Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Missing Question

I was just listening to Any Questions and there were no answers. For instance, "I am absolutely opposed to nuclear power" is apparently an acceptable answer. Similarly, "We should derive all our power exclusively from wind farms" is an acceptable rejoinder. They are not. 2 + 2 = 4 may be said unencumbered by detailed reasoning (unless you ase talking to a child, who deserves more respect) but anything more complex requires at least a minimal attempt at answering the qesrion Why? The paradigm should be I believe x because y. Thus: I believe in God because [fill in irrational gobbledygook of choice]. Even better, state facts but include the magic "because" word: There is a God because there is fairy dust on the moon [or the bible says so and I am a credulous fool]. Then at least we can have an argument, even if only about the existence or otherwise of fairy dust and its presence (or otherwise) on the moon. Fairy dust obnviously does exist and there is a plentiful supply of it on the moon because that is where fairies live. so it is possibly a bad example.

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