Originally Posted by
aircloud
1/3 APPLE+ 1/3 ORANGE+ 1/3 ORANGE= 1 APPLE/ORANGE.
This violates the law of non contradiction which states that two particles X and Y cannot be the same state at the same time.
Like it cannot be rainy or sunny at the same time or light and dark.
Steve:)
This dialogue is a great example of the necessity of using logic and what happens when the laws of logic are undermined. This atheist is bright and knows that if he concedes the laws of logic are absolute, he would be on the defensive. It is my opinion that he purposely trying to undermine the validity of logic in order to retain his position. Perhaps I'm wrong, but that is my opinion. Judge for yourself as we jump in.
Matt Slick: Evidence for what? God's existence?
Rashbam: I don't agree that there was any begging the question.
Matt Slick: I can offer you an argument for God's existence, if you're interested. It is a bit involved, but worth a look.
Rashbam: I do hope it won't be one of the old hackneyed ones (cosmological, transcendental, etc.) Since they have been pretty much thrashed.
Matt Slick: I didn't think the transcendental argument was hackneyed. I prefer to use the transcendental argument.
Rashbam: Ah, a "transcendentalist." How quaint.
Matt Slick: Would you like to try and thrash the transcendental argument?
Rashbam: I don't even find it to be a coherent argument.
Matt Slick: Would you agree with me that if there are only two options to explain something, and one of them is proven false, that logically speaking, the other position is validated?
Rashbam: Well, let's see about that, Matt. Do you know anything about quantum mechanics, for example? About the fact that there can be linear superpositions of physical states?
Matt Slick: Are you an expert on quantum mechanics?
Rashbam: Yes, in fact I am an expert. Ph.d. in physics, professor of physics.
Matt Slick: Well, then, good. This should be interesting. I suppose that what you're going to try and do is bury me with esoteric terminology and concepts that you know I don't know about. I further suppose that you would try to do this in order to try and win an argument. Though it is not winning an argument.
Rashbam: No, but it will be difficult if you don't know about some basics.
Matt Slick: Since we both agree that logic is something we should use, let's discuss logic. Do you agree that logic exists?
Rashbam: I'm not sure what you mean by that statement.
Matt Slick: Logic is something we use in our dialogues, "if then" propositions, etc.
Rashbam: I think logic is a mode of thought.
Matt Slick: Okay. Logic Is a mode of thought. I would agree.
Rashbam: What you find logical may not be logical to me. I would then have to try to convince you that you have made an error, consistent with your own views of the rules of logic
Matt Slick: Would you agree with me that, for example, the law of non-contradiction is true? That something cannot be both true and false at the same time in the same sense?
Rashbam: Well, Matt, here's where I need to ask about quantum mechanics.
Matt Slick: Don't ask me about quantum mechanics. I'm not the expert.
Rashbam: Because we can have a state of physical reality where an electron has spin "up" and spin "down" simultaneously.
Matt Slick: However, I do know about logic and I am asking you a question. Would you agree with me that, for example, the law of non-contradiction is true? That something cannot be both true and false at the same time in the same sense?
Rashbam: It is equivalent to having a person being alive and dead, simultaneously. Presumably you would claim that a person cannot be both alive and dead simultaneously. But quantum mechanics proves otherwise *with the following caveat*...
Matt Slick: Excuse me, but I'm not here to discuss quantum mechanics.
Rashbam: That caveat is: Macroscopic states, due to something called "decoherence," generally assume classical behaviors.
Matt Slick: Excuse me, can we stick to the topic? Can you please stop trying to bury me in esoteric terminology?
Rashbam: Well then I'm sorry but I cannot accept the "law of noncontradiction" because I know of instances where it does not apply.
Matt Slick: So then the law of non-contradiction is not true, correct?
Rashbam: As applied to quantum systems, it is problematic. A more nuanced form would be required.
Matt Slick: If the law of non-contradiction is not true, then I immediately claim victory over you in all of our arguments because I have already won everything logically because I said so yesterday and today.
Rashbam: Can you make progress in your argument without invoking the law of non-conradiction?
Matt Slick: I never mentioned a law of non-contradiction.
Rashbam: You did about 2 minutes ago.
Matt Slick: No, I did not. You are obviously in error. Since the law of non-contradiction cannot be assumed to always be true, then I have not contradicted myself when
I tell you I never mentioned the law of non-contradiction, even in this statement.
Rashbam: I didn't say you contradicted yourself. By the way, I claim victory too!
Matt Slick: Therefore, I win again because the law of non-contradiction is not absolute. Therefore, I cannot be proven to have contradicted myself.
Rashbam: And I thank you for graciously conceding the argument to me!
Matt Slick: Ah, then according to your system of thought, we all win. Yeah! I like what you have done. You've invalidated rational discussion. Well done.
Rashbam: No, only I have won. You conceded -- remember?
Matt Slick: Is this what your atheism leads to, irrationality?
Rashbam: No, Matt -- you're the one who started playing games here.
Matt Slick: No, since I claimed it first, I win first. No matter what you say, I double that. Therefore, I win. Nya nya nya.
Rashbam: I simply pointed out that there is a problem with classical notions of contradiction when one goes to the quantum level -- the way the universe works.
Matt Slick: Now, if by chance you are willing to have a rational discussion with me, then we could continue. But if you want to assert that the law of non-contradiction is not rationally true in all places, and then there is no basis for rational discussion.
Rashbam: You dismissed that as "jargon" and started ranting.
Matt Slick: I never dismissed any jargon and I was not ranting ever. Not at all.
Rashbam: This is why we need to talk about quantum mechanics, Matt.
Matt Slick: Or... are you going to cite the law of non-contradiction as being true in which to prove me incorrect?
Rashbam: Because you insist that the "law of non-contradiction" is essential.
Matt Slick: Which is it going to be? Are you going to validate the rule or invalidate the rule?
Rashbam: It depends on how you try to apply it. Of course.
Matt Slick: I'm just trying to establish a rational dialogue. It is you who is trying to undermine it. When I assume you're a presupposition regarding the law of non-contradiction, the previous several minutes is the result.
Rashbam: This isn't going the way you thought, huh?
Matt Slick: Actually, I thought you'd be logical. I didn't think you would use illogic to try and win an argument.
Rashbam: No, I have simply pointed out that your assumptions might be problematic in certain cases.
Matt Slick: "might be"? That's it? "might be" is what you're offering? So you have a possibility, a "might be" for your position? Is that rational?
Rashbam: Well as I don't know how you are going to invoke this "law" that is the best I can do. Why don't you proceed and I'll tell you when you've made an error.
Matt Slick: The law of non-contradiction is something you cited earlier. I purposely was illogical, violating the law of non-contradiction. You cited my error, thereby presupposing the validity of the law of non-contradiction.
Rashbam: Ah, so you admit you were intentionally being illogical.
Matt Slick: So you either must tell me that it is true or it is not true. The law of excluded middle tells us that the statement is either true or false.
Rashbam: So you were the one who started to derail the conversation.
Matt Slick: Now, is it true or false that the law of non-contradiction is always true? I was not derailing the conversation. I was precisely on topic.
Rashbam: Again, I need to ask you about quantum mechanics.
Matt Slick: I see, so you can stick to the issue at hand?
Rashbam: Because the physical world behaves differently than you think.
Matt Slick: On what basis do you make that statement?
Rashbam: Can't you just get on with your argument?
Matt Slick: On what basis do you make the statement that the physical world behaves differently than I think?
Rashbam: Well you yourself profess ignorance of Qm. So obviously you are not thinking about it.
Matt Slick: You don't know what I know or don't know about quantum physics.
Rashbam: And since Qm has been verified in experiments to excruciating detail, it is a very good model for physical reality.
Matt Slick: Don't ask me about quantum mechanics. I'm not the expert.
Rashbam: Matt, just get on with your argument, please.
Matt Slick: Rash, can you think logically? Saying I'm not an expert doesn't mean I know nothing about it. Therefore, you don't know what I do know or don't know about it. You are not being logical. On what basis do you make your arguments? You are assuming the validity of the laws of logic in our discussion here
The conversation died off at this point and digressed into basic name calling and his attacks on the Bible. When someone undermines logic, he doesn't have a leg to stand on.