Hi David Lind:
> Platt wrote:
> > No scientist I know of (or for that matter any human being with a
> modicum of sense) will deny the absolute truth of the Holocaust. Or
> of
> deaths caused by AIDS. Or the danger of standing on the tracks in
> front of an oncoming train. Life is lived in a sea of absolutes,
> beginning with birth and ending with death.
>
> David Lind inquires:
>
> Which absolute truth of the Holocaust? That it happened? The
> reasons
> that Hitler pursued it? The reasons that it was able to eliminate
> millions of human beings? And as far as danger in standing in front
> of a train on the tracks, at what point does it become dangerous? 50
> feet? 10 feet? 1 foot? At five hundred (or more) feet it may be
> more exciting to a thrill seeker than dangerous (after all, they have
> time to jump off before it gets to them). And deaths caused by
> AIDS...is it AIDS that causes the death or does AIDS create a
> situation likely to result in death?
>
> Not trying to be a smart alec - seriously inquiring to see your take
> on these thoughts.
Thanks for picking up on my lack of precision. Let me amend my
statements to:
. . . the absolute truth that the Holocaust happened
. . . many have died as a result of contacting AIDS
. . . the potential danger of in standing on the tracks in front of an
oncoming train
I�m aware there�s value in thought experiments and fuzzy logic to
legitimately question claims of absolute truth . My point is that the
existence of absolute truth is implied whenever one makes a
declarative sentence such as, �Not trying to be a smart alec - seriously
inquiring to see your take on these thoughts.� Otherwise, the essential
social cement of honesty and trust would disintegrate and we would be
in the position of the speaker in the following Moroccan proverb:
You tell me you are going to Fez.
Now, if you say you are going to Fez,
This means you are not going.
But I happen to know you are going to Fez.
Why are you lying to me who are my friend?
Perhaps �absolute truth� carries too much baggage. Is �transcendental
truth� more meaningful to you? Or a Platonic sort of �ideal truth� as in
�the Good, the True and the Beautiful?� If I fail to convey my meaning
plainly, the fault is mine. Please come back at me again if puzzled, or
simply disagree.
Platt
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
MD Queries - [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
