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I can't find any obvious problem with these definitions, so they're instantly my favourite
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I can't find any obvious problem with these definitions, so they're instantly my favouriteNatural = the falsifiable
supernatural = the unfalsifiable
at least that's my take
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.Natural = that which exists, supernatural = that which does not exist?
I thought dogs were able to sense their presence?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).
That which exists in the physical world, or for which we have physical evidence for.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?
They can be detected.Then, by your definition, neutrinos are supernatural: you cannot see, feel, smell, or hear them.
I don't buy any of that. SorryIn fact, ghosts aren't supernatural, since you can see, feel, hear, and even smell them (depending on which New Age hokery you subscribe to).
There is a difference between something which is improbable and something which is impossible."... when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth..." - Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of the Four
I thought dogs were able to sense their presence?
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.
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.Which would make anything we can't test for and prove supernatural. So what differentiates the supernatural from the non-existent?
But you could always imagine it existed, if you had a really vivid imagination you could imagine virtually anything,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.
So the legends go...I thought dogs were able to sense their presence?
Which once again begs the question: what is the 'physical world'? What is 'physical evidence'? What other kinds worlds and evidences are there?That which exists in the physical world, or for which we have physical evidence for.
As can ghosts, if they exist. So why are ghosts considered supernatural?They can be detected.
And until you've shown it to be impossible, it must be acknowledged as a possible (albeit improbable) option.There is a difference between something which is improbable and something which is impossible.
Are you kidding me?If that were so, then those Ghost Hunters on the History Channel would use them.
And there sits the dog, looking bored.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!
What's that old saying?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?
What's that old saying?
Atheists rush in where angels fear to tread?
And the fool has said in his heart "There is no God". Oh, very sneaky AV"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!
"There are no atheists in foxholes" is a common one, except...
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