Keith Parsons's Blog, page 67

Naturalism and Norms (Postscript)

Philip K asks some very probing and incisive questions about ethical naturalism (EN) in his comment on my post "Naturalism and Norms." These questions raise issues too large and too important to be addressed in the very limited space of a comment box, so I am making a new post. He puts two questions to the ethical naturalist: Here are two questions, then. First, is it an

The Monty Hall Problem - Part 2

These probability tree diagrams represent a standard line of reasoning in support of the 'correct' answer to the Monty Hall problem.

Changing minds

A student I ran into recently told me that I, along with his roommate, was the reason he became an atheist. Apparently when in a questioning period, he went to a panel discussion on campus where I represented a godless infidel perspective, and this helped tip the balance.

Now, I don't want to exaggerate my influence, though everyone who teaches is gratified when occasionally a student gets

The Monty Hall Problem - Part 1

This post is off topic, but there are math and logic buffs out there who might enjoy a discussion of the Monty Hall problem, and I'm hoping to get some feedback on some thoughts I have about a standard solution to the problem.Fig Leaf JustificationAtheists and Naturalists are a minority group. Most people in the USA believe in God. So those who are doubters and skeptics are generally clear on the

Naturalism and Norms

My recent exchange with Taner on ethical naturalism (EN) prompted a good bit of stimulating comment and criticism. I've been out of town for a couple of weeks and away from blogging, so I have not been able to reply to each comment as it arrived. Rather than attempt to do so now, I would like to address the issue that seems to me to be at the heart of much of the discussion: How do naturalists

Religion as an inability to handle randomness

One consistent theme in my writing about science and religion is that there is an awful lot of randomness in the world, and that supernatural beliefs typically deny this randomness.

Here's a discussion of some recent psychological research that connects nicely. Religiosity is often associated with an inability to accept randomness.

I should probably add a qualification. I have run into some

Atheist converts after mock-prayer is "answered"

In the news:

A self-confessed atheist has become a believer after mocking God by sarcastically praying for his mother to win the lottery. However, his joke prayer was amazingly answered as the next day his mother won $1 million on the New York Lottery Sweet Million game.

Sal Bentivegna, 28, who did not previously believe in God, had sarcastically asked his mother to "ask your God for a million

"Supertheory of Supereverything"

It's not exactly new, but I just ran into Gogol Bordello's song "Supertheory of Supereverything." Enjoy it:

Unraptured

Well, I'm still here.

It also occurs to me that I would have very little opportunity for direct evidence of the Rapture a day after the promised date. I don't have many friends or colleagues who would be good candidates for being taken up in the air.

Maybe if I were to go down to the supermarket and it seemed especially uncrowded? I'll have to see what happens. I shouldn't run out of milk until

New Chick Tracts

Just in time for the impending rapture:


And here's an anti-Masonic rant, just as in the good old days: