| Back in the day, I used to host a radio | | | | (agnosticism) just the way, let us say a |
| talk-show in Santa Rosa, CA called "Point of | | | | Christian (or any other sort of proponent), |
| Contention." I had a great time fielding the | | | | holds to his views. The agnostic does just |
| whole range of calls you might imagine a host | | | | what he chides the Christian for: "Supposing |
| would reap on a show treating religious and | | | | that HIS views are the right ones." Agnostics |
| philosophical topics. One of the more | | | | seems no less confident than Christians when |
| interesting refrains I encountered behind the | | | | they offer rebuttals. Here, you can find the |
| microphone would run something like this: | | | | Achilles heel any astute apologist is looking |
| "You Christians all seem so confident that | | | | for. Sweep the legs.Third, this challenge |
| your version of "the Truth" really tells it | | | | attempts to employ the wide variety of |
| like it is, and yet not only do you not agree | | | | choices out there as some sort of |
| with each other half the time, but you | | | | insurmountable obstacle to finding the best |
| dismiss out-of-hand dozens of other views | | | | choice. This offspring of the agnostic thesis |
| that scholarly types take seriously. With all | | | | normally carries the daunting label |
| the different views out there it seems highly | | | | "epistemological pluralism." By way of |
| unlikely that you -- out of all the | | | | example, this would amount to arguing that a |
| contenders -- just happened to get it | | | | lottery winner could not know he had won the |
| right."Sometimes, this challenge comes in a | | | | lottery if all the confused losers in the |
| more abbreviated form like, "I suppose you | | | | lottery also claimed to have won it. Now, I |
| think all YOUR views are right." Now let us | | | | do not recommend lotteries, or any other form |
| treat these in reverse order. I always find | | | | of gambling. But if I did, I would at least |
| the short version the most fascinating. Look | | | | want to check the numbers on the ticket to |
| at it carefully and you will notice that it | | | | see if I had won. This would solve the above |
| comprises a tautology -- a claim that is true | | | | problem.Moreover, if we grant the |
| by definition. Whatever happen to constitute | | | | challenger's assumed (but never stated) view |
| "my views" (by definition) I believe to be | | | | that a wide variety of choices prevents us |
| true. But the same is true of everyone else. | | | | from discovering the Truth, this would then |
| "Your views" simply shortens the phrase | | | | render science (and knowledge in general) |
| "views you believe to be true."Believe it or | | | | impossible. For every field of science, at |
| not, this caller seemed to suggest -- by | | | | any given moment, overflows with several or |
| implication and without realizing it -- that | | | | dozens of competing views on this or that |
| I ought deliberately to run about collecting | | | | event, process or what have you. The same is |
| false views and then affirm them so that I | | | | true of philosophy, math and English. And, |
| wouldn't think "my views" were the "right | | | | remember, the implied conclusion of this |
| ones." What conceivable advantage would | | | | mirage, "No knowledge is possible" cannot be |
| somebody gain from assuming that all his | | | | known to be true -- on its OWN terms.What |
| views were wrong? Yeah, I know. I chuckled | | | | shall we conclude then from our brief study? |
| too.The longer version, I took a bit more | | | | Agnostic game over. The fact that a wide |
| seriously. It notes that so many people out | | | | array of religious or philosophical views dot |
| there have it wrong (given my views), that it | | | | the landscape does not in any way mitigate |
| asks, how do you know that you aren't just | | | | against the claim (or likelihood) that a |
| one more of "them," the sincere and | | | | person can know the truth about such topics, |
| well-intentioned guy who gets it wrong? This | | | | and know that he knows such truth, even while |
| is worth asking.The problems with this | | | | others confidently get it wrong. The |
| question (used as an objection) may be listed | | | | existence of counterfeit dollars does not |
| thus. First, it assumes that "no one really | | | | disprove the genuine greenback. We know this |
| has the answer and knows that they do with | | | | for sure because the contrary is logically |
| certainty." It veils a form of agnosticism | | | | impossible. Smoke'm if ya gottem.Carson Day |
| that refutes itself. In other words, when | | | | has written some 1.3 gazillion articles and |
| someone implies or affirms explictly that no | | | | essays aimed at helping other live wisely and |
| one can know ultimate truths for sure, he has | | | | well. He studied the history of ideas in |
| uttered an example of an ultimate truth, one | | | | college, and believes a great many |
| which implies ITS OWN denial.Second, notice | | | | propositions on purpose. Feeling courageous? |
| that the challenger holds to his view | | | | |