This site is not maintained. Click here for the new website of Richard Dawkins.

Comment

← Collision: Christopher Hitchens vs. Douglas Wilson

SaintStephen's Avatar Jump to comment 16 by SaintStephen

8. Comment #413376 by Luis Dias on September 8, 2009 at 4:58 pm

He's merely addressing foundationalism, that is, the philosophical postulation that every philosophical viewpoint must have a foundation of its own. Thus when a person is claiming to speak in the name of "Reason", he's doing no better, categorically speaking, than speaking in the name of "The Bible". He's being technical there, and he's obviously right, irrespectively of the sheer emotional punch that such a remark may or may not give to the unaware. Because all you do when defending reason against the bible is either positing another god (Reason! Roar! Thunder!) or pounding the table.
No, he isn't "right" at all. Foundationalism is an unterminated, infinite regress. Please tell us what the foundation for foundationalism is.

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:49:00 UTC | #395364