Up@dawn 2.0

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Section 9, Group 4- Ockham

Today in class we discussed William of Ockham and some of what he believed. He rejected Aristotle's proof of God and had the famous question, How much can reason know faith? He believed not at all. His major contribution to logic was by using the simplest explanation possible in all things. We discussed how this could possibly be a conflict between his logic and his unbelief in God. Most people who believe in God believe that there are answers to many of life's questions thus, making it simple. If Ockham wanted the simplest answer, then why was it so hard for him to believe? We thought that maybe as an example, he thought it simpler to believe that the universe started as nothing than to believe that it was started by a higher power (God).

Factual question: What is Ockham considered in the philosophical world?
A skeptic

Discussion question: Do you think it is easier/simpler to not believe in something than it is to believe in something?

5 comments:

  1. I think it is easier to be skeptical about something like the existence of God. It makes my life easier not having to worry about the existence of a higher power that can decide my fate when I die.

    Fact: Who painted the "School of Athens"?
    Raphael
    Discussion: Do you think all of the philosophers in the "School of Athens" could coexist? (stupid question)

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  2. yes, i believe its easier to not believe in something than it is to believe in something. When a person doesn't believe, they have no reason to question anything or want to know further knowledge. For instance, if you don't believe pigs can fly then that's that. You have no reason to learn more about the subject. However, if you do believe pigs can fly, then you want proof that what you believe its true and can be justifiable.

    Factual: Who is in the center of the painting of "School of Athens"?
    Plato

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  3. I think it is simpler to believe in something than nothing because then you don't have to worry about trying to find out what to believe is right.
    Who wrote "Against Scholastic Theology"?
    Martin Luther
    Why do you think Luther was so opposed to Aristotelian logic?

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  4. I think it's hard both ways, to be a skeptic and to believe in something. To believe in something you have to have unyielding faith. To be a skeptic you constantly have to have doubt and explain you doubt to believers.

    (Fact) - What is a main theme behind Ockhams Razor?
    A: The simplest explanation of an entity is preferred

    (Discussion) - Is the simplest explanation always the most correct or understandable? Does this change depending on what you're talking about?

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  5. In theory yes, to not believe anything means you have no moral responsibility to anything. However, I think that those who "do not believe in anything" still have doubt about what they do not believe. They ask themselves what if there is some kind of god out there who will judge me. Just an opinion.

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