Does 'Goddidit' constitute an explanation?

[Wiccan_Child]

Natural = the falsifiable

supernatural = the unfalsifiable

at least that's my take

I can't find any obvious problem with these definitions, so they're instantly my favourite .

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Natural = that which exists, supernatural = that which does not exist?

So ghosts are natural, if they exist? Not that I'm one to uphold tradition, but it's a bit like defining 'dog' to refer to a cat.

 

[AV1611VET]

In fact, ghosts aren't supernatural, since you can see, feel, hear, and even smell them (depending on which New Age hokery you subscribe to).

I thought dogs were able to sense their presence?

 

[Split Rock]

You're going round in circles. If 'natural' is that which exists in nature, then what is 'nature'? If it's that which follows natural laws, what laws are 'natural', and why?

That which exists in the physical world, or for which we have physical evidence for.

Then, by your definition, neutrinos are supernatural: you cannot see, feel, smell, or hear them.

They can be detected.

In fact, ghosts aren't supernatural, since you can see, feel, hear, and even smell them (depending on which New Age hokery you subscribe to).

I don't buy any of that. Sorry

"... when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth..." - Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of the Four

There is a difference between something which is improbable and something which is impossible.

 

[Split Rock]

I thought dogs were able to sense their presence?

If that were so, then those Ghost Hunters on the History Channel would use them.

 

[Nooj]

Everyone takes ghosts to be supernatural. What makes the existence of ghosts unfalsifiable? If they interact with the natural world, like pulling books off shelves, surely we could test for their existence using scientific means...

 

[MoonLancer]

Everyone takes ghosts to be supernatural. What makes the existence of ghosts unfalsifiable? If they interact with the natural world, like pulling books off shelves, surely we could test for their existence using scientific means...

if we can test for ghosts and prove their existence i would say that they are natural.

 

[Skaloop]

if we can test for ghosts and prove their existence i would say that they are natural.

Which would make anything we can't test for and prove supernatural. So what differentiates the supernatural from the non-existent?

 

[MoonLancer]

Which would make anything we can't test for and prove supernatural. So what differentiates the supernatural from the non-existent?

I think non existent is a positive claim while unfalsifiable is not. Anyway perhaps there are some things that exist that can never be proven. i don't know what it could be, but its surly not impossible.

 

[sandwiches]

Which would make anything we can't test for and prove supernatural. So what differentiates the supernatural from the non-existent?

That's the whole point. That which is unobservable is indistinguishable from that which does not exist. This doesn't mean that something which cannot be observed doesn't exist. All it means is that for ANY AND ALL purposes if something is unobservable, it has the exact same effect as something that does not exist.

 

[hangback]

That's the whole point. That which is unobservable is indistinguishable from that which does not exist. This doesn't mean that something which cannot be observed doesn't exist. All it means is that for ANY AND ALL purposes if something is unobservable, it has the exact same effect as something that does not exist.

But you could always imagine it existed, if you had a really vivid imagination you could imagine virtually anything,
even a God.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

I thought dogs were able to sense their presence?

So the legends go...

That which exists in the physical world, or for which we have physical evidence for.

Which once again begs the question: what is the 'physical world'? What is 'physical evidence'? What other kinds worlds and evidences are there?

They can be detected.

As can ghosts, if they exist. So why are ghosts considered supernatural?

There is a difference between something which is improbable and something which is impossible.

And until you've shown it to be impossible, it must be acknowledged as a possible (albeit improbable) option.

 

[AV1611VET]

If that were so, then those Ghost Hunters on the History Channel would use them.

Are you kidding me?

Do you think for one minute that stuff is real?

Why would scientists use dogs, when they can get money to build machines?

It's the same concept as writing a prescription instead of having a person eat fruit and vegetables.

What is that show? An hour long? A dog will cut it down to 10 minutes.

I can just see it now:

Larry: Look! What's this on the oscilloscope?
Curly: I don't know! It's moving down the hallway!
Moe: Look! The temperature here is dropping!

And there sits the dog, looking bored.

 

[AV1611VET]

Everyone takes ghosts to be supernatural. What makes the existence of ghosts unfalsifiable? If they interact with the natural world, like pulling books off shelves, surely we could test for their existence using scientific means...

What's that old saying?

Atheists rush in where angels fear to tread?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

What's that old saying?

Atheists rush in where angels fear to tread?

"There are no atheists in foxholes" is a common one, except...

 

[The Penitent Man]

It constitutes an explanation of the WHY, but not the HOW.

 

[The Penitent Man]

What's that old saying?

Atheists rush in where angels fear to tread?

"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" is the saying you'r thinking of.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" is the saying you'r thinking of.

And the fool has said in his heart "There is no God". Oh, very sneaky AV !

 

[AV1611VET]

And the fool has said in his heart "There is no God". Oh, very sneaky AV !

 

[Hespera]

"There are no atheists in foxholes" is a common one, except...

Are there REALLY any Christians in the foxholes?

If so do they Shout with Joy when the see the tanks coming because they believe they are about to receive eternal life? or do they get scared like they dont actually believe it.