You do not know 1% of all that can be known: Difference between revisions

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==Counter-arguments==
==Counter-arguments==
===Lack of evidence===
The fact that we do not possess all (or even most) information does not change the fact that in the 1% that we do possess, there is no [[evidence]] for any gods. It is possible that there is a god somewhere out there, just as it is possible that there are fairies or unicorns somewhere. The time to believe a proposition is when there is evidence for it, not before.
In effect, theists is the ones claiming that God lies within the 1% area, so it is up to them to demonstrate this.
===Changing definitions===
===Changing definitions===
The percentage of knowledge we have is based on the total amount of knowledge. The implication is that this includes all information, but it's a function of the ''known''. If, for instance, you are alone in a sophist universe, you would in fact have 100% of the knowledge - since you would be the only entity with knowledge. In addition, while information simply is, knowledge is qualitative in nature - it is based on degree of belief and reasoning. There are (presumably) things no one "knows" about, and there are things people "know" which are incorrect. While this does not undermine the basic argument, by phrasing it this way it is made clear that the person presenting the argument does not have personal access to correct knowledge others do not - and by abandoning science as the only demonstrably reliable method for evaluating claims of knowledge for truth, they are actually claiming that unsupported belief is more important than substantiated knowledge.
The percentage of knowledge we have is based on the total amount of knowledge. The implication is that this includes all information, but it's a function of the ''known''. If, for instance, you are alone in a sophist universe, you would in fact have 100% of the knowledge - since you would be the only entity with knowledge. In addition, while information simply is, knowledge is qualitative in nature - it is based on degree of belief and reasoning. There are (presumably) things no one "knows" about, and there are things people "know" which are incorrect. While this does not undermine the basic argument, by phrasing it this way it is made clear that the person presenting the argument does not have personal access to correct knowledge others do not - and by abandoning science as the only demonstrably reliable method for evaluating claims of knowledge for truth, they are actually claiming that unsupported belief is more important than substantiated knowledge.
===Lack of evidence===
The fact that we do not possess all (or even most) information does not change the fact that in the 1% that we do possess, there is no [[evidence]] for any gods. It is possible that there is a god somewhere out there, just as it is possible that there are fairies or unicorns somewhere. The time to believe a proposition is when there is evidence for it, not before.


===Sharing of information===
===Sharing of information===

Revision as of 23:07, 9 December 2013

This argument is a variation on the argument from ignorance. It typically goes as follows:

Let's be very generous and say that it's possible to know 1% of everything that can be known. An atheist who says that there is no god is therefore passing judgment with only 1% of the available information, ignoring the possibility that knowledge of God might lie in the other 99%.

Counter-arguments

Lack of evidence

The fact that we do not possess all (or even most) information does not change the fact that in the 1% that we do possess, there is no evidence for any gods. It is possible that there is a god somewhere out there, just as it is possible that there are fairies or unicorns somewhere. The time to believe a proposition is when there is evidence for it, not before.

In effect, theists is the ones claiming that God lies within the 1% area, so it is up to them to demonstrate this.

Changing definitions

The percentage of knowledge we have is based on the total amount of knowledge. The implication is that this includes all information, but it's a function of the known. If, for instance, you are alone in a sophist universe, you would in fact have 100% of the knowledge - since you would be the only entity with knowledge. In addition, while information simply is, knowledge is qualitative in nature - it is based on degree of belief and reasoning. There are (presumably) things no one "knows" about, and there are things people "know" which are incorrect. While this does not undermine the basic argument, by phrasing it this way it is made clear that the person presenting the argument does not have personal access to correct knowledge others do not - and by abandoning science as the only demonstrably reliable method for evaluating claims of knowledge for truth, they are actually claiming that unsupported belief is more important than substantiated knowledge.

Sharing of information

Many people consider the question of whether any gods exist to be very important. If there were good evidence for the existence of a god, this would quickly be propagated through the population via newspapers, television, and so forth. Thus, if the 1% of all knowledge possessed by any given person does not include the knowledge of evidence for a god, it is reasonable to conclude that no one on Earth has such evidence.

Should we expect to have knowledge of God?

What sort of god could be hiding in the 99% of knowledge that we do not possess? If it were a lightning bolt-throwing man living at the summit of Mt. Olympus, we would be able to see his abode in satellite images. If it were some being that responded to intercessory prayer, we would see this in experimental results. If God created the universe in its present state 10,000 years ago, we would not see any stars farther away than 10,000 light years unless the Omphalos hypothesis is correct.

Since these sorts of gods contradict information which we do possess, it is reasonable to conclude that such gods do not exist. A god who hides in the knowledge that we do not possess would have to be one who does not interact with the universe in any way detectable on Earth with present-day equipment. Such a god might be impotent, or hiding (such as a deist god). Either way, there is no evidence for such a god.

A different god

In the 99% of knowledge that we do not possess there could be proof that one or more gods exists who is/are different from the god of the bible.

See also