There have basically been two objections to polytheism over the years: one, that it is impossible, and the other, that it is too complicated. I. Impossible! The impossibility objections traditionally come from more classical quarters, as the very idea of there being two or more Gods has seemed contradictory in light of a more metaphysical … Continue reading How Simple is Polytheism? Brief Thoughts
Philosophy
Combining Aquinas and the Kalam
For years, champions of the Kalam cosmological argument like Craig have argued that the reason the cause of the universe is a mind is because it is either that or an abstract object: there just aren't any other realistic candidates. A lot of folks find this sort of reasoning...meh. I mean, maybe it's right. But, … Continue reading Combining Aquinas and the Kalam
Monotheism and the Question Begged
The idea of monotheism can be put in different ways, and sometimes other ideas can be mistaken for monotheism. A more abstract approach, for example, would not necessarily say there is only one God, but only that there is no more than one God. This way of putting things is amenable to those who think … Continue reading Monotheism and the Question Begged
The Moral Force of Logic
Things have been in something of an upheaval since leaving the military. My identity was enmeshed with my role, and I no longer play that role. Life is palpably indeterminate without a command-structure, or mission-driven orientation. You just sort of...drift, unless, of course, you choose not to. I tell myself, you are not part of … Continue reading The Moral Force of Logic
The Rebirth of Platonism in Philosophy of Religion: Debrief and some l’esprit d’escalier
Last night I had the pleasure of chatting with Ben Watkins from Real Atheology and Tyler over on his YouTube channel The Freed Thinker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdBtlAlTCYo I have long admired Ben's work, and share his commitment to raising the level of discourse. And Tyler was a gracious and attentive host. I appreciate the opportunity, and look … Continue reading The Rebirth of Platonism in Philosophy of Religion: Debrief and some l’esprit d’escalier
War of Worldviews
The process of reasoning from premises to conclusions, or argumentation, can be performed for any number of reasons. Perhaps it is done to perform a sort of diagnostic and identify any flaws or weaknesses in a view that could be improved. Perhaps it is done instead to organize information. Maybe it is to exonerate a … Continue reading War of Worldviews
Hot Take Monday: Taking All Y’all to Task
I'd like to share a couple of hot takes with you, ya know, to spice your Monday up. The first is that polytheism is the fulfillment of a naturalist intuition. The second is that monotheism has built a fortress around a very fragile belief. Let's take each in turn. I. The Best of Both Worlds: … Continue reading Hot Take Monday: Taking All Y’all to Task
Thoughts on De Mysteriis: Part 3
In this series we have taken a closer look at Iamblichus' remarks about the 'higher kinds' and what role they play in the scheme of things. For Iamblichus, it is a matter of necessity that there are intermediate kinds of things between Gods and embodied souls, since otherwise there would be a clean break between … Continue reading Thoughts on De Mysteriis: Part 3
On the Social Integration of AI
The social integration of AI is a matter of what place AI technology has and can take in society. If that place is instrumental, then the extent and nature of its integration will correspond in proportion to its utility. If, on the other hand, AI’s place in society is mereological, for lack of a better … Continue reading On the Social Integration of AI
Thoughts on De Mysteriis: Part 2
"For Iamblichus, the central issue of his age was not the polemic between pagans and Christians but the far more serious conflict between “old ways” and “new ways,” between the ancient traditions inspired by gods, and those recently invented by man," Gregory Shaw, Theurgy and the Soul, 3 As we saw in the previous installment, … Continue reading Thoughts on De Mysteriis: Part 2
The Analytic Pagan 