At the beginning of his classic History of Western Philosophy, Bertrand Russell offers the following distinction between philosophy, theology, and science: “Like theology, it [philosophy] consists of speculations on matters as to which definite knowledge has, so far, been unascertainable; but like science, it appeals to human reason rather than to authority, whether that of tradition or […]
Bertrand Russell
Kill some wolves before you die: A review of “The Grey” (Part 2)
Warning: Spoiler(s) ahead. (Not really bad spoilers as would be the case if I told you that Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) in “The Sixth Sense” is really a ghost who doesn’t know he’s a ghost. That’d be a wicked spoiler. The “spoilers” here are really nothing more than the untimely revelation of plot points.) […]
Frank’s rather (un)righteous protest against God
No doubt most of us are familiar with the famous story. The setting was an Oxford dinner many years ago. In the after glow of a fine meal and the blushed cheeks from three or more glasses of port Bertrand Russell was asked “Dr. Russell, if it turns out that you’re wrong and after you […]
God vs. the flying spaghetti monster at the Society of Edmonton Atheists (Part 1)
On the evening of November 1 I was pleased once again to share an evening with the motley crew at the Society of Edmonton Atheists. My topic for the evening was “What hath God to do with the flying spaghetti monster?” I spent the first section of the talk summarizing a range of entities that […]
Is it better to affirm a truth for the wrong reasons than to deny it for the right ones?
Another golden oldie from my 2009 CP blog: *** An acquaintance of mine, Stephen M. Wagner, sent me the following question: “is it better to believe something true through indoctrination and rhetoric or to believe something false through reflection and argument?” While it is a great question, let me put it in my own words, […]
Russell’s Teapot: An analogy worthy of a first year undergraduate
I have been asked to explain what is wrong with Bertrand Russell’s Teapot Analogy. Unfortunately, I can’t respond by reproducing the argument of Peter van Inwagen’s paper given at the Society of Christian Philosophers conference since (a) I daydreamed through part of the talk and (b) I recycled the handout. (Don’t get me wrong. It was definitely […]
Everybody’s gotta god
A new/old visitor to the Tentative Apologist, whatifitstrue, asks: “When does a belief system (including , perhaps atheism) become a religion…?” So what is religion? Perhaps belief in God, an authoritative revealed text, and a set of sacred rituals? In Bob’s garage is a cherry 70’ Chevelle 454. On the shelf beside the car is […]
