[ktb973]

Originally Posted by ktb973

Topher, I do enjoy reading your posts, although I don't agree with most of your conclusions.

Not everything that purports to be skepticism is skepticism. Closed-minded rejection of any alternatives to conventional beliefs is not skepticism. Skepticism of conventional beliefs is part of skepticism.


What are these conventional beliefs that skeptics reject? What are the alternatives to said conventional beliefs?

Pseudo-skepticism may do people good, of course -- it, like any religion, leads to emotional and social reinforcement from those who share ones beliefs, for example. A sense of certainty about what is true and what is false without the questions raised by real skepticism (i.e., doubt) is emotionally very satisfying. Knowing that you are a member of an Elite fighting for Truth, Justice and the Skeptical way against the forces of People Who Believe Bad Things is very emotionally buoying.


Say again?

I believe that inquiry about the universe is as worthwhile as any carpet. This is a fundamental value of something called science. Apparently, you don't understand science -- just practical engineering. Science believes that knowledge is useful for in its own right, it's not science without that value.

Let's get one thing straight and out of the way. Inquiry about the price of carpet IS more important than the universe. I paid much more for my carpet than I did for my inquiry for the universe last month.


I do understand the method of science. You're probably right about me only caring about the practical side of science. Oh and by the way, science doesn't believe anything.


I believe that trying to understand about the world, especially something of such fundamental personal importance as whether or not we survive bodily death, makes for a richer, fuller life. I believe that that is true even if I consider that the methods used or the conclusions reached by the person in question are ones I disagree with.

If I really believed that you felt that nothing that isn't useful to you for purchasing a carpet is worthwhile then I would pity you. But I don't.

Why do you have to pull the pseudo pity card? You might not agree with me so you might have to pity me??? Please don't talk down to me on this board.

Hopefully you are smart enough to realize that was a stupid sentence.

As for the previous paragraph... I don't really care if we survive past our bodily death or not. I have no problem with fading to black. As a matter of fact, it is a bit comforting to me to think that there is no life after death. Is that scientific? No. But its no less scientific than concluding that the search for life after death leads to a fuller and richer life.

I know I'm not using the quote feature correctly. I'm more of a computer guy than an internet guy. I'll have to figure that one out.

Yeah I know I blundered the first of that reply. I meant to ask what the conventional beliefs of skeptics were, and what were the alternatives. Pretty much the opposite of what I said.