Building on previous versions ... and attempting brevity (
) ...
To begin with, I don't think it is possible in the slightest for two people to have exactly the same set of beliefs and knowledge, we are all a little different from anyone else and sometimes a lot different from some others. We are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand -- our personal worldview.
Let me open up the discussion a bit by first considering the whole playing field of human knowledge and perceptions of reality, first in very general terms:
science (click) is what we know about reality from objective evidence and the scientific method.
- a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws: the mathematical sciences.
- systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
- any of the branches of natural or physical science.
- systematized knowledge in general.
- knowledge, as of facts or principles; knowledge gained by systematic study.
philosophy (click) is what we think about reality based on logic that is internally consistent
- the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.
- any of the three branches, namely natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysical philosophy, that are accepted as composing this study.
- a particular system of thought based on such study or investigation: the philosophy of Spinoza.
- the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge, especially with a view to improving or reconstituting them: the philosophy of science.
- a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs.
faith (click) is what we believe about reality without objectivity or logic.
- confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
- belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
- belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
- belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.
- a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.
These concepts can be wrong, however it is much harder to determine if a concept is correct than to determine if it is wrong, so this leaves us with concepts we think are correct versus concepts we know to be wrong.
Science tests concepts against the objective evidence to eliminate ideas that don't match reality as it is known by objective evidence, but it can't
prove that the concepts are correct representations of reality.
Philosophy can be based on our knowledge of reality and it can consider hypothetical concepts that cannot be tested by scientific methods, they can only be tested for self consistency. Philosophical concepts that are contradictory to our knowledge of reality, however, are just as invalidated as scientific concepts so invalidated.
Faith involves concepts that include, but are not limited to, concepts of god/s, and there is no known test of beliefs, other than that any belief concepts that are contradictory to our knowledge of reality are just as invalidated as scientific concepts so invalidated.
If I were to draw a picture of this it would be something like this:
If I were to place over this the worldview knowledge of science, philosophy and faith of a YEC (young earth creationist) it would look something like this:
It is silly to consider scientific concepts at odds with reality.
It is irrational to consider philosophical concepts at odds with reality.
It is delusional to maintain belief in concepts at odds with reality.
Enjoy
Edited by Admin, : Minor wordsmithing.