tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post3792483126262196743..comments2023-09-25T04:26:51.568-06:00Comments on The Barefoot Bum: Atheism and skepticismLarry Hamelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-49565479829395166472010-11-26T23:59:53.375-07:002010-11-26T23:59:53.375-07:00That scepticism = atheism is really a claim that s...That scepticism = atheism is really a claim that sceptical inquiry would conclude that there was no god - and that this would be so *in any conceivable universe*.<br /><br />So confusing scepticism and atheism is a species of confusing method and conclusion. <br /><br />Lippard also correctly identifies how atheism may be the result of other processes than scepticism. Adherence to certain political beliefs would be one of these, and these political beliefs may be founded on a rather uncritical and even anti-sceptical outlook.Solanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10548071704344622360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-77439547169842312522010-11-26T14:19:41.631-07:002010-11-26T14:19:41.631-07:00I call false charge of fallacy on your "categ...I call false charge of fallacy on your "category mistake" claim.<br /><br />You write: "The implication appears to be that atheism is about holding a particular position without regard to using the best method to find a reliable answer to questions about the existence of God."<br /><br />That's correct--what makes one an atheist is not believing in gods, regardless of how one came to that position. You go on to talk about *skeptical* atheists, and I agree that there are such--I'm one of them.<br /><br />The rest of your post is a straw man--I've not told anyone to shut up. My point is simply that there is a distinction between skepticism and atheism, and that it can cause confusion to blur that distinction.<br /><br />I also pointed out on Twitter on Nov. 23 (https://twitter.com/#!/lippard/status/7074762350133248): "Seems to me a better argument than I've heard for the name "Skepticon" would be: we want to promote *skeptical* atheism, not just atheism." and (https://twitter.com/#!/lippard/status/7074762350133248) "Did I just miss it, or is that an argument it hasn't occurred to any "Skepticon" defenders to make? And is it even the case?"Lippardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16826768452963498005noreply@blogger.com