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Politics : Evolution -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: one_less who wrote (9423)	11/3/2010 9:22:24 PM
From: Solon	Respond to of 69300

How long has it been since I watched that! Nice to remember those shows. "Things that begin must have a beginning and be caused to begin." That is certainly possible. "Things that begin seem to have a beginning a middle and an end." That is also a practical view of the matter. So for the sake of argument let us assume (for this decade, at least) that things begin to exist and they then cease to exist. So if the universe was caused to come into existence, should we then anticipate that it must reach a middle and an end--and then go out of existence? This would, of course, include every last atom of matter, and it would include all the wandering spirits wandering about in limbo or New York. As we have absolutely no evidence of supernatural beings, we must posit the logical assumption that they would either cease with the universe or (should they somehow be "outside"? of the universe) they would be of no concern to us. "Things that are observable have limitations which qualify them as things." Well, I don't think their "limitations" qualify them. Ordinary existence qualifies them and us. As far as we know with our senses and our minds, everything which does not qualify as SOME--THING...is what is commonly referred to as NO--THING. As far as anyone knows, only things exist--but language is notoriously imprecise and it obstructs our thought, so perhaps... "The concepts of eternity and infinity are rational which opens the door for consideration of unlimited being." In what sense? Eternity and Infinity are human concepts. They are measurements of time and space. Or perhaps it is better to say they are non-measurements. I can wonder about infinity or I can wonder about aliens or I can wonder and imagine that one can become infinitely small and go through an infinity of sub-atomic universes (full of aliens) that never ever ever ever end. And so I have wondered about infinity, eternity, and aliens all at the same time and perhaps in the same direction. But my wonder does not help me solve the awesome questions of the universe. The truth is we could be dancing on an atom so keep your head up and stay graceful. "Experience may be based on logic but it is also filled with paradox, irony, chaos, ideas which are richly multifacited and phenomenalogical." Oh yeah...experience is like that... "Can two opposing ideas both be true ... of course they can." Probably not. If they seem true, then they are not mutually exclusive certainties. A person can be dead and alive in a metaphorical or symbolic understanding but if terms and details are sufficiently clarified to give precision to those logical exclusions, then the matter becomes clear. Indeed, your entire presentation of a logical set of premises for my enjoyment was predicated on the belief that we would be able to discuss the rational truth of those statements: You made your way to your computer knowing that A was A and B was B and when you started to type you presumed you could communicate something real in a real world. Wouldn't it be terrible if no-one could see you or hear you or know you--and they passed right through you and vice-versa? Anyhow, when people are standing on a high balcony or stepping in front of cement trucks they all seem to have a perfectly clear (and remarkably consistent) understanding of what is going on in the world around them. "Dr Zorba was cool." Agree wholeheartedly.