[MD] Probability

[Case]

> [Case]
> I am pretty sure that we can't be "certain" of anything. It would take a
lot to convince me otherwise, and that the bottom line.

[Platt}
You are certain "it would take a lot to convince me otherwise." Your "bottom
line" is where doubt ceases and certainty prevails. 

[Case]
I may or may not be certain that this is or is not the "bottom line."
Furthermore, I may or may not choose or later be determined to have stood
and/or fallen on this.

> [Case]
> I am not sure what you mean by consciousness. But I do not recall saying
> anything about it.

[Platt]
The certainty of the existence of your consciousness is the absolute
condition for your doubts about certainty. You are certain that you're
conscious aren't you?

[Case]
If you say so, I guess, but I still have no idea what you mean by conscious.

> > [Case]
> > Not at all. That is what I said: knowledge gleaned for our senses is all
> > the knowledge of reality we have.
> 
> [Platt]
> So what's the problem?

[Case]
With what? With what is above nothing but before you have authority, reason
and intuition. I had problems with those.
 
[Platt]
This debate has been going on since philosphy began without any resolution 
in sight. I think philosphy gets a bad name for endless debate about things
like this that make no difference in people's everyday lives. Whether the 
real world disappears when I turn my back on it or not isn't a problem.
Whether
we should nuke North Korea or not before they nuke us -- that's a problem.

Having said that, debating whether I exist or not if nobody observes me is a
lot of fun. 

[Case]
Philosophy has been relegated to talking trash about nothing since the other
departments at the university began expropriating all of the really
interesting subject matter. As a result philosophers prattle on about
nothing because that is all that has been left to them. 

About all that still gives philosophers any self respect at all is that
their disciple's name still gets tagged onto all the really important
degrees in the form of Philosophy doctorate. (Ph.D)

Shooting the breeze about 'nothing' is indeed entertaining. But as far as I
am concerned this particular debate is heading toward why it is morally evil
to slash and clear cut the Amazon.