Sunday, October 31, 2010
Went to Church today
A great services the Lord spoke to me again and I was broken by his words. They were so comforting and soothing to my soul. I tell you guys look for God and he will find you and accept you for who you are and will show mercy on those who seek his face. I honestly say this. That God has been kind to me. Anyway besides that tomorrow I will give the second philosophical argument for the second premise and show why it is sound. Besides that there is not much to say now so I leave you with this question. If your a Christian born again. How have you a God communicated? Or have you not communicated with God? If so go pray. For other non believers. Is it possible to have justification that God exists on the basis of experience. Such as a properly basic belief?
Saturday, October 30, 2010
To continue...
Now I will be giving a defense of premise two.
The universe began to exist.
I will start out by giving two philosophical arguments followed by two scientific arguments and in my next blog I will give a defense of the premise to objections. Okay let's begin!
First off the argument for the beginning of the universe is based on the notion of a infinite. A infinite cannot exist.
Here is the argument:
1. A actual infinite cannot possibly exist.
2. A universe that never began entails a actual infinite exists.
3. Therefore the universe began to exist.
Now the notion of a infinite existing is incoherent. Because the infinite leads to absurdities. Let's take a illustration. Hilbert's hotel. Now let's envision a hotel with a finite amount of rooms and all the rooms are full. Now let's say a guest come looking for a room he has to be turned down. Now let's say that the hotel has a infinite amount of room and all the rooms are full. And a guest comes looking for a room the manager says no problem no problem so he moves the guest in room 1 to room 2 and the guest in room 2 to room 3 so on out to infinity and as a result room one is now vacant! And the new guest gratefully checks in. Now it can get even stranger. Now let's say a infinite amount of a guests come asking for a room. The manager says no problem and moves the guest in room 1 into room two he moves the guest in room two into room 4 the guest in room 3 into room six. He moves every guest in each room twice his own. 1 into 2 , 2into4 and so on out to infinity. As a result all the odd number rooms are vacant! And the infinity of new guests gratefully check in. And yet before they arrived all the rooms are full. As Dr. craig puts it if hilbert's hotel could exist it would have to have a sign out front saying " NO VACANCY GUESTS WELCOMED" Now hilbert's hotel use correct logic but it is absurd. It is impossible for something like hibert's hotel to exist.
There is another illustration I love which I call the jupiter-saturn paradox. Now let's imagine the universe is infinite into the past. It never began. Everything that exists has always existed. The planets and everything. Now jupiter rotates twice as fast as saturn. So whenever saturn completes a rotation jupiter completed twice as much. Now if the universe is infinite these planets have been rotating forever. So they both completed a infinite amount of rotations. But it still true that jupiter completed twice as much. This is absurd. But it get even stranger. Let's take the rotation of one planet. That planet completed a infinite amount of rotations. We could ask is the number odd or even? It has to be one or the other right? So the answer is both! This is absurd. So I think we are well enough justified in affirming the absurdities if a actual infinite could exist. But if a actual infinite cannot exist than the universe cannot be infinite. So it must have beginning.
That is all for today's blog. God bless!
The universe began to exist.
I will start out by giving two philosophical arguments followed by two scientific arguments and in my next blog I will give a defense of the premise to objections. Okay let's begin!
First off the argument for the beginning of the universe is based on the notion of a infinite. A infinite cannot exist.
Here is the argument:
1. A actual infinite cannot possibly exist.
2. A universe that never began entails a actual infinite exists.
3. Therefore the universe began to exist.
Now the notion of a infinite existing is incoherent. Because the infinite leads to absurdities. Let's take a illustration. Hilbert's hotel. Now let's envision a hotel with a finite amount of rooms and all the rooms are full. Now let's say a guest come looking for a room he has to be turned down. Now let's say that the hotel has a infinite amount of room and all the rooms are full. And a guest comes looking for a room the manager says no problem no problem so he moves the guest in room 1 to room 2 and the guest in room 2 to room 3 so on out to infinity and as a result room one is now vacant! And the new guest gratefully checks in. Now it can get even stranger. Now let's say a infinite amount of a guests come asking for a room. The manager says no problem and moves the guest in room 1 into room two he moves the guest in room two into room 4 the guest in room 3 into room six. He moves every guest in each room twice his own. 1 into 2 , 2into4 and so on out to infinity. As a result all the odd number rooms are vacant! And the infinity of new guests gratefully check in. And yet before they arrived all the rooms are full. As Dr. craig puts it if hilbert's hotel could exist it would have to have a sign out front saying " NO VACANCY GUESTS WELCOMED" Now hilbert's hotel use correct logic but it is absurd. It is impossible for something like hibert's hotel to exist.
There is another illustration I love which I call the jupiter-saturn paradox. Now let's imagine the universe is infinite into the past. It never began. Everything that exists has always existed. The planets and everything. Now jupiter rotates twice as fast as saturn. So whenever saturn completes a rotation jupiter completed twice as much. Now if the universe is infinite these planets have been rotating forever. So they both completed a infinite amount of rotations. But it still true that jupiter completed twice as much. This is absurd. But it get even stranger. Let's take the rotation of one planet. That planet completed a infinite amount of rotations. We could ask is the number odd or even? It has to be one or the other right? So the answer is both! This is absurd. So I think we are well enough justified in affirming the absurdities if a actual infinite could exist. But if a actual infinite cannot exist than the universe cannot be infinite. So it must have beginning.
That is all for today's blog. God bless!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sorry I have been busy.
There has been a lot of tests in my school so I been hitting those books and trying to pass the exams. Anyway tomorrow I will blog about the KCA but for now let me talk about some issues that I have know about I have yet to resolve. First of cloning. I think that cloning will take away what it means to be human. For example if I make myself a clone well we can then ask does this clone have the same soul? The same mind? Also would it be human? Now of course it would be human by classification. But I think what makes us human is being unique having a clone would remove that uniqueness. Would we be within our right to kill the clone? So this is a issue that flies into ethics. Now my other issue is the problem of induction now the Christian has a good response to it but I have yet to understand it. How does God solve the problem? The problem of induction is simply how do we know that the future will be like the past. If I observe that snow is white today how do I know that it will be white tomorrow? Now some of you might ask well that is a stupid question! Of course it will be white tomorrow! But here is the thing how do you justify that assertion in other words what justification do you have for that assumption? Now one could say that if we observe that is displays certain behaviors than we a justified in inducing that it will always display the behavior. But then that leads too that nature can never change but science looks for change. Now somehow God solves the problem. I just don't understand how. When I do I will blog on it. Now the third thing is why do I keep on trying to ask this girl out after she said no three times! It is like trying to fly knowing it is impossible. I have to give up! Maybe after feb 14 I will. That is it for now take care and God bless!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Very tired.
I just went to cash my check and since the bank I go to is far from my house I had to walk a mile or two. Then come back up carrying the coffee maker I bought. Then once I got home I made some french vanilla. Then I proceeded to clean the bathroom. Then I cleaned the whole house. Now I have to go cook. Since my mom works I do everything she would do to keep this house running. I am very tired. But anyway let comment on the importance of studying. I know a lot about the existence of God but what frightens me is that I do not know enough. There is so much for me to learn. But I am very lazy! When I look at people in debates I do understand what they say but sometimes I get confused. I get kinda of angry when I see somebody smarter than I. So what I want people to do is study! Study what you love. I love philosophy but I should study it more but I am too lazy to do it. So don't be like me. Study educate yourselves and learn.
Friday, October 22, 2010
I got my check and I got nothing.
I asked out this girl but she said no. But hey that is life. So anyway you guys probably notice that thing on the side with cashcrate. Well today they sent me my check. I got paid for doing work at home so you can too you should join.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Objections to the first premise.
I would like now to put on my philosophical demeanor and defend the first premise from common objections. Two are mainstream and one isn't as popular and one is recent. The first objection comes from the law of thermodynamics. Energy cannot be created or destroyed. So if energy cannot be created the universe which has energy can not be created so it is eternal and never began to exist. This is the objection and it also implies that nothing begins to exist! As most people say. Well first off whoever championed this objection has to go to a mental clinic. This is really bad ontology. "If such a conclusion is not evidently absurd, reflect I have essential properties, properties without which I would seize to exist. For example it is essential for me to be human, but the atoms prior to my conception were not a human being therefore they were not I."- Dr. William Lane Craig. This objections tries to confuses who we are with what were made of. To give a analogy I have all the parts to a honda accord in my house. Does the honda accord exist yet? No! It has not yet been built. If we were to accept this conclusion we would have to accept absurd conclusions. Such as, I existed when dinosaurs were around. I think we can also say that this objection goes flying right in the face of our common sense notions.
The second objections comes from quatum realm. In the quatum realm there is exist virtual particles that seem to come into being uncaused out of nothing. So the first premise is invalid. First of all these virtual particles exist in a sea of fluctuating energy. The virtual particles use this energy to bring themselves into existence for a moment then the energy returns into the vacuum. So these virtual particles do have a cause. They are caused by the vacuum. Second this objection can also be answered by responded by saying this is just one view of quatum mechanics. Third, according to the indeterminacy principle we do not know if there is a cause of the particles. So if we don't know something we cannot say that they have no cause.
The next objection is a little bit harder. That the first premise begs the question because it only postulate a cause like God. Which the argument is trying to prove. Now this objection is weak to me. Begging the question means to include your conclusion in one of your premises. Now if you look at the first premise:
Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
Do you see God in there? Not really. So how is it begging the question. Also the argument does not attempt to prove God exist but it proves that the universe has a cause. The cause is God and this comes from doing a systematic analysis of the conclusion of the argument. So it does not beg the question.
The final objection is more complex but I will simplify it. The first premise commits the fallacy of equivocation. That means that you make your premise mean something else than what it really is. According to this objection the first premise equivocates whatever begins to exist with a cause. Whatever begins to exist means coming into existence from something that already exists. And that whatever begins to exist from creations ex nihilo means coming into existence from nothing. So we have two meanings of beginning to exist. So the first premise equivocates the first meaning instead of the later. Since the universe came into existence from nothing it does not mean it has a cause because whatever begins to exist means to come into existence from something that already exists. Since we have creation ex nihilo the first premise is invalid. Now re-read that a few times if you don't understand it. Now there is a simple answer to the objection. Whatever begins to exist means that whatever brings about or produces an effect. So the charge of equivocation is groundless. Whether it came into being from something else or ex nihilo is no problem at all.
So the first premise seems to be sound.
Next time I will write about the second premise and give two philosophical arguments and scientific argument answer some objections.
The second objections comes from quatum realm. In the quatum realm there is exist virtual particles that seem to come into being uncaused out of nothing. So the first premise is invalid. First of all these virtual particles exist in a sea of fluctuating energy. The virtual particles use this energy to bring themselves into existence for a moment then the energy returns into the vacuum. So these virtual particles do have a cause. They are caused by the vacuum. Second this objection can also be answered by responded by saying this is just one view of quatum mechanics. Third, according to the indeterminacy principle we do not know if there is a cause of the particles. So if we don't know something we cannot say that they have no cause.
The next objection is a little bit harder. That the first premise begs the question because it only postulate a cause like God. Which the argument is trying to prove. Now this objection is weak to me. Begging the question means to include your conclusion in one of your premises. Now if you look at the first premise:
Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
Do you see God in there? Not really. So how is it begging the question. Also the argument does not attempt to prove God exist but it proves that the universe has a cause. The cause is God and this comes from doing a systematic analysis of the conclusion of the argument. So it does not beg the question.
The final objection is more complex but I will simplify it. The first premise commits the fallacy of equivocation. That means that you make your premise mean something else than what it really is. According to this objection the first premise equivocates whatever begins to exist with a cause. Whatever begins to exist means coming into existence from something that already exists. And that whatever begins to exist from creations ex nihilo means coming into existence from nothing. So we have two meanings of beginning to exist. So the first premise equivocates the first meaning instead of the later. Since the universe came into existence from nothing it does not mean it has a cause because whatever begins to exist means to come into existence from something that already exists. Since we have creation ex nihilo the first premise is invalid. Now re-read that a few times if you don't understand it. Now there is a simple answer to the objection. Whatever begins to exist means that whatever brings about or produces an effect. So the charge of equivocation is groundless. Whether it came into being from something else or ex nihilo is no problem at all.
So the first premise seems to be sound.
Next time I will write about the second premise and give two philosophical arguments and scientific argument answer some objections.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
My mom got a job.
Well my mom got a new Job and I give the Lord God all the praise he deserves. So I am happy about that I am sorry I don't blog enough I am very busy. So yeah she is working tomorrow and I get to be alone. And on other news I asked out this girl I liked but the way I did it was very corny. I did through facebook. Alas that is how I did maybe tomorrow I will do it more formal. Anyway I have a friend who has a new blog and if you want to check him out his name is Livingstone. Weird name huh? I am kidding Living! But seriously. Hey I am a honest man. Now later today I will do a blog on some objections to the argument I gave earlier and I will answer them and the give another argument I like. Which it would be the Moral argument or axiological argument.
So today was a good day I was mostly troubled by the thought of asking her out. Still once she get my message there is no turning back. So I kinda condemned myself. I hope she says yes. Ironic I said to myself I would never become attracted to a black girl (no offense.). Yet here I am now asking one out. I just hope it doesn't interfere with my school work. But I hope it won't. I getting carried away with myself. Anyway time to get back to my philosophical demeanor.
So today was a good day I was mostly troubled by the thought of asking her out. Still once she get my message there is no turning back. So I kinda condemned myself. I hope she says yes. Ironic I said to myself I would never become attracted to a black girl (no offense.). Yet here I am now asking one out. I just hope it doesn't interfere with my school work. But I hope it won't. I getting carried away with myself. Anyway time to get back to my philosophical demeanor.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
KCA
If you like philosophy of religion then you have come across the Kalam Cosmological Argument. This is one of my favorite arguments on behalf of the existence of God. The formulation is as follows:
1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. Therefore the universe has a cause.
In this blog I will give reasons why I think the KCA is sound and a good argument. Now the first premise is rooted in the metaphysical intuition that being cannot come from non being. That something cannot come from nothing. It is also confirmed constantly in our daily lives. And if things could come into being uncaused out of nothing than it is unexplainable why doesn't everything come into being uncaused out of nothing. If such a conclusion is taken seriously that things can come from nothing than that is evidence for clinical derangement.
Now we move on what I call the heart of the argument. I can offer 4 arguments on behalf of the second premise. But for your sake I will offer just one. This is the scientific argument. In recent year the Big bang theory has been proven by numerous evidences such as the background radiation. And Big bang cosmology proposes that the universe is in a constant state of expansion and if you were to extrapolate this back the universe will get progressively denser until we reach a point in which the universe did not exist. And before that there was nothing. But as we have stated that from nothing, nothing comes. Why does the universe exists? So the universe must have a cause that is beyond space and time. This cause must be timeless, inmaterial, powerful and personal. But why a personal cause?
Two reasons can be given. First the only two things we know of that exist in a inmaterial way are abstract objects and minds. But abstract objects don't stand in casual relations. Abstract objects are like numbers or propositions. Can the number three cause anything? Seems not. Abstract object do not stand in casual relations for if the cause were a mechanically set of causes, then the cause could never exist without it's effect. For if the sufficient conditions are given the effect must be given as well. To give a analogy before the universe began the temperature was 32 degrees. Any water present would be frozen right. There would be no beginning point where the water actually began to freeze right? So if a mechanical set of causes caused the universe the universe would be eternal but it isn't.
So as we have seen abstract objects don't work. But what about a mind? A mind is endowed with free will and could bring a effect in time. To give a analogy we have a man sitting down from eternity but he freely chooses to stand up. So the cause must be a unembodied mind. And in the words of Thomas Aquinas. This is what everyone calls God.
Therefore God exists.
1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. Therefore the universe has a cause.
In this blog I will give reasons why I think the KCA is sound and a good argument. Now the first premise is rooted in the metaphysical intuition that being cannot come from non being. That something cannot come from nothing. It is also confirmed constantly in our daily lives. And if things could come into being uncaused out of nothing than it is unexplainable why doesn't everything come into being uncaused out of nothing. If such a conclusion is taken seriously that things can come from nothing than that is evidence for clinical derangement.
Now we move on what I call the heart of the argument. I can offer 4 arguments on behalf of the second premise. But for your sake I will offer just one. This is the scientific argument. In recent year the Big bang theory has been proven by numerous evidences such as the background radiation. And Big bang cosmology proposes that the universe is in a constant state of expansion and if you were to extrapolate this back the universe will get progressively denser until we reach a point in which the universe did not exist. And before that there was nothing. But as we have stated that from nothing, nothing comes. Why does the universe exists? So the universe must have a cause that is beyond space and time. This cause must be timeless, inmaterial, powerful and personal. But why a personal cause?
Two reasons can be given. First the only two things we know of that exist in a inmaterial way are abstract objects and minds. But abstract objects don't stand in casual relations. Abstract objects are like numbers or propositions. Can the number three cause anything? Seems not. Abstract object do not stand in casual relations for if the cause were a mechanically set of causes, then the cause could never exist without it's effect. For if the sufficient conditions are given the effect must be given as well. To give a analogy before the universe began the temperature was 32 degrees. Any water present would be frozen right. There would be no beginning point where the water actually began to freeze right? So if a mechanical set of causes caused the universe the universe would be eternal but it isn't.
So as we have seen abstract objects don't work. But what about a mind? A mind is endowed with free will and could bring a effect in time. To give a analogy we have a man sitting down from eternity but he freely chooses to stand up. So the cause must be a unembodied mind. And in the words of Thomas Aquinas. This is what everyone calls God.
Therefore God exists.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Forgetting to blog
Well as the title says I do forget. But anyhow I am here. So I now I have a new person I am infatuated with and we are already friends. I am starting to like her especially after yesterday where she look so pretty. But enough with the ramblings of a teenager. So today I watched a lecture on ethics and theism. It was brilliant! It answered some things I been pondering about. Any fore those who were reading my blog I decided to stay a realist and affirm the existence of abstract objects. The argument for numbers I still yet to be found but there was a good argument. It goes as follows.
1.) Science is abstract.
2.) Abstract objects do not exist.
3.) Therefore science does not exist.
If your like me and you love science you would hate for it to be destroyed. Now think about it if numbers do not exist. Than the person writing numbers is doing nothing than scrambling symbols on the board. So it is analogous in saying the person doing science is doing nothing but look at a bunch of rocks and taking notes. See the logic? When we observe a geologist doing science he is probably observing a rock. He is doing science isn't he? So if abstract objects do not exist than science does not exist. But I think we have good grounds to say science does exist. So math is the same thing. When they are writing symbols on the board they are doing math and math uses numbers as part of the discipline. Now all I have to figure out if numbers are grounded in God.
1.) Science is abstract.
2.) Abstract objects do not exist.
3.) Therefore science does not exist.
If your like me and you love science you would hate for it to be destroyed. Now think about it if numbers do not exist. Than the person writing numbers is doing nothing than scrambling symbols on the board. So it is analogous in saying the person doing science is doing nothing but look at a bunch of rocks and taking notes. See the logic? When we observe a geologist doing science he is probably observing a rock. He is doing science isn't he? So if abstract objects do not exist than science does not exist. But I think we have good grounds to say science does exist. So math is the same thing. When they are writing symbols on the board they are doing math and math uses numbers as part of the discipline. Now all I have to figure out if numbers are grounded in God.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
I tried and failed but daring greatly.
Theodore Roselvelt said that once. He meant that you should try and if you still fail at least you tried and gave it your all instead of not trying and quitting. Well I tried to talk to this girl I like and I actually did but I failed but that just another failure in my life but hey I am used to. I don't feel like blogging today so that is just it.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
I hate my job but at least it pays
I work at cashcrate I hate it because not of the pay but because of how long it takes to do a offer or survey and tedious it is to do it. I am current;y seeing if i can get another job at a supermarket but this will have to do.. Anyway I guess I will blog about my job again. I work at cashcrate link on the side. I make money buy doing surveys and offers and once I hit the 20 dollar mark I get sent a check the next month. Now by doing a lot of surveys you can make at least 20 dollars but there is a sure fire way to make even more to make money. Caahcrate has a excellent refferel system. If you joing and you reffer someone you make 20 percent of what they make and if they refer someone you get 10 percent from them so you have to refer a lot of people to make this work. So if your popular on the web this is the way go so give cashcrate a try!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Fur Elise
I cannot tell you how great this song it is amazing but strange. There is beauty but no logic. The song seems to have a pattern at the beginning but the all the suddenly it goes from sad to happy in a blink of a eye then to sad then to mystrious. But the way beethtoven does it has elegance. Speaking of music has anyone heard of the song that plays when doctor craig podcast begins that is also a lovely song. Yeah and for you guys that think I am old fashioned because I listen to classical music well all I have to say is this don't knock it until you try it!
Friday, October 1, 2010
So much rain
We have been getting lots of rain up here and it is strange the rain just seems to come out of no where. It is also really cold now the lowest have been 50 the highest has be 60's so that means that soon we will have the winter. I have not seen snow in a long time so I am really excited. Today was a good day I had lots of fun in school making new friends and meeting new people etc. Now I come home and not have to worry about somethings I worried about in Miami. So right now I am working from home doing some surveys.. It is really awesome they send my check this month so I can't wait to put it in my savings. So yeah not much to blog about today. All I have to say that I am disgusted with america right now because of how bad mouthed our youth is. I sound like a old man! Since when did that happened? So yeah that is about it. So back to work.
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