't make a substantial difference to something. So if we accept your reasoning, every difference is important, and there is no such thing as a trivial difference. So when you used the term "important difference" it was an oxymoron, you should have left out the term important because it added nothing but confusion to the argument.

If that is your thesis, that every single difference is important not because humans think it is but because it makes a material or substantial difference to something, then we can have agreement. But then the term importance becomes meaningless and useless in that context, and it was careless of you to use it.
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