[MD] Dawkins a Materialist (is watching?)

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting ARLO J BENSINGER JR <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Arlo]
> Case's "the purpose of live is keep the fire burning" is no more circular than
> your tautological "the purpose of life is to live". And Case's too, like
> Stephen's, is an activity "in the now" purpose. It is about what we do, not why
> we are. "We exist so that we can exist" conveys nothing, and is a futile
> purpose. Both Case's and Stephen's suggestions say more, and are not doomed to
> failure by their own words.

As if "to live" doesn't involve activity. 

> [Platt]
> What did Pirsig say about such a worldview? "From the perspective of a
> subject-object science, the world is a completely purposeless, valueless place.
> ...
> 
> [Arlo]
> I don't think Case ever said the world is purposeless or valueless (but I
> appreciate the sly, rhetorical tactic). I think he's said, or I would say, that
> "purpose" and "value" arise from activity not because we were
> preplanned/designed by some "transcendent intelligence".

As if "to live" doesn't involve activity. Anyway, there's your magical "arising"
or "emerging" again. In your world, things just happen for no reason at all. 
It's just good or bad luck, depending on the situation that "arises." Things 
oblivious to the world and purpose like atoms and neurons just happens to emerge
into something that becomes conscious of the wold and exhibits purpose. The rabbit
comes out of the hat. Well, golly gee-whiz. It's magic! 




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