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Re: DISCUSSION/Iraq and domestic protest

Dale Courtney wrote:
I think you mean to say that all arguments for an absolute authority
 must ultimately appeal to that authority for proof: otherwise the
 authority would not be an absolute or highest authority.

My reply:

No Dale.  I meant just what I said; all arguments are circular unless
referenced to an ultimate authority.  But to cut through the semantics, I do
not believe there is an ultimate authority.  That does not mean that my
values and ethics are relative, however as they are complex it is possible
to arrive at apparently contradictory positions on some issues.  In a
reasoned debate, whether internal or with others, those contradictions can
be resolved.

Troy Merrill

ps. got to leave there as I'm on the road for a couple weeks.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dale Courtney" <dmcourtn@moscow.com>
To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 8:42 PM
Subject: RE: DISCUSSION/Iraq and domestic protest


> Dale wrote:
> >>  i.e., "My reason is my ultimate authority because it seems
> >> reasonable to me to make it so." Nice circular argument.
>
> Tony replied:
> > All arguments are circular unless referenced to an ultimate
> > authority.
>
> I think you mean to say that all arguments for an absolute authority
> must ultimately appeal to that authority for proof: otherwise the
> authority would not be an absolute or highest authority.
>
> > If, however, the existence of the ultimate
> > authority must be accepted on faith, e.g. subjective belief,
> > we are back to chasing our tales.
>
> Everyone either implicitly or explicitly uses some kind of circular
> argument when defending his or her ultimate authority for belief.
>
> > There is a chance in a
> > reasoned debate that we would realize that we are no closer
> > to catching our tales than when we started.  I don't think
> > that chance exists in a faith based argument.
>
> But the point is: *every* argument for ultimate authority is a
> faith-based argument.
>
> Dale Courtney
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
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