Rational beliefs should be able to withstand scrutiny and opposing arguments. The inability to do so indicates that the belief is more about personal bias and emotional investment rather than objective analysis.

  • Bolt@lemmy.world
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    16 days ago

    It’s not controversial to accept that all reasoning requires making some basic assumptions. You do understand that I’m just pointing out that a counter-argument exists and I don’t actually take it to be damning. It is the same as in all fields; there are assumptions. We assume non-contradiction and an excluded middle. This is reasonable because we can’t do much without the assumption. You can call it a properly basic belief. But that doesn’t make it objectively true. A person who doesn’t make these assumptions—if one exists—could be ridiculed, called less than nothing, even. Such a person could form no coherent views. So? I agree that all useful though must make these presupposition. But perceived utility does not a truth make.

    Listing philosophers doesn’t do much. I’ll freely admit to not having read much of theirs, and I certainly won’t consume their corpora for an internet discussion. However I would be delighted to learn the mistake I’ve made, because I’m certainly no expert philosopher. If you don’t wish to continue, have a great day. If you do, I look forward to it.

    • spujb
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      15 days ago

      To clarify, my original thesis was: “If I said I had a sincere counterargument I’d be lying” and that’s all I am speaking to.

      Counterarguments exist for sure. So maybe we agree. But if I told you I could sincerely counterargue or even entertain them (as OP suggests is necessary) I would be lying. That’s all I was saying. :)