Identity (Identity)

by xeno6696 , Sonoran Desert, Sunday, August 30, 2009, 18:29 (5563 days ago) @ dhw

dhw, - > Matt: When Fred takes his demon story to me, all I can do is provide what I think based on my perspective. However, it is two things, firstly it is my examination based on his words, which may or may not be wholly accurate. Secondly, his perspective shapes his retelling of the events, and further removes me from the actual event itself. There is far too much subjectivity here to be able to study it.
> 
> An excellent analysis, if I may say so, and I would react to Fred's demons in precisely the same way as you. We needn't argue about the implications of "study", as you've defined what you mean and my own definition would simply be a little less rigid. In fact, there is not really any dispute here at all. I had pointed out that one difference between us was that I was not prepared to dismiss personal experiences as possible evidence, and you have explained the reasons for your scepticism. I am also sceptical, both of materialism and of the "supernatural", but since there are so many unexplained mysteries, there is a kind of "maybe and maybe not" behind my thinking. Perhaps, though, if I underline possible in "possible evidence", it will reduce the gap between us! - I've been saying for some time that we have more in common than not. Unfortunately the common ground is that sometimes infuriating "I don't know." I bet that our differences are probably quite small... there's a few more things I accept on the materialist side but based mainly upon methodology. I probably seem more pessimistic because of that.

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"