[extropy-chat] HISTORY: Solved & Unsolved Riddles

[kevinfreels at hotmail.com]

I don't think that you are arguing because of an ego. The word "believe" has
a variety of meanings: (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=believe)

To accept as true or real: "Do you believe the news stories? "
To credit with veracity: "I believe you. "
To expect or suppose; think: "I believe they will arrive shortly. "

v. intr.
To have firm faith, especially religious faith.
To have faith, confidence, or trust: I believe in your ability to solve the
problem.
To have confidence in the truth or value of something: We believe in free
speech.
To have an opinion; think: They have already left, I believe.

So in some cases, it is used as a justification of something taken as fact
without supporting evidence. In others, it is expectation or supposition
which both would be based in some fact. To think.

What bothers me is when people use its faith based version while claiming
otherwise. I agree with you about public policy being made by uninformed
faith based beliefs.

As far as ego goes, don't we all have one?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brett Paatsch" <bpaatsch at bigpond.net.au>
To: "ExI chat list" <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] HISTORY: Solved & Unsolved Riddles


> Kevin wrote:
>
> > I BELIEVE that most who read that post were able to
> > understand that without picking apart the statement to
> > find out what I meant. Perhaps I could have said that
> > is was a conjecture or a preliminary finding.
>
> Yup. It is a choice. That you have the power to  use the
> word or any other has never been in contention. That you
> would be stopped or coerced into not using it hasn't either.
>
> Perhaps that's what you wanted to test?
>
> If you think I have an ego, you are right. If you think I
> have been arguing the point because of that you are mistaken.
>
> Perhaps all it comes down to, in the end, is whether you
> are intellectually persuaded against using it. If you are not
> the default meme - which is believing wins and keeps another
> vector of propagation.
>
> I will work with anyone on this list that is willing to work the
> intellectual basis of the argument. My motive for wanting
> to work the arguments is self-centred. I live in a world where
> I see that democracies set the policy-framework that sets the
> upper limits on the rate of  progress that determines whether
> I can live or die.
>
> - Brett
>
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