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1500 questions
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8 answers
Does single case chance actually exist?
Does chance actually exist for a single case? Even for a coin, what does it mean to say that there is a 50% chance that the next coin toss will land on heads?
Someone might say that this means that if one were to throw this coin an infinite number…
user62907
10
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15 answers
Mathematical Platonism. Are numbers real?
Often heard this being asked: Are numbers real?
As an answer I offer my own analysis for what its worth.
The color green is considered real. As per scientists it's only distinguishing quality is that it has a wavelength of 555 nm. In essence we're…
Agent Smith
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Computational counter-argument for solipsism
First let me elaborate the argument.
Take a calculator (wolframalpha, google or other software tools may serve as well).
Perform some very complex operation.
Write down the operation and the result separately.
Go do something fun for about 10…
Trylks
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Strawson on Free Will: What are the most persuasive challenges to his position?
There are arguments against free will and moral responsibility which rely on strict causal determinism and/or determinism modified by quantum randomness. Criticisms of these views raise doubt as to our ability to adequately measure the incredibly…
Futilitarian
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10
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Why should an atheist care about what happens to the world after his/her death?
Consider someone who doesn't believe in any kind of reincarnation or perfect punishment after death, an atheist. That is, nothing in the world can impact him/her after his/her death, because, as he/she believes, he/she will completely ceasing…
BsAxUbx5KoQDEpCAqSffwGy554PSah
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Does libertarian free will necessarily choose the same thing every time?
Suppose libertarian free will exists. Say that a person is presented with choices A and B, and she chooses A. Then, her memory is wiped, and her brain, body, and surrounding conditions are reset to the exact same conditions as when she chose A the…
pastel_questions
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Is there a way to tell if something is science versus pseudoscience?
Is there a litmus test to know whether something is science or pseudoscience?
There are many things which is quite ambiguous like ayurveda, homeopathy, psychology, biology, etc...
quanity
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What is the ontological status of information that is permanently inaccessible to any conceivable observer?
Rovelli & others, in Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) take the simple ontological picture of the Copenhagen Picture and relativise it. This is what I was suggesting in this question, though I was looking for a specific mathematical treatment.
In…
Mozibur Ullah
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Does free will require an event to occur without a predecessor (thereby violating causality)?
From my understanding, a Mixed Quantum State defines the set of all probable outcomes for a system, but isn't there still only one outcome determined through the succession of factors leading up to it (i.e., we may not be able to measure the…
John LaMontagne
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The problem of Motion
I recently heard that motion, the observation that things move, or rather change, was considered a real philosophical problem. What is the status of that question? Can someone e point me to an essay that describes why exactly that was (perhaps still…
Mike M
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Are "'why' questions" useful in or applicable to the study of science?
Based on the lively discussion of this question over at physics.stackexchange, I thought it might be useful to ask it here as well.
The kernel of the debate is whether or not "why" questions are fundamentally metaphysical in nature and, therefore,…
Geoffrey
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Is 4D space metaphysically possible?
It is often said humans can't imagine 4D space due to limitations of our mind, but is this really the case or is 4D (and other n-dimensions greater than 3) truly metaphysically impossible, meaning that a universe could not exist with 4D space. The…
user289980
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Why was Russell discontent with Wittgenstein's view on "logic as tautologies"?
While reading Logicomix, I came across a scene that I don't quite understand.
Russell: ...Logicians are creating elaborate ways to "say the same things in different words"...this "everything is a tautology" stuff smells of metaphysical bosh!
This…
Dimen
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Is the argument that God can't be omnipotent, omniscient and all good invalid because omnipotence would let God violate logic
I have heard it argued that a god can not be all-benevolent, omniscient and omnipotent at the same time. My question is, is this a valid logical argument.
Given the premises I would argue that there are 2 possibilities.
God's omnipotence does not…
Joseph Hirsch
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Is the dichotomy between natural and unnatural defensible?
Are not the dictionary definitions of natural and unnatural inconsistent?
Why wouldn't whatever humans create (e.g. money, plastic bags, books, internet, laptop, lamp, buildings, airplanes, etc) be natural when humans are natural and part of nature…
ActualCry
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