DeWitz Posted March 24, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 24, 2014 In one of his pre-retirement public lectures, eminent theobiologist Clyde P. Fesmire opined, "What we know pales in comparison to what we must trust in. If it's true we may know it, or not. If we don't, it still may be true. Think about gravity. Or don't. It's still there." Or something like that--my notes from that talk are rather coffee-stained. The point, which I raise as a question, not a statement, is this: "When rationality, healthy skepticism and investigation leave us with mystery, when is it epistemologically 'kosher' to make the leap to fideism, or just a simple trust in the positive development of the universe?" Or, stated differently, when (if ever) does faith have a role in responding to (any) mystery? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiritWriter Posted March 24, 2014 #2 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Faith is for the future, it can be a hope (that everything will be ok), a firm knowledge (based on the results faith has performed in the past) and of course it is a mystery because we don't know how everything will transpire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarMountainKid Posted March 25, 2014 #3 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I think in a practical sense, a simple trust in the positive development of the universe. We may have a compitent enough understanding of the universe such that there will be no unexpected surprises for us in the future, such as the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics were counterintuitive surprises when these concepts were first introduced. The mysteries that remain may only be in discovering the details. I also think the above statements may be in future known as famous last words. (Gen. Custer's famous last words: "I think they're friendly indians.") 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisperer Posted March 25, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 25, 2014 "when (if ever) does faith have a role in responding to (any) mystery?" When it suits its own agenda is the first thought that comes to mind. Yet faith comes in all guises, not only the Religious approach . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davros of Skaro Posted March 25, 2014 #5 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Faith is not a virtue. Have faith in Nigerian prince e-mails. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhen Posted March 25, 2014 #6 Share Posted March 25, 2014 To me it's a non sequitur. Or to quote Douglas Adam; "Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now