Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Keith Russell · 10-11-2002, 06:52 AM

An objective authority is something having the power to influence thought or opinion and exists in the realm of sensible experience independent of individual thought and perceptible by all observers.

For science objective authority is nature. For religion it is god. As for philosophy, as far as I can tell it is the intuition of man.

Starboy

Starboy, why can't philosophy (the study of human consciousness) use as its 'ultimate authority' the total human being? Why does it have to be only that one small facet of our consciousness that is 'human intuition'?

Keith.

Calvan · 10-11-2002, 09:52 AM

Starboy,

Quote:

An objective authority is something having the power to influence thought or opinion and exists in the realm of sensible experience independent of individual thought and perceptible by all observers. For science objective authority is nature. For religion it is god. As for philosophy, as far as I can tell it is the intuition of man.
Starboy

Starboy, I like to think of an authority as something that exists. When you say that god is an authority, are you speaking for others? Or do you think god exists? (I don’t know how you could or would but I have to ask.) Assuming your answer will be “no”, then how can you reason that god is an authority? By using such a statement are you not employing science fiction in place of sensible experience? And if so, is this scientific method?
Calvan

Calvan · 10-11-2002, 10:01 AM

Hi Keith,

Quote:

For science objective authority is nature. For religion it is god. As for philosophy, as far as I can tell it is the intuition of man.
Starboy

I don’t think Starboy is meaning that intuition is an authority. He is only looking at that as a possible hypothesis:

Quote:

Posted originally by Starboy:
I am beginning to form a tentative hypothesis of:
Philosophy – authority of intuition

However, I agree that intuition is not an authority. I perceive it as a tool that is indirectly employed by the authority of nature.

Calvan

Starboy · 10-11-2002, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Calvan:
<strong>
Starboy, I like to think of an authority as something that exists. When you say that god is an authority, are you speaking for others? Or do you think god exists? (I don’t know how you could or would but I have to ask.) Assuming your answer will be “no”, then how can you reason that god is an authority? By using such a statement are you not employing science fiction in place of sensible experience? And if so, is this scientific method?
Calvan</strong>

Hi Calvan,

Do not get me wrong, I make no statements about the existence or non-existence of god. I simply make the statement that for religion god is the objective authority. I don't know if god exists, but as bad as the history of religions is, it is not proof that god does not exist, however it does indicate that at least for mankind god is irrelevant. Please be aware that science, religion and philosophy are activities of man. My hypothesis is about these activities. The results of each speak to the validity of their respective assumptions.

Starboy

Calvan · 10-12-2002, 08:05 AM

To all contributors to this discussion,

My thanks to Starboy, Keith and others who have contributed their thoughts to this discussion. I wish to withdraw from this discussion. Your collective participation has been much enjoyed by myself and I appreciate the contributions made by all to improving my clarity around the issues herein discussed.
Calvan

Starboy · 10-12-2002, 10:25 AM

Calvan and Keith,

Thanks for the thought provoking and interesting discussions.

Starboy

Keith Russell · 10-14-2002, 08:11 AM

Starboy and Calvan:

Glad you enjoyed it.

I did, too.

Talk to you both later, have a great week!

Keith.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

10-11-2002, 06:52 AM	#91
Keith Russell Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 1,336	An objective authority is something having the power to influence thought or opinion and exists in the realm of sensible experience independent of individual thought and perceptible by all observers. For science objective authority is nature. For religion it is god. As for philosophy, as far as I can tell it is the intuition of man. Starboy Starboy, why can't philosophy (the study of human consciousness) use as its 'ultimate authority' the total human being? Why does it have to be only that one small facet of our consciousness that is 'human intuition'? Keith.

10-12-2002, 08:05 AM	#95
Calvan Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Abbotsford, B.C., Canada Posts: 77	To all contributors to this discussion, My thanks to Starboy, Keith and others who have contributed their thoughts to this discussion. I wish to withdraw from this discussion. Your collective participation has been much enjoyed by myself and I appreciate the contributions made by all to improving my clarity around the issues herein discussed. Calvan

10-12-2002, 10:25 AM	#96
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	Calvan and Keith, Thanks for the thought provoking and interesting discussions. Starboy

10-14-2002, 08:11 AM	#97
Keith Russell Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 1,336	Starboy and Calvan: Glad you enjoyed it. I did, too. Talk to you both later, have a great week! Keith.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.