Author Archives: Steve

Why I am not an atheist

I am not an atheist. I wish that I were. Specifically, I wish that I were a physicalist-atheist: Everything is ultimately reducible to physical existence, and nothing exists outside the physical universe; neither Zeus nor leprechauns nor any other mythical … Continue reading

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Three a week: Feeling

You feel? Three questions: Question 1: What is feeling? You say you feel a certain way. Please, explain. Your back feels itchy? Don’t you mean there are just little electric signals being shot from your back to your brain? Why … Continue reading

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Three a week: God

It is unfortunate that the debate over the existence of God is so dividing. People too readily dismiss either side’s argument. Three questions: Question 1: Can we separate arguments for religion from arguments for God? When confronted with typical arguments … Continue reading

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Deduction and Induction

Two methods of reasoning: deduction and induction. If you want to have sharp critical thinking skills, you must understand the difference between these two. It isn’t too difficult to understand, and the benefits are enormous. Example #1: Inductive reasoning. A: … Continue reading

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Three a week: Certainty

You can’t write about philosophy without writing about the concept of certainty. Three questions: Question 1: What is certainty? Before we ask if we can have it, what is it? What is a proper way to define such a thing? … Continue reading

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Why revisionism is necessary

Abraham Lincoln was a bad president? FDR made the depression worse? Ronald Reagan was not a fiscal conservative?! That sounds like revisionism to me! And we all know, that word is bad! When Socrates challenged dogma, he was killed. When … Continue reading

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Three a week: Nudity

Everybody wears clothes. Am I the only one who finds this odd? Three questions: Question 1: Why do we wear clothing? Oh, is this question not supposed to be asked? Don’t roll your eyes. We have been desensitized to people … Continue reading

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Discovering presuppositions

One of the most effective ways to discover truth and falsehood is to be able to identify the presuppositions in an argument. There are obvious reasons for doing this, and not-so-obvious reasons, with the latter having more important implications. In … Continue reading

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Three a week: Reason

We are rational beings. Few things make less sense. Three questions: Question 1: What is rationality? Put “reason” in perspective. On one tiny speck in the universe, there are little creatures who walk around and discern “right” from “wrong”. What … Continue reading

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Why Reason comes first

People are filled with angst and confusion. There are a million things whirling around our heads at any given moment, overwhelming us. Fear not. There is an insightful reason why humans are so overwhelmed all the time. It is because, whether … Continue reading

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