Originally posted by dj2beckerThere is a room. It is locked. You can't get in. The lightbulb inside is either on or off. Maybe you can see a light through the crack at the bottom, or maybe you can't. You don't know for sure. Nor does anyone else. Some people say the bulb is on; some people say it isn't.
My apologies. But if everyone believes in ABSOLUTE truth without deriving it from an absolute point of reference, how can it be ABSOLUTE? Everybody’s ABSOLUTE truth would be different, and thus truth would be relative.
Now, can't you believe that, whatever people think, the bulb is either on or off, without believing that the bulb is off, or believing that the bulb is on?
Moral: You don't need to derive ultimate truth to believe that there is some ultimate truth.
Clear?
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Originally posted by PawnokeyholeIf you compare absolute truth to a lightbulb that is on, and you can't know for sure whether the light bulb is on, then how do you know for sure that your analogy is true?
There is a room. It is locked. You can't get in. The lightbulb inside is either on or off. Maybe you can see a light through the crack at the bottom, or maybe you can't. You don't know for sure. Nor does anyone else. Some people say the bulb is on; some people say it isn't.
Now, can't you believe that, whatever people think, the bulb is either on on't need to derive ultimate truth to believe that there is some ultimate truth.
Clear?
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Originally posted by dj2beckerSo meaning is derived from a definition? Does "God" then have meaning, because the word has a definition?
No. Value is subjective. Someone has to value me for me to have value. If no one values me, I lack value. If I had intrinsic value this would be impossible. Therefore I do not.
So why should someone value you if you have no intrinsic value?
In that context, I "come from" an evolutionary process acting on self replicating molecules - probab ue because the dictionary says so? Does the dictionary not define God as well?
Meaning IS definition, it's not derived FROM definition. "What does X mean?" is equivalent to "What is the definition of X?" That's the only meaning of the word 'meaning' that I know of.
"God" has meaning because the word is defined, though that doesn't mean that God exists.
So it's true because the dictionary says so?
No. I didn't say that.
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Originally posted by AThousandYoungMaybe this will help.
[b]So meaning is derived from a definition? Does "God" then have meaning, because the word has a definition?
Meaning IS definition, it's not derived FROM definition. "What does X mean?" is equivalent to "What is the definition of X?" That's the only meaning of the word 'meaning' that I know of.
"God" has meaning because the word is defined, ...[text shortened]...
So it's true because the dictionary says so?
No. I didn't say that.[/b]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life
Originally posted by dj2beckerWhat does "empirical adequacy" mean?
On the basis of my study of who Christ claimed to be, and what he said when he answers these four questions of life, of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny, the logical consitency of his answers, the empirical adequacy by which you measure those answers, and the experiential relevance of his answers have convinced me that he is the way, the truth and the life.
Originally posted by dj2beckerThe question "what is the meaning of life?" means different things to different people. The vagueness of the query is inherent in the word "meaning", which opens the question to many interpretations...
Maybe this will help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life
That's not very helpful.
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Originally posted by AThousandYoungI guess it's meaningless to discuss the meaning of life with someone who thinks that the meaning of life is meaningless.
The question "what is the meaning of life?" means different things to different people. The vagueness of the query is inherent in the word "meaning", which opens the question to many interpretations...
That's not very helpful.
Originally posted by dj2beckerThat question just make no sense. Analogies are not true or false; they are apt or inappropriate.
If you compare absolute truth to a lightbulb that is on, and you can't know for sure whether the light bulb is on, then how do you know for sure that your analogy is true?
You're on your own, dj2becker!
Originally posted by dj2beckerI don't think life has a purpose. That is, there is no answer to "what is the purpose OF life." Life just is. It doesn't exist for someone's purpose.
By 'meaing' of life, I mean:
What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?
There are many purposes IN my life, but they all come down to one purpose (or two) I suppose; the maximization of my happiness and the minimization of my pain.