In a recent (extended) discussion with Seer, the issue of presuppositions/assumptions came up. The suggestion was made that we have differing presuppositions, making it difficult (impossible?) for a discussion between worldviews. That has had me thinking a bit. So I thought I would toss the question out there. If you had to identify the core presuppositions underlying your worldview, what would you put on the list. These are the things you start with as assumptions - not the things you conclude.
I have several things on my list:
Sitting here, writing quickly, that's my initial list. Does yours add or exclude anything? I would like to see if the various worldviews can find a common starting point we all agree on that makes it possible to communicate more easily.
I have several things on my list:
- The laws of logic and mathematics are immutable, universal, and eternal.
- The universe is intelligible - it operates according to principles that can be codified and understood.
- I have the ability to use my five senses to (imperfectly) collect information about the reality of the universe.
- I have the (imperfect) capacity to reason and process that information to arrive at conclusions.
- Because my sensing and reasoning is imperfect, I should check my reasoning against that of others as much and as often as possible. That will help me to find flaws in my reasoning.
- Because of 3) and 4), it is never possible to be 100% certain about any conclusion.
- I should never add something to an explanation that is not strictly necessary to arrive at the conclusion (Occam's Razor)
Sitting here, writing quickly, that's my initial list. Does yours add or exclude anything? I would like to see if the various worldviews can find a common starting point we all agree on that makes it possible to communicate more easily.
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