I usually end up annoyed with commentators who denounce relativism & insist on universal truth. Not because I think they’re wrong; it’s just how often I see these comments in response to people trying to talk about people making decisions based on their beliefs, or incomplete information, or finite amounts of time, etc. The denunciations end up being irrelevant time-wasters.
Yes, I’m aware of the existence of philosophers who deny objective truth.
“how often I see these comments in response to people trying to talk about people making decisions based on their beliefs,”
Of course people should make decisions based on their beliefs —
“or incomplete information,”
I don’t see why I should encourage that —
“or finite amounts of time, etc.”
I understand that limitation, which we all share, but —
“The denunciations end up being irrelevant time-wasters.”
— Unless these denunciations point out that a person had incomplete information (or insufficient time). Denunciation would be in order, would it not? Or have I mis-interpreted your point entirely?
The denunciations I’m trying to complain about are where a person states the techniques they use to deal with having incomplete/possibly faulty information & finite time, and the denouncer takes their statement to be a rejection of objective truth itself.
It’s not always an unreasonable mistake; conversational English doesn’t really have a good way to deal with this level of abstraction, and very few of the jargons I’ve found (mathematical, philosophical, psychological) handle it in ways that are easy to translate into the others.
“or incomplete information,”
I don’t see why I should encourage that —
You don’t have to encourage it, but I see no way to discourage it without discouraging ever coming to a conclusion.
I would say that I believe that my beliefs are what I believe. If I am not mistaken.
I’ve taken that to be a misbelief.
I usually end up annoyed with commentators who denounce relativism & insist on universal truth. Not because I think they’re wrong; it’s just how often I see these comments in response to people trying to talk about people making decisions based on their beliefs, or incomplete information, or finite amounts of time, etc. The denunciations end up being irrelevant time-wasters.
Yes, I’m aware of the existence of philosophers who deny objective truth.
I misread your comment, no doubt:
“how often I see these comments in response to people trying to talk about people making decisions based on their beliefs,”
Of course people should make decisions based on their beliefs —
“or incomplete information,”
I don’t see why I should encourage that —
“or finite amounts of time, etc.”
I understand that limitation, which we all share, but —
“The denunciations end up being irrelevant time-wasters.”
— Unless these denunciations point out that a person had incomplete information (or insufficient time). Denunciation would be in order, would it not? Or have I mis-interpreted your point entirely?
The denunciations I’m trying to complain about are where a person states the techniques they use to deal with having incomplete/possibly faulty information & finite time, and the denouncer takes their statement to be a rejection of objective truth itself.
It’s not always an unreasonable mistake; conversational English doesn’t really have a good way to deal with this level of abstraction, and very few of the jargons I’ve found (mathematical, philosophical, psychological) handle it in ways that are easy to translate into the others.
You don’t have to encourage it, but I see no way to discourage it without discouraging ever coming to a conclusion.
We all have incomplete information. You are right.
As you say, if we all waited for complete information, we could never come to a conclusion.
And if we wait for me to write clearly, we’ll never reply to my comments.
Upon your deathbed you will receive total consciousness.
That place is filthy. Can’t I use someone else’s deathbead?
A common complaint.
If Elizabeth Warren is elected, she promises that everyone will use someone wealthier’s deathbed.
Which makes her a cryptocommunist.
Or a fecist.
The discharge of her dooties. Yecch.
If you like your deathbed…you can keep your deathbed. ~ Barack Obama
And we will gladly help you into it.