Hiding in science?

[Moonstruck888]

faith |fāθ|
noun
1 complete trust or confidence in someone or something : this restores one’s faith in politicians. – New Oxford American Dictionary

Faith in a scientific context would be a belief in something that cannot be falsified.

And before you even say it, because I know what’s coming next, that does not mean something that has resisted all attempts to falsify it, it means something that cannot be falsified.

For example, string theory, at the moment, would be a leap of faith. So would the idea of 900 year old men herding animals into a boat to save the world from a flood.

 

[Cat_Herder]

Faith in a scientific context would be a belief in something that cannot be falsified.

And before you even say it, because I know what’s coming next, that does not mean something that has resisted all attempts to falsify it, it means something that cannot be falsified.

For example, string theory, at the moment, would be a leap of faith. So would the idea of 900 year old men herding animals into a boat to save the world from a flood.

Is the existence of a cause (any cause) of the Big Bang something that must be taken on faith alone?

If the answer is yes, given the fact that the Big Bang is a physical phenomenon, does it then follow that science cannot explain the cause of every physical phenomenon?

 

[inocente]

How can the way our brains are wired produce free will?

Your original question sounded like you think there’s a supernatural element, for example some people think we are led by God or the devil. While poetic, that denies free will, and I see no reason to invoke anything other than the physical.

The word supernatural means something that can’t be explained by science, and so far everything about our brains is explicable. With the rate at which neuroscience is advancing, my bet is that consciousness will be explained in purely physical terms within the next 50 years.

And just in case you’re wondering, this Christian is saying it will be a philosophically complete answer, satisfying to all (except those who still reckon the whole universe orbits the Earth ).

 

[Moonstruck888]

Is the existence of a cause (any cause) of the Big Bang something that must be taken on faith alone?

If the answer is yes, given the fact that the Big Bang is a physical phenomenon, does it then follow that science cannot explain the cause of every physical phenomenon?

I’m not sure how you’ve gotten the impression from anything I’ve said that I believe science can explain the cause of every physical phenomenon? I’ve never said any such thing.

Anyhow, what I can do is give you a couple of ways to try to falsify the Big Bang Theory.

If the galaxies outside the local group were not moving away from us, that would falsify it. It has been proven that they are moving away by analysis of the Doppler-Fitzhu effect.

If there was no Cosmic Background radiation, no “echo” of the big bang, that would falsify it. It has been proven by Penzias and Wilson that there is.

If there were no Hoyle State, then there would be no Triple-Alpha Process, and that would falsify the Big Bang Theory, but the Hoyle State has been confirmed.

Already you can see that I do not need faith to accept the Big Bang Theory. The more attempts to falisfy it that fail, the more fireproof the theory will become.

 

[tonyrey]

Your original question sounded like you think there’s a supernatural element, for example some people think we are led by God or the devil.

Christians believe a person is more than a physical organism.

While poetic, that denies free will, and I see no reason to invoke anything other than the physical.

How do you explain free will in terms of physical events?

The word supernatural means something that can’t be explained by science, and so far everything about our brains is explicable.

Everything about our brains may be explicable but do you equate the mind with the brain?

With the rate at which neuroscience is advancing, my bet is that consciousness will be explained in purely physical terms within the next 50 years.

In that case all human behaviour can in principle be explained by science - and we are not responsible for our thoughts or actions…

And just in case you’re wondering, this Christian is saying it will be a philosophically complete answer, satisfying to all (except those who still reckon the whole universe orbits the Earth ).

What connection is there between geocentricity and the mind?

 

[inocente]

Christians believe a person is more than a physical organism.
How do you explain free will in terms of physical events?

Hang on, even the Nicene Creed doesn’t say we have to believe we’re more than physical. To be able to predict what you will think next, I’d have to know the exact wiring and state of your brain along with all of the transitory (name removed by moderator)uts from your body and environment. This would be a really tall order, almost certainly impossible. If I can’t make the prediction then for all intents and purposes you have free will.

Everything about our brains may be explicable but do you equate the mind with the brain?

Technically (had to look it up) mind means the parts of us by which we think, feel emotions and understand, while the brain is an organ. I don’t know enough physiology to say they’re equivalent.

In that case all human behaviour can in principle be explained by science - and we are not responsible for our thoughts or actions…

Could you explain. The route of your car down the street is explicable yet you’re still held responsible.

What connection is there between geocentricity and the mind?

Some people accept all facts while others only accept convenient facts. The latter tend to argue for things like geocentricity, as if arguing could change the facts. The word geocentric is neat because by swapping two letters we get egocentric.