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“ doesn't seem to be any practical implications of whether there are or not.” On one hand everything is material and deterministic (whether you confess to it o
by splithalf 5y ago
“ doesn't seem to be any practical implications of whether there are or not.”
On one hand everything is material and deterministic (whether you confess to it or not — eg Dan dennet), on the other hand you have the possibility of free will, of human nobility and virtue.
Selfish genes sounds like doublespeak to me. I’m sure it’s true to some extent, but I’m confident that it’s not the whole Truth.
- blaser-waffle 5y agoThen what is The Whole Truth? What piece is missing? It's the Russell's Teapot thing. It COULD be out there, and there COULD be something more. But the Selfish Gene -- Evolution -- is reasonably easy to demonstrate. Different verities of viruses, like new strains of COVID, come to mind...
- splithalf 5y agoI don’t think any human mind can know the whole truth in the typical sense of knowing. My view is one that allows for mystery and features an unknowable or imperfectly knowable Truth. I’m inclined towards a more humble assessment of human progress, seeing most knowledge as imperfect. Science alone points me towards full determinism, but the reality of experience tells me free will exists. There must be something other than just genes and neurons and randomness. If you believe in free will and accept materialistic reductionist explanations, then it is on you to say what that “something other” is. I’m all ears but if dennet can’t convince me then you probably won’t either. For me, my “something other” is faith, which is recursive is an appealing way.