Dear Simon Adebisi...
Posted Sat Aug 26 14:18:54 BST 2000 by Jon
[Before we go any further, can I just say that I haven't seen any of Dave Gorman's stuff, but what the Corpses say makes it sound uninspired and terrible and I shall certainly continue to boycott his live shows. But I don't expect him to get very far in th world of entertainment, like most Perrier winners/nominees.]
Anyhow, just to finish off a little side-dscussion that grew out of a Chris Morris strand...
"The attempt to establish the existence of a supreme being by means of the famous ontological argument of Descartes is therefore merely so much labour and effort lost; we can no more extend our stock of [theoretical] insight by mere ideas, than a merchant can better his position by adding a few noughts to his cash account."
- Immanuel Kant, Critique Of Pure Reason A602/B630 (1781), Kemp Smith translation.
So the mere idea of God does not amount to a proof of God (which is what the ontological argument really amonts to) than the notion of extraterrestrial life proves that extraterrestrial life must exist.
The counter-argument is given in the chapter preceding the quotation.
Subject: Re: Dear Simon Adebisi...
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Posted By Prisoner #93A234 Simon Adebisi... on Sat Aug 26 17:35:04 BST 2000:
Sorry, I've been away. I am NOT a supporter of the ontological argument, but an admirer of it. I think that an attempt to prove God's existence logically is a bold attempt by Anselm and Descartes, and I take my little hat off to them. However, anyone who has heard it would instantly think of two or three objections to it, and I'm no exception. I'm afraid I sold my copy of 'Critique...' after I left university, so I won't attempt to use it against you but even if it is not a convincing proof, being a priori, it works as an argument.
Subject: Re: Dear Simon Adebisi...
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Posted By Jon on Sun Aug 27 11:33:44 BST 2000:
Good so see we're on the same side.
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