Bob G. wrote:
>I guess what I am getting at is that regardless of the attempt
>to deny God (I’m atheistic, by the way) and to deny
>purpose to the universe, we as humans STILL have a
>hidden purpose and value system IN OUR MINDS and it is
>constantly expressing it self (although with great subtlety).
>
>I think there is an empirical basis to ascribe purpose to the
>universe.
Without further elaberation I can't be sure what you mean by that last sentence. It sounds to me like you're trying to claim an empirical basis for the human need for purpose. I can't tell whether you mean a real basis for the human need (which I would agre with) or the purpose (which would sound like more of a justification than anything else.)
>I think there is a basis for "absolute" values in the universe.
Again, I'm unclear what that means.
>Again...this statement imposes the value system that "to
>exist" is somehow *better* than being "extinct"…I mean
>do you want a stegosaurus living in your back yard?
I want _me_ living in my back yard.
>…according to your value system the dinosaurs should still
>be here…for "to be" is better that "not to be".
If you could somehow survey dinosaurs, I am sure they would confirm that, /for them/, "to be" is better that "not to be". Again:
And BTW, your current assessment of my value system is incorrect.
-Prof. Tim