How many logical fallacies in this: EINSTEIN, BEETHOVEN --> ERGO GOD.
Posted on: January 13, 2008 - 11:30am
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How many logical fallacies in this: EINSTEIN, BEETHOVEN --> ERGO GOD.
Quick question... A friend said:
"This argument is enough to persuade me: Beethoven exists, ergo God exists. Einstein exists, ergo God exits. You know what I mean? If nothing else, it should at least persuade you that something higher exists."
How many logical fallacies can you find in this? Which similar examples should I point out to show her how silly that logic is?
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Sounds something like the argument from beauty. Another example could be Shakespeare, who, as Sam Harris quipped, god made a better writer than himself. It just looks like a non-sequitur. Where does the criteria come from? If some arbitrary vector is fulfilled, another arbitrary conclusion can be drawn?
The conclusion is a nonsequitur and begs the question. The argument takes this form, "Name something, state assumption." One could do the same for any idea of the cosmos' origination. X exists; therefore, the cosmos originated from a quantum vacuum fluctuation. X exists; therefore, the cosmos originated from a membrane collision in eleven-dimensional space. X exists; therefore, the cosmos originated from a budding from a metauniversal spacefoam. At this point an ancient Roman might step in and argue "To Hades with your blasphemous scientific ideas! X exists; therefore, polytheism is true; therefore, atheism and monotheism are false!"
Stultior stulto fuisti, qui tabellis crederes!
Actually, Beethoven and Einstein don't exist. They died.
Also, Einstein didn't believe in a theistic god. His "god" was more of a metaphor for what aspects of science fascinated him. There are quotes where he explains something to that effect.
How's this: Julius Caesar existed, therefore Jupiter/Zeus existed.
As for Shakespeare, he was writing circa the time when the protestants broke away from the catholic church, and his dislike for catholicism is evident in some of his work. So if someone tried to argue Shakespeare-->God, you could simply argue that it doesn't work so well from the catholic side of the fence.
A place common to all will be maintained by none. A religion common to all is perhaps not much different.
uh, and I always thought Jupiter existed.
The pagan god, not the planet.
A place common to all will be maintained by none. A religion common to all is perhaps not much different.
Nah... he's right. Beethoven and Einstein do prove god. Watch...
1) Beethoven existed.
2) Einstein existed.
3) Beethoven and Einstein both had brains which contained the concept, "God."
4) C1:Since the concept exists, God Exists.
5) Beethoven and Einstein were both Non-believers in God.
6) Since god exists, hell exists.
7) Since Beethoven and Einstein were both Non-believers, they're in Hell.
9) C2 Therefore, god exists, and is an asshole.
Atheism isn't a lot like religion at all. Unless by "religion" you mean "not religion". --Ciarin
http://hambydammit.wordpress.com/
Books about atheism
X is Y
Therefore Z
is a material conditional. p is false because there is something else, therefore q is false.
People who think there is something they refer to as god don't ask enough questions.