Why are we (usually) reasonable?!

[Charlemagne_II]

tonyrey

**A mechanistic view certainly doesn’t correspond to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights nor to the way civilised people treat one another! **

Under the materialist/determinist scenario, even the pro-choice people would have to call themselves something else.

 

[tonyrey]

tonyrey

**A mechanistic view certainly doesn’t correspond to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights nor to the way civilised people treat one another! **

Under the materialist/determinist scenario, even the pro-choice people would have to call themselves something else.

They have an irresistible compulsion to choose and to claim the right to choose. It’s all very logical, physiological, chronological, sociological, meteorological - and perhaps pathological. What more could one ask?

 

[tonyrey]

Please give examples from my posts.

There is no valid reason to equate rational existence with biological life.

Off the topic but “the Source of rational existence” is related.

Rational activity is an incomparably more elegant, intelligible, coherent, fertile and comprehensive interpretation of existence which corresponds indisputably more precisely to the way every sane person thinks and lives than the sterile hypothesis of an irrational quantum vacuum…

Not a surprise! Do such events occur regularly? What reason is there to believe it is inevitable that freaks of nature, having emerged for no reason or purpose whatsoever, would be capable of understanding the entire universe? It takes for granted the emergence of our reasoning capacity. It also assumes that because events have occurred they are absolutely bound to occur as the result of physical necessity - which amounts to retrospective fatalism: of all possible universes this particular one is supposed to be accidentally (and conveniently) endowed with all the necessary components to create not only living organisms but also living organisms with the power of insight, self-control and self-determination, in a world otherwise entirely composed of mechanistic processes…

A word is not an explanation. What is the physical mechanism by which thought and consciousness originated?

1. The alleged transformation of matter into mind has never been witnessed by anyone.
2. Understanding means “standing under” not “standing inside”. How does the brain get outside itself, become aware of itself and explain itself?
3. To attribute rational activity to irrational activity is undoubtedly self-destructive.

Intelligibility presupposes order, coherence, continuity and organisation - not chaos and irregularity.
What is the source of our power to make an intellectual effort?

Which of the two corresponds more adequately to the success of science?

The laws of nature are the basis of life and necessary for rational existence in this world.
An expanding universe is not inevitable.
Evolution presupposes the increase in complexity.

I have no more idea of how creation was effected than you have - given that I do not have privileged insight into reality - but I don’t take for granted the amazing power of creation displayed in nature, art, science, music, literature and philosophy.

“human-like” is anthromorphic, often mistaken for “ratiocentric” - which corresponds beautifully to our experience of reality - in stark contrast to “eccentric” materialism…

 

[tonyrey]

There is also the problem that there are some assertions that are so far beyond what many people would consider reasonable, that they may be left to stand alone.

Please give examples from my posts.

1. There is no valid reason to equate rational existence with biological life.
2. Rational activity is an incomparably more elegant, intelligible, coherent, fertile and comprehensive interpretation of existence which corresponds indisputably more precisely to the way every sane person thinks and lives than the sterile hypothesis of an irrational quantum vacuum…
3. What reason is there to believe it is inevitable that freaks of nature, having emerged for no reason or purpose whatsoever, would be capable of understanding the entire universe? It takes for granted the emergence of our reasoning capacity. It also assumes that because events have occurred they are absolutely bound to occur as the result of physical necessity - which amounts to retrospective fatalism: of all possible universes this particular one is supposed to be accidentally (and conveniently) endowed with all the necessary components to create not only living organisms but also living organisms with the power of insight, self-control and self-determination, in a world otherwise entirely composed of mechanistic processes…
4. What is the physical mechanism by which thought and consciousness originated?
5. The alleged transformation of matter into mind has never been witnessed by anyone.
6. Understanding means “standing under” not “standing inside”. How does the brain get outside itself, become aware of itself and explain itself?
7. To attribute rational activity to irrational activity is undoubtedly self-destructive.
8. Intelligibility presupposes order, coherence, continuity and organisation - not chaos and irregularity.
9. What is the source of our power to make an intellectual effort?
10. Which corresponds more closely to the success of science - a quantum vacuum or rational activity?
11. The laws of nature are the basis of life and necessary for rational existence in this world.
12. “anthropomorphic” is often mistaken for “ratiocentric” - which corresponds beautifully to our experience of reality - in stark contrast to “eccentric” materialism…

 

[tonyrey]

1. The purpose of reasoning is to know the truth.
2. It is not necessary to know the truth in order to survive.
3. Therefore reasoning is a luxury!
4. What is the purpose of knowing the truth?
5. The truth liberates us from ignorance, sadness and selfishness.
6. The truth enables us to develop physically, intellectually, morally, socially, creatively and spiritually.
7. The truth is the means by which we can live in peace and harmony with love for ourselves, for one another and for all Creation.

 

[tonyrey]

1. The purpose of reasoning is to know the truth.
2. It is not necessary to know the truth in order to survive.
3. Therefore reasoning is a luxury!
4. What is the purpose of knowing the truth?
5. The truth liberates us from ignorance, sadness and selfishness.
6. The truth enables us to develop physically, intellectually, morally, socially, creatively and spiritually.
7. The truth is the means by which we can live in peace and harmony with love for ourselves, for one another and for all Creation.

There is a significant omission in the last statement but it is from a strictly philosophical point of view without taking Revelation into account.