Flawed arguments...

When discussing philosophy and 'theology' why do people use arguments they know are flawed? In no other area of intellectual pursuit does this happen.

I don't read about physics and see a physicist explain:
The aether exists, all waves propagate through a medium, light is a wave and the aether is it's medium! You can't get interference if the waves aren't in something.

Then other physicists explain:
The Michelson-Morley experiment proves that there is no aether, by demonstrating a lack of aether wind.

Then a few weeks later see the exact same flawed and rebutted argument for the existence of the aether! Wouldn't that be annoying.

To any reasonable person; if an argument is shown to be flawed it is retracted and not used again. To use a knowingly flawed argument to convince someone of your views is deception!

Time and time again, however, I hear the same flawed arguments in support of the existence of the supernatural. Perhaps it's a case of "the ends justify the means" - "as long as I convert someone it doesn't matter if I lied to them"

Tags: argument, flawed

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Comment by Mike Donohoe on February 10, 2010 at 3:03pm: Good question. I think a lot of it might be that they refuse to process things which they don't want to believe or cannot comprehend. Some people simply don't grasp science but in the case of the fundamentally ill there is brain washing too of course, not that religion is the only instance of brain washing. Take a proper gander at any propaganda and it is there to be found.

I recall attempting to convey the essence of evolution to a friend back in high school who was raised Jehovah's Witness. He was a smart quick minded person but could not piece together the things I tried to convey. I used to have fun freaking him out by challenging God to strike me down. =)

Comment by Michel-san on February 10, 2010 at 6:07pm: "I used to have fun freaking him out by challenging God to strike me down." Wow!

Comment by Mike Donohoe on February 10, 2010 at 6:20pm: Hee! Hee! =) Kind of ironic that we were friends I guess.

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