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Thread: What do you know for certain?

  1. #1
    Tecumseh's Avatar Watching, Waiting
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    Default What do you know for certain?

    Simple question.

  2. #2
    Hippolord's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tecumseh View Post
    Simple question.
    Simple answer: Nothing

    "I know one thing for sure, and that is, i know nothing"

    I wanna lie, lie to myself, myself and someone else. Cause it’s the lying that hurts, and it’s the hurt that lets me know I’m alive.”

  3. #3
    Tecumseh's Avatar Watching, Waiting
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    Nevermind. Would rather hear some more answers for now than ask any more questions.

    It'd be nice if you could explain yourself though. Explain how you know what you know.
    Last edited by Tecumseh; July 01, 2009 at 01:55 AM.

  4. #4
    Ummon's Avatar Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    That something exists.

    Edit: it is quite simple, for an illusion to exist something/someone must be deluded. If illusions can be deluded in a way which is autonomous from reality, then they can work a cycle of eternal delusion by deluding themseves endlessly, and that is a form of existence.
    Last edited by Ummon; July 01, 2009 at 02:09 AM.

  5. #5
    The Dude's Avatar Praeses
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    Within what we perceive as reality, I know many things for certain. What I don't know for certain is if that reality is true.
    I have approximate answers and possible beliefs, and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I’m not absolutely sure of anything, and many things I don’t know anything about. But I don’t have to know an answer. I don’t feel frightened by not knowing.
    - Richard Feynman's words. My atheism.

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    Arch-hereticK's Avatar Indefinitely Banned
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  7. #7
    Hippolord's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    The only way for one to know a thing for certain, is ot accept the fact that he is not free, and his will may not be his own.

    For to know anythng for certain, there must not be infinite possibilites or infinite potential, for that would mean that it has the possibilite to change, therefore you would know it not, and you could not claim to "know" it. Thusly for to trully know something there must not be infinite potential, or infinite outcomes.

    But that would mean that one is forced to chose from a finite amount of outcomes and possibilities, however large they may be. Therefore you are not free, because you have to choose from them. Lest you consider your ability to choose, to mean that you are free.

    But i personally believe we are free, and know nothing for certain.

    I wanna lie, lie to myself, myself and someone else. Cause it’s the lying that hurts, and it’s the hurt that lets me know I’m alive.”

  8. #8

    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    That I exist, even though I do not know what I am.

  9. #9
    magickyleo101's Avatar Here Come The Judge
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    All sorts of things. I know what food penguins eat.


    More seriously, the idea that you can't really know anything was based on fairly simplistic philosophical assumptions that haven't been widely held since the 1930s. The David Lewis paper I attached is a pretty high quality example of a more modern approach. Take a look if you're interested in this sort of thing.
    Last edited by magickyleo101; April 23, 2010 at 05:54 PM.
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  10. #10
    Ummon's Avatar Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    You mean a piece of rhetoric: it's full of I think, I feel, I suppose. Please, more substance, thank you.

  11. #11
    magickyleo101's Avatar Here Come The Judge
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ummon View Post
    You mean a piece of rhetoric: it's full of I think, I feel, I suppose. Please, more substance, thank you.
    ?

    You're addressing me or the OP?
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  12. #12
    Ummon's Avatar Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    I am addressing your proposed article: it surely is no demonstration.

  13. #13

    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    I know for certain that Jews often have curly hair, and that it is bad to kill someone.

  14. #14
    Claudius Gothicus's Avatar Petit Burgués
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    he only thing that I know for certain is that right know I'm thinking what I know for certain.
    Therefore I realize my own self in the basis of reason and thinking.

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  15. #15
    magickyleo101's Avatar Here Come The Judge
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ummon View Post
    I am addressing your proposed article: it surely is no demonstration.
    The article isn't meant to be "proof" of anything. If you read my first post, it's just an example of the modern approach.

    What do you want me to "demonstrate?"
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  16. #16
    Ummon's Avatar Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    Indeed, I want you to demonstrate: what is formal thought about otherwise?

    But personally, I suggest you not to post anything before you think about it thrice.

  17. #17
    magickyleo101's Avatar Here Come The Judge
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ummon View Post
    Indeed, I want you to demonstrate: what is formal thought about otherwise?

    But personally, I suggest you not to post anything before you think about it thrice.
    Indeed. Doing so would surely help me post something intelligible. Please follow your own advice and clarify.
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  18. #18
    Ummon's Avatar Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    In simple terms: it would be wise for you to go post somewhere else, or assume a much humbler, more open, and dialectic stance.

  19. #19
    magickyleo101's Avatar Here Come The Judge
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    Here's how I've understood the sequence of events:

    1) I say something;
    2) You have a seizure on your keyboard, flail about, and attack things that I've never said while repeatedly and accidentally pushing the "quote" button on my posts.
    3) I, thinking you're responding to me, post requests for clarification, inadvertently creating more "quote" buttons for you to push.
    4) Repeat from step 2.

    Or maybe you're just trolling me. Certainly you're making it hard for me to have a discussion with you...
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  20. #20
    Ummon's Avatar Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: What do you know for certain?

    What you understand has already shown to be lacking. More properly, you come here posing as "expert", you provide a source which in your words is not a demonstration (or a cogent reasoning at that), and you ask that nobody calls it as such.

    Seizures are reserved for much more important stuff. I am personally dissatisfied with your contribution to this forum: serious threads deserve serious contributions.

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