Posted by so on May 26, 2005, at 21:59:35
In reply to Re: I first encountered these arguments... » alexandra_k, posted by alexandra_k on May 26, 2005, at 20:51:04
Trying in all honesty to avoid either the topic or the propriety of the method of discussion in the context of this board, I can offer that...
Semantically, any philosophical argument that includes "we are supposed" raises questions about whose suppositions are being cited. The syntax introduces a passive/active language problem. It just doesn't say who is acting. Without a declaration of suppositions, the argument can't be processed as an algorithm -- individual comparisons within the argument might be instructive, especially in human terms and certainly for matters of faith, but as a reasonable process, i.e. one where all reasons are declared and theoretically can be reduced to a decision tree, there are undefined steps in the overall process.
poster:so
thread:498173
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050509/msgs/503391.html