Sky Render said:
I would like to run a simple experiment in logic using an old logical tool known as Occam's Razor. As I'm sure most know, Occam's Razor states that the simplest solution is usually the most correct one. Let's compare the theories.
Theory #1: a god or gods exist and created reality.
Required assumptions:
* A god or gods exist
* A god or gods existed before all time and space
* A god or gods created all of time and space
Wouldn't it be necessary for it (them) to exist in order to create it? In that case, it wouldn' t be an assumption, simply and extension
Shortcomings:
* Lack of concrete evidence for the existence of a god or gods
* Revisionist additions are made whenever new evidence is presented which potentially contradicts what is already believed
That's exactly what happens in science, though.
Theory #2: reality exists due to the manifestation of scientific laws
Required assumptions:
* The basic theories guiding science are correct
* Time and space have an origin point
Shortcomings:
* Not all rules are necessarily understood correctly at this point and time, meaning certain aspects are unknown (such as the origins of space and time)
This is, of course, by no means a perfect example. But it does point out a rather important fact: the idea that the universe came into existence by and is guided by a basic set of unchanging rules is a lot simpler than the idea that the universe was created by an omnipotent being or a group of omnipotent beings. It also makes no claims that humanity understands everything; quite otherwise, it suggests that we have much to learn still about the basic rules that make everything work.
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I would also posit that Occam's Razor assumes that all statements made have an equal probablility of being right and wrong. If I suggest "A, B, C, and D caused E", I really can't say that "A caused E" is all that more probable. Yes, a statement is either going to be true or false, but we don't know if it has the same probablity of either choice, like the flipping of a coin.
Empiricism is useless by itself, anyway (Matrix, anyone?)
