• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

ARK Encounter opens today!

Page 23 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
WelshBloke said:
Thats easy to say with your access to modern medicine, electricity, clean water...

You're only able to say that to us because of the amount of science we understand.
Click to expand...
What's your point? I don't disdain technology, I just understand that technology doesn't make us more intelligent it just offers more opportunities including, the ability to make the wrong choices at the speed of light.
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
What's your point? I don't disdain technology, I just understand that technology doesn't make us more intelligent it just offers more opportunities including, the ability to make the wrong choices at the speed of light.
Click to expand...

It seems like technology has us distracted. The latest gadgets keep us occupied and keep our minds super stimulated and busy - constantly.

Technology in itself is not the problem. The way we are using it for the most part might very well be.

Some will argue that education (alongside technology) has made us "better" and more "evolved." This might be true in some ways. Yes, we have better table manners, better command of the language in some ways, better transportation, more technical skills and so on. But has it made us better people in the true sense? Has it made us less selfish? Less greedy? Or just the same as we've always been but now just look better groomed?

I'm sure many will counter that technology and education will solve all our problems despite mankind's selfishness and greed. That remains to be seen.
 
WelshBloke said:
Does religion make us more intelligent?
Click to expand...

That is somewhat of a tough one, really.

Just disagreeing with a religion in general has had some positive results really, just religion being there at all has forced some thinking outside of the box more or less.

Religion has always been more of a social environment to benefit the ones at the top of the pyramid in a larger scale overall it seems to me, but the ones that usually make scientific breakthroughs are the people that step away from it and take a "That's not really right" stance.
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
It can.
Click to expand...

So something that engenders a thought process that accepts belief without question can make you more intelligent but a system that asks you to question and understand everything doesn't?

OK then.

MagnusTheBrewer said:
Is intelligence the end all and be all of human existence? I don't believe so.
Click to expand...

Pretty much everything that makes your life comfortable is down to someone being intelligent.

The fact that you have the luxury of beliving that is down to someone being intelligent.
 
raildogg said:
It seems like technology has us distracted. The latest gadgets keep us occupied and keep our minds super stimulated and busy - constantly.

Technology in itself is not the problem. The way we are using it for the most part might very well be.

Some will argue that education (alongside technology) has made us "better" and more "evolved." This might be true in some ways. Yes, we have better table manners, better command of the language in some ways, better transportation, more technical skills and so on. But has it made us better people in the true sense? Has it made us less selfish? Less greedy? Or just the same as we've always been but now just look better groomed?

I'm sure many will counter that technology and education will solve all our problems despite mankind's selfishness and greed. That remains to be see.
Click to expand...
Science and technology will always be a double edged sword because no matter how much we learn, there will always be those who seek to use it for their own benefit at the cost of others. Rather simular to the history of religion, no?
 
WelshBloke said:
Does religion make us more intelligent?
Click to expand...

Intelligence is the acquiring and using of knowledge. Religion, since it isn't science, makes us more intelligent by definition because we are taking in more knowledge.

The study of religion is an academic field. So yes, religion has made us more intelligent and its helped us understand humanity in ways we would not have known without it.
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
Science and technology will always be a double edged sword because no matter how much we learn, there will always be those who seek to use it for their own benefit at the cost of others. Rather simular to the history of religion, no?
Click to expand...

I fear that scientism is a real thing with these people...
 
Retro Rob said:
Intelligence is the acquiring and using of knowledge. Religion, since it isn't science, makes us more intelligent by definition because we are taking in more knowledge.
Click to expand...
Knowledge is true and justified belief. The god-botherers spend all their time claiming the first part but never manage to establish the second part.

So no, religion has not increased our knowledge.

The study of religion is an academic field. So yes, religion has made us more intelligent and its helped us understand humanity in ways we would not have known without it.
Click to expand...
The study of religion(s) is academic. Religious beliefs themselves are not.
 
WelshBloke said:
So something that engenders a thought process that accepts belief without question can make you more intelligent but a system that asks you to question and understand everything doesn't?

OK then.


Pretty much everything that makes your life comfortable is down to someone being intelligent.

The fact that you have the luxury of beliving that is down to someone being intelligent.
Click to expand...

Again, I do not beoieve science/logic and religion are mutually exclusive. In addition, my religion has always encouraged me to ask questions and strive for greater understanding. Finally, what has comfort to do with either the value of human existence or my belief that there is a greater power beyond what we can touch or see?
 
13592380_10157160834945080_3173214843828555214_n.jpg
 
Cerpin Taxt said:
Knowledge is true and justified belief. The god-botherers spend all their time claiming the first part but never manage to establish the second part.

So no, religion has not increased our knowledge.


The study of religion(s) is academic. Religious beliefs themselves are not.
Click to expand...

Faith is both true and justified to those who believe. There are many who have demonstrated this through strength of determination, character and, emotional stability in the face of logical roadblocks. Slapping a definition on something does not affect it's nature. The map (logic) is not the territory.
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
Faith is both true and justified to those who believe.
Click to expand...
So not actually justified, then. Just question begging. Got it.

There are many who have demonstrated this through strength of determination, character and, emotional stability in the face of logical roadblocks.
Click to expand...
The strength of conviction behind a belief does not justify the belief itself.

Slapping a definition on something does not affect it's nature. The map (logic) is not the territory.
Click to expand...
I have no idea why you thought any of that was relevant.
 
One positive of religion is that can give meaning, hope and optimism.... all of which impact health. I will cede that to religion. All my Bible thumping relatives are much happier people than myself.
 
Cerpin Taxt said:
So not actually justified, then. Just question begging. Got it.


The strength of conviction behind a belief does not justify the belief itself.


I have no idea why you thought any of that was relevant.
Click to expand...

Choosing to disbelieve qualitities in others because you do not possess them yourself is disengenuous at best. Conviction does not account for the very real results which may prove nothing in your estimation but justify the faith in those who believe. The last I brought up because you seem to feel the dictionary definition of intelligence has some bearing on what qualifies as human intelligence.
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
Choosing to disbelieve qualitities in others because you do not possess them yourself is disengenuous at best. Conviction does not account for the very real results which may prove nothing in your estimation but justify the faith in those who believe. The last I brought up because you seem to feel the dictionary definition of intelligence has some bearing on what qualifies as human intelligence.
Click to expand...

What the fuck are you babbling about?
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
You're simply denying the existence of miracles ie. the existence of God and we're right back where we started. The problem with those who worship logic is they can never admit that logic creates no new knowledge, it only restructures what we already know. Add in the tendency to ask the wrong questions and we've got a lot of miserable two dimensional pseudo scientists who love company.
Click to expand...

How do you determine "Miracles" from just made-up-bullshit?
 
MagnusTheBrewer said:
Faith, questioning and, striving for understanding.
Click to expand...

So, the simple accepting it as Fact regardless of Facts. If we lived by Faith, we'd still be Praying whenever sickness occurred, rather than having Medicine to cure or at least mitigate the illness.

Knowledge solves problems, Faith ignores them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top