philosophy of science: meaning and functions (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, September 27, 2018, 18:48 (2036 days ago) @ dhw

Dhw: ...if God exists, the purpose of the universe and of the life he created may have been to provide a spectacle that would relieve his boredom (and which by the way would also increase his “fullness”, through all his new experiences). Horribly mundane, I know, but it does answer your own question concerning the purpose of everything (not just of us), and so if you reject it, perhaps you could tell me why.

DAVID: My objection to your spectacle hypothesis is you have draped God in human clothing. You don't think like God does. None of us do.

You don’t know how God thinks any more than I do, but earlier you agreed that he has our thoughts. That’s good enough for me.

DAVID: All He has done has purpose.

TONY: I don't disagree, and neither does the bible.

Dhw: And nor do I. If your God exists, I have no doubt that he would have had a purpose: perhaps to break his eternal isolation by providing a spectacle. This might provide him with new experiences from which to learn (Tony’s proposal).

DAVID: I don't think God feels any sort of 'eternal isolation'. That would clearly be only a human feeling. In my view He has been around eternally before anything else.

dhw: So you agree that he was eternally isolated, but you don’t think he felt it. I must say I’m surprised that a God “who has our thoughts” didn’t have our thoughts. I suggest that, if he exists, he felt it and that’s why he created the universe and life. At least it’s a logical progression.

Of course He has our thoughts, and your logic is human logic. If He has existed forever and has the power of creation, I assume He has His own way of thinking about Himself. When Adler says He is a person like no other person, Adler does not define His personality any further, because no one can.