Recent content by Perspicuo

What we can say is real (what exists, and/or any other way you want to lay out the question) is what has unequivocal evidence for it. (By unequivocal I mean, for instance, that if you want to know if it has rained, noticing your lawn is wet is an equivocal piece of evidence, as it could also be...

Evolution is based on the evidence (bones, prints, DNA analysis, geology) and always comes back to it. If you think that's circular, you don't have the first idea what empirical science is.

Laughing can work, arguments can work. But laughing often comes across as abuse, and arguments often come about as boring (to the hoi polloi at least). Don´t get me wrong --I believe they should still be used. But the best strategy is the use of the tactics of commercial advertising. Have...

Bad for the US. But good for Nones and possibly (not necessarily) atheism too. If churches turn into soapboxes, the natural tendency of the young to find adults (in this case priests) to be "fakes" will be interestingly intensified. Just an eensy weensy tiny little silver lining there.

Repetition makes the onomatopoeia sound like baby talk. (See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_talk#Patronizing_.2F_derogatory_baby_talk)

I believe we are all interested in the self-centered position... and we attempt to argue towards ourselves and others in a more universalist tone because that is how we make our arguments convincing. "I want to be left alone to do what I prefer" is less convincing than "It's unfair to impose...

Human beings need "meaning". So-called "modern life" does not give meaning anymore, and that's because we don't live for tribe, village or extended family any longer. A meaningful life is connected, working towards something greater than us, yet enjoying the small things in life. Certainly...

If there is someone who knows how to keep alive while having every motivation to quit at it, it's suicidal people. So, if you want to know good reasons to stay alive, ask suicidals: https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080521110540AA5XG6Q The summary: They didn't take their own...

Decisions are made in the absence of strong empirical evidence all the time. Sometimes you look for evidence and some seem to point towards whatever. There you have to brave it. Like doctors who don't know exactly what you have, so they give the best treatment for what they consider is the most...

Just a very good hypothesis. Every conclusion we draw out of empirical data is not a fact, it's a incipient hypothesis awaiting further research. Up to then it's just plausible. Plausible, in the absence of a well researched rival explanation, is an excellent wager.

Two reasons: 1) Life is amazing. 2) The opportunity to love and be loved... the fact that if I died I would be terribly missed always made me go on when I was in the depths of depression feeling worth=0.

Who's excited about watching "THE CONJURING 3: RNC" tonight? :joy: There will be furniture flying around, walking on walls, lightening bolts, undead seniors suddenly appearing, seers, crucifixes, guttural yells, speaking in tongues, howling...

From: http://religionnews.com/2014/01/27/great-decline-religion-united-states-one-graph/

On a foundation of immensely crappy education levels. A good indicator of how educated a population is, is literacy. That's too recent. So it's not a good sign. (Source: http://thebrazilbusiness.com/article/the-brazilian-educational-system)

Yes, they all contributed. Their moral fault is to have insulted her in print and stolen her credit; one in order to achieve another act of villainy. The problem is a Nobel prize cannot be given post mortem. The honorable thing to do is create an honorary Nobel (with no money attached) to...