The Order of Rank (Humans)

by dhw, Friday, April 27, 2012, 13:29 (4592 days ago) @ xeno6696

MATT: To throw your own question back at you, how do you decide what question is and is not answerable by science? What criteria can you use?-You go on to quote me, but you ignore what you quote: "My subjective view of rank is..." I am stressing that hierarchies are subjective, and I go on to say that "If we're studying how the material world works...it would be foolish not to acknowledge the absolute supremacy of science." My subjective criterion for questions that are answerable by science is therefore that they relate to the material world. My subjective criterion for questions that are not answerable by science is those which, I quote, "MIGHT be a reflection of a reality beyond that of the material world as we know it." I have given you several examples in my post.-MATT: I will then argue, that if scientific materialism isn't equipped to answer them, then neither is any alternative form of inquiry.-I agree. You seem to forget that I'm an agnostic. And you have again ignored my comment on these particular questions: "There is no "order of rank" here, because there is no reliable guide." The difference between us is that in questions relating to origins and to consciousness in all its manifestations, I remain open to ALL forms of inquiry, whereas your innate leanings towards materialism seem to blind you (a) to the subjectivity of your hierarchy, and (b) to experiences that might threaten it. That sounds a bit harsh, but I don't mean it unkindly, and there is always the possibility that you are once more playing the devil's advocate. It all makes for stimulating discussion!