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The Triumph of Logos

The Triumph of Logos. A Sample Presentation. Introduction. Logos and Mythos. For example…. LOGOS No evidence for: God’s existence Time-scale Earth initially covered by water Terrestrial plants as first life Whales and seabirds developing before terrestrial animals

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The Triumph of Logos

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  1. The Triumph of Logos A Sample Presentation

  2. Introduction

  3. Logos and Mythos

  4. For example…. • LOGOS • No evidence for: • God’s existence • Time-scale • Earth initially covered by water • Terrestrial plants as first life • Whales and seabirds developing before terrestrial animals • No genetic evidence of a first couple • Genesis contains no truth! • MYTHOS • The Earth is ours to exploit • This brings great responsibility • Humans are inherently flawed • Life is the quest for redemption • Knowledge can be dangerous • Life necessarily involves suffering • Genesis contains much truth! The Genesis Account of Creation

  5. The knowledge issue: To what extent is the triumph of logos (reason and sense perception) reasonable?

  6. The Triumph of Logos • Pre-enlightenment • Descartes: Cogito ergo sum • The foundation of all knowledge • The Enlightenment (1650-1800) • Reason • Science • Theory (reason) • Experiments (sense perception) • Where are we now?

  7. Evaluating Reasonableness • How do we decide if something is reasonable? • What has logos achieved? • Are there other (better) ways to achieve it? • What are the consequences of embracing logos? • What are the limitations of logos?

  8. Logos and Chemistry (and science in general) • Life was nasty, brutish and short (Thomas Hobbes) • Now it is not (generally) • Built on sense perception and reason • What has it achieved? • Science, medicines, fertilisers, semi-conductors (the PS4), synthetic fabrics, transportation……. • Alternatives: a very perceptive author? • Embracing reason leads to huge progress • Scientific reason robs the world of meaning….life is just a matter of passing on genes

  9. Logos and Economics • What has it achieved? • Development and previously unimagined wealth for some • Entrenched poverty and inequality for others • Alternatives: • Emotion knows what is fair • Perhaps emotion needs to play a greater role • Embracing reason creates a scientific system from something that is unscientific • Why? • Reason values that which is measured, but can’t always measure that which is valued.

  10. Logos and Religion • What has logos achieved in religion? • Fundamentalism • Scripture as literal truth rather than mythical truth • Logical argument rather than esoteric meaning • Live the word but not the message: • The loving suicide bomber • The mega-church pastor • Alternatives • Embrace mythos • Mythos leads to moderation

  11. Comparing the three

  12. LOGOS MYTHOS

  13. Conclusion • The triumph of logos is reasonable in areas that don’t involve humanity • Where humanity is involved, mythos must play a greater role! • Logos gives us the power to build better lives, but does not give us a reason to do so.

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