"Nature".....

[Mr Cleaver]

1. What is "nature"?
2. What is "natural" about "nature"?

 

[AV1611VET]

1. What is "nature"?
2. What is "natural" about "nature"?

1. I like definition #1 here.
2. It is "natural" because it obeys the laws it exists under.

 

[Hespera]

1. What is "nature"?
2. What is "natural" about "nature"?

Its all the stuff that you think god made.
everything about it is natural.

 

[Mr Cleaver]

Its all the stuff that you think god made.
everything about it is natural.

Who/what do you think "made it" and how?

 

[gaara4158]

Who/what do you think "made it" and how?

Whatever it was, it wasn't a 6000-year-old deity who cares if you touch.

 

[SurvivalMachine]

Who/what do you think "made it" and how?

Man created nature through their figment of their imagination, just like they did with God.

 

[sbvera13]

Its all the stuff that you think god made.
everything about it is natural.

I'm gonna have to side with this one. Once upon a time, "nature" meant everything other than the things that were manmade. However, most of us today realize that man is also a part of nature, so there's not any useful distinction anymore.

It doesn't need to be made. It's already there.

 

[MoonLancer]

Who/what do you think "made it" and how?

Not sure, but i do know that once life was around it evolved into what it is today.

 

[MoonLancer]

Whatever it was, it wasn't a 6000-year-old deity who cares if you touch.

LOL for that i rep you. More then once if i could!

 

[Lord Emsworth]

1. What is "nature"?
2. What is "natural" about "nature"?

Excellent question(s). And by and large the reason why I ultimately reject the "natural" <-> "supernatural" dichotomy. (Bringing up "preternatural" wouldn't help either.) So, to me there is just stuff, but strictly speaking nothing natural or supernatural. There are also no miracles either, if miracle is defined as supernatural event - there are just events.

Although ... I do realize that some people use the word natural as referring to anything that can be empirically tested, verified etc pp. while, by definition, the supernatural can't. But ... see above.

 

[Sophophile]

1. I like definition #1 here.
2. It is "natural" because it obeys the laws it exists under.

Mostly agree. Problem is defining "material".

Are quantum eigenstates material? What about singularities? Or psychological phenomena like qualia and free will? These questions would, I think, be disputed amongst philosophers.

S.

 

[Hespera]

Who/what do you think "made it" and how?

Nornally I dont go for answering a question with another question. however...

Who made god?

How was that done?

 

[Cleaver611]

Not sure,

Do you mean you don't know.... there is a difference.

... but i do know that once life was around it evolved into what it is today.

You don't know that at all. You might believe it but you cannot know it.

 

[MoonLancer]

Do you mean you don't know.... there is a difference.

No, I mean i'm not sure. Their is a very compelling hypothesis about how life begin in the volcanic sea vents.

You don't know that at all. You might believe it but you cannot know it.

I know it because simply by virtue of being the best explanation. Unless you can offer a better explanation that doesn't contradict all the other areas of science, like say creationism.

But about knowing... i cant KNOW that I am not the only self aware life form. Is that what you mean. If we really want to be stingy about the word know, one really doesn't know anything, especially anything about God.

However their is very strong evidence evolution happened and explains the diversity of life. Their is no evidence for creationism.

 

[Hespera]

You don't know that at all. You might believe it but you cannot know it.

Any chance that you apply this understanding to your own beliefs?

 

[Cleaver611]

Nornally I dont go for answering a question with another question. however...

Since you cannot think of any naturalistic answer ...

Who made god?

What do you mean by "god"?

 

[Hespera]

Since you cannot think of any naturalistic answer ...What do you mean by "god"?

Funny guy. skip one question, do a bit of mind reading, and answer the other with yet another question.

Thats a perfectly good game. So maybe I should respond by asking why do you ask.

What do I mean by "god"? In this case it would be in reference to the christian god that you believe in. Others mean other things by it. The word doesnt mean much to me, I dont believe any of it.

To me nature is the universe and the laws that govern it.
And everything about it is natural.

I answered your questions. Your turn.

Who do you think made the god that you think of as god.

And how was it done.

 

[Cleaver611]

.....

To me nature is the universe and the laws that govern it.
And everything about it is natural.

What created "the universe and the laws that govern it."?

I answered your questions. Your turn.

OK.

Who do you think made the god that you think of as god.

No one, God is eternal.... kinda what makes Him God I'd say.

And how was it done.

What?

 

[gaara4158]

What created "the universe and the laws that govern it."?OK.No one, God is eternal.... kinda what makes Him God I'd say.What?

You demand justification for the existence of the universe, and yet you plead for a special exception in your justification? Epic fail.

If you're going to stop asking questions, why not stop at "the universe exists?"

 

[sbvera13]

Aha! I smell, once again, the opportunity for a joke at someone else's expense! JK, I hope you'll take this in humor. I've posted it before.

Theist: What created the universe?
Atheist: Nothing. It's always been there.
Theist: Nonsense! Everything needs a cause, universe included. That First Cause is God!
Atheist: Ok, what caused God?
Theist: Nothing. He's always been there.
Atheist: