Posted: Jul 29, 2011 1:26 am
DrWho wrote:If one does not have faith that reason is useful, then what is the justification for using it?
If one does not have faith that reason is useful, then what is the justification for NOT using it?
Your threads all have a similar vein. I know this because there is a bog-standard retort to every one you've ever started. In this instance, I would say that one cannot not have faith in reason, since one can only use reason to justify such a claim. Therefore, the claim is self-defeating. Otherwise, you/anyone should provide a non-rational means of substantiating such a claim - yet, what is 'non-rational evidence' other than imaginary/fantasy/emotional? The bottom-line, as usual, is that there is no basis from which to attack/limit reason - certainly in a philosophy forum!
... Further, there is no reason to have faith in reason. Reason works like maths (maths being an extension of reason!). Indeed, reason is likened to science - in that we discover more sophisticated/detailed ways of reasoning (whereas science discovers more sophisticated/detailed ways of observing... expressed in rational language!).
... The ultimate point, here, is that you cannot think - beyond the realms of imagination/fantasy/emotion - without utilising reason. Therefore, how are we to judge your thoughts, here? Shall we say that you are completely irrational for [trying to] use reason to denounce reason? Or, rather, shall we say that you are completely irrational because you think that one's imagination/emotion suffices to usurp reason?
... Either way, this thread is destined to give us the needle, again. I'm quite surprised that an intelligent guy like you hasn't grasped this basic-point, yet. The whole issue of justifying reason is beyond those who utilise reason. Why can't you understand this? Further, the issue of listening to people who don't think that reason is self-justifiable - given that their only other available option is their imagination - seems somewhat bizarre in a forum dedicated to reason, don't you think?
... You won't convince anyone here that anything other than reason/observation should be listened to, unless you can 'bend a spoon' (that's the popular mataphor for desire/imagination superceding observation/reason in these parts). So, either bend a spoon or [please] stop with all of these threads denouncing the relaibility of reason. As I see it, them's you're only options. Sorry to be blunt, but progress needs to be made here, as you are just churning-out the same messages in every thread which you instigate.