‘Mere’ Causality: Arguments, Objections, and Good Principles Theoretical Bullshit 2023-04-26 | Cameron’s video: youtube.com/watch?v=4HNs2HpPSfkJosh’s Article: joshualrasmussen.com/does-every-beginning-have-a-cause.html?fbclid=IwAR2Cro2_DEPr0t20c5r-3GMIehLMoPwVcnMD92Ao2PKzry1EM1LlUnECK9c“I Kalam Like I See ‘Em”: youtube.com/watch?v=aD9MtIma5YU&t=292sMy dialogue with Dr. Craig on CapturingChristianity: youtube.com/live/TmYCwjU_5Wc?feature=shareDEFINITIONS:The Kalam Cosmological Argument:1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause2. The universe began to exist3. Therefore, the universe has a cause“efficient cause” — either the entity, or the action, which is responsible for bringing the thing into existence. If we take the example of a marble sculpture, its efficient cause would be either the sculptor or the act of chiseling (both would work). “material cause” — the previously existing stuff that the thing is created out of. In the wooden table example, the material cause would be the nails, wood and lacquer. In the example of the marble sculpture, the material cause is the marble. “creatio ex nihilo” — latin for “creation out of nothing”“creatio ex materia” — “creation out of material”“mereology” — the study of the relations between parts and wholes“mereological nihilism” — the position that objects with proper parts do not exist, and only basic building blocks without parts exist, and thus the world we see and experience full of objects with parts is a product of human misperception (i.e., if we could see clearly, we would not perceive compositive objects).
Ten Answers for Braxton in 2021 Theoretical Bullshit 2021-09-13 | Totally impromptu response to @BraxtonHunter’s “10 Questions for ATHEISTS in 2021”.Braxton's video: youtube.com/watch?v=uXhWIMT_9r8
Betting on Necessity: The Modal Ontological Argument Theoretical Bullshit 2020-05-09 | I address a few objections to this video, here: youtu.be/qREGX7M8m5gFOOTNOTES:00:35 — "Onto-Illogical" youtube.com/watch?v=YLQ0DnUTyX81:35 — If you're already familiar with modal logic and possible world semantics, you can skip ahead to my criticism of Plantinga's MOA, at the 4:38 mark.12:27 — This moment has been edited to make a correction; a previous upload of this video (which is now unlisted) mistakenly had premise (2) as, "If God exists, the proposition 'God does not exist' is not self-contradictory". My apologies. Link to the original video and all its comments: youtu.be/IPQUaEOakNk 13:25 — Swinburne's paper, "What Kind of Necessary Being Could God Be?": http://users.ox.ac.uk/~orie0087/pdf_files/Papers%20from%20Philosophical%20Journals/Swinburne_2012-necessary.pdf30:40 — I suppose there is one thing we could conceivably claim enjoys necessary existence: "reality". The statement, "Reality doesn't exist" does seem to entail a contradiction. But this is because what we mean by "reality" is just whatever happens to be the case. So saying reality doesn't exist would be equivalent to saying it is the case that nothing is the case—a contradiction. (Of course, I think this is probably just a trick of English language. It's a stretch to think of reality itself—that which is the case—as a "being" or "object".) I'm on Twitter a lot, nowadays. Find me there at @TheoreticalBSSorry, as usual, for the long hiatus. It's good to be back.
Housekeeping Theoretical Bullshit 2020-05-09 | My MOA video: youtu.be/IPQUaEOakNk(Also: I know. I need a haircut.)
On Hell and Solitude Theoretical Bullshit 2019-11-14 | Easing back in. Be gentle with me.A reply to Randal Rauser (@RandalRauser on Twitter) whose video can be seen here: randalrauser.com/2019/11/if-an-atheist-says-they-dont-think-hell-will-be-so-bad-what-do-you-say-in-reply
Understanding the Kim Davis Fallacy Theoretical Bullshit 2015-09-13 | MSNBC Huckabee interview (watch this first!): facebook.com/MorningJoe/videos/10153565506118762/?pnref=storyIf that doesn't work, try this:http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/huckabee--jesus-did-talk-about-same-sex-marriage-522156099902Suffice it to say, I'm not saying anything here that hasn't already been said better (and more succinctly). Mostly, I produced this as a point of reference, the next time I encounter someone defending Davis.Feel free to pass it along to your infuriating Tea Party father-in-law. For more on civil rights and same-sex marriage, see my video on Proposition 8: youtube.com/watch?v=VPSKojRWRV4Further reading: washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/09/04/when-does-your-religion-legally-excuse-you-from-doing-part-of-your-job
The (CLASSY) Ice Bucket Challenge... Theoretical Bullshit 2014-08-24 | I will also be donating... but c'mon—this is more fun.Join the challenge or donate here: http://www.alsa.org/donate
William Lane Craig and Metaphysical Cherry-Picking Theoretical Bullshit 2013-10-20 | Hashing out the inconsistencies needed to make the Kalam Cosmological Argument work.Below are links to the source material for all quotations that appear in the video:http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/morriston.htmlhttp://www.reasonablefaith.org/must-the-beginning-of-the-universe-have-a-personal-cause-a-rejoinderhttp://www.reasonablefaith.org/objections-to-the-causal-principlehttp://www.reasonablefaith.org/must-the-universe-have-a-material-causehttp://www.reasonablefaith.org/causal-premiss-of-the-kalam-argumenthttp://www.reasonablefaith.org/god-time-and-eternityhttp://www.reasonablefaith.org/must-everything-that-begins-to-exist-have-a-material-causeAlso, Wes Morriston says similar (better) things here and here:http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/wes/wes2craig1.pdfhttp://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/wes/wes2craig2.pdf
Who Says Children Dont Come with a Manual? Theoretical Bullshit 2012-08-14 | My Q&A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaWozcQT5wcTHE MANUAL: http://www.drfayesnyder.com/shop
Wrapping Up Nonbelief Theoretical Bullshit 2012-06-25 | Excerpt from a live conversation between Noah (ex-Veritas48) and me, on the Problem of Nonbelief and how his views have changed since his initial response to my argument. Apologies for the sync problems and poor video quality. My defense of the Argument from Nonbelief, which we reference:http://youtu.be/FCGCjLEJF_g
Nonbelief Revisited: The Ghost of Veritas48 Theoretical Bullshit 2012-06-19 | Why, oh why, can't I make a video under 10 minutes anymore?My argument: Nonbelief and Peek-A-Boohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF_lK7BxmNUNoah's response: Against the Argument from Nonbeliefvimeo.com/44634543Follow me on Twitter @CliftonsNotes
William Lane Craig Is Not Doing Himself Any Favors. Theoretical Bullshit 2011-08-01 | My argument: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRn-mVPIl60 Craig's response: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8869 Noah's Tuesday Arfternoon article addressing my argument (above): http://12tuesday.com/the-future-discussion-of-causation My Tuesday Afternoon response to Noah: http://12tuesday.com/on-causality-and-experience-a-response-to-noah The Craig-Smith debate: http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/craig-smith0.html Quentin Smith's paper: http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/quentin_smith/causation.html Follow me on Twitter! @CliftonsNotes
Dr. Craig Responds... Sort of. Theoretical Bullshit 2011-06-01 | My argument:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRn-mVPIl60Craig's FB response:http://www.facebook.com/williamlanecraig/posts/227577413925318For the record I am using different terminology in this video than my last, in order to accommodate Craig's own choice of words. "Efficient Cause" may be seen as synonymous with my "A" in the last video, and "Material Cause" synonymous with "B".
On Causation and the Ethics of Discourse. Theoretical Bullshit 2011-05-31 | Craig's responses: http://hr-hr.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=150792504987652&comments http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8846 Theo Warner's Tuesday Afternoon article: http://12tuesday.com/william-lane-craig-is-not-theoreticalbullshit Go here to submit questions to Dr. Craig: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=1180&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS Klraifying Kalam Kraziness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmeZ_BAWAhQ A written version of this video is available at the Tuesday Afternoon website: http://12tuesday.com/on-causation-and-the-ethics-of-discourse
Das, Avi and Payton on Aesthetics... Theoretical Bullshit 2010-10-26 | At the Modern Art Museum in DC. Jasper maintains that it ain't "art" unless it depicts something recognizable in the real world. Watch as James and Michael tear their hair out.
Bears, Values, and Aluminum Rulers. Theoretical Bullshit 2010-09-25 | Second response to Epydemic2020, and further proof that I am incapable of discussing morality in a video less than 20 minutes.
Tuesday is the new Sunday. Theoretical Bullshit 2010-09-14 | 12tuesday.com Email Lisa at newsletter@12tuesday.com
God, Morality and Gratuitous Football Metaphors. Theoretical Bullshit 2010-09-07 | Response to Epydemic2020 on Christian morality. Am I SERIOUSLY incapable of making a video under twenty minutes, now? Is this what it's come to?
Treatise on Morality. Theoretical Bullshit 2010-08-30 | Sorry for the length of this, guys. Follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/CliftonsNotes
On Proposition 8. Theoretical Bullshit 2010-08-16 | Viewer: PLEASE read the entire case summary and ruling, then decide for yourself. The PDF is available online. Here's the link: http://www.ce9.uscourts.gov/prop8/FF_CL_Final.pdf Also! For a brilliant, charming, and MUCH more comprehensive presentation of the ruling against Prop 8, check out ProfMTH's "How Proposition 8 Went Down": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV3fkpR74Ak&feature=related Follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/CliftonsNotes
Answers: Part 2 - Hypotheticals Theoretical Bullshit 2010-08-09 | The Gene Illusion by Jay Joseph: http://www.amazon.com/Gene-Illusion-Jay-Joseph/dp/1898059470
Answers: Part 1 - Religion, Philosophy & The World Theoretical Bullshit 2010-08-09 | http://www.youtube.com/dasamericanatheist
Klarifying Kalam Kraziness! Theoretical Bullshit 2010-02-08 | Sorry if I seem irritated or humorless in this one! I don't mean to, I'm just in a super-duper hurry to get to the airport. P1: Nothing which exists can cause something which does not exist to begin existing. P2: Given (1), Anything which begins to exist was not caused to do so by something which exists. P3: The universe began to exist. P4: Given (2) and (3), the universe was not caused to exist by anything which exists. P5: God caused the universe to begin to exist. C1: Given (4) and (5), God does not exist.
I Kalam Like I See Em... Theoretical Bullshit 2010-02-07 | Everything that begins to exist has a cause, right? Wrong. The Kalam Argument for God: P1. Anything which begins to exist has a cause. P2. The universe began to exist. C. The Universe has a cause. The Kalam Argument AGAINST God: P1: Nothing which exists can cause something which does not exist to begin existing. P2: Given (1), Anything which begins to exist was not caused to do so by something which exists. P3: The universe began to exist. P4: Given (2) and (3), the universe was not caused to exist by anything which exists. P5: God caused the universe to begin to exist. C1: Given (4) and (5), God does not exist.
God, Atheism and Evidence: The Follow-Up Theoretical Bullshit 2010-01-20 | A response to Noah's criticisms.
God, Atheism and Evidence: A Response to Veritas48 Theoretical Bullshit 2010-01-11 | Veritas48's videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY1gEXYhfIM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZZNirHPwKw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKwDDkjXeU8&feature=channel Telemantro's video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g6ijSG3H8c DawahFilm's Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNt1xAqQGM8
Why I Dont Debate Creationists... Theoretical Bullshit 2009-10-19 | Sorry for the callousness.Follow me on Twitter at:http://twitter.com/#!/CliftonsNotes
A Shoutout and some Q&A! Theoretical Bullshit 2009-10-01 | http://www.youtube.com/user/DasAmericanAtheist
TAG, Matt: Youre It... Theoretical Bullshit 2009-09-26 | Matt's Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLFfrpnbia0
TAG, Matt: Youre it... (PROLOGUE) Theoretical Bullshit 2009-09-26 | Click here for the rest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gMiFl5nMfo&feature=channel
A Serious Poll for my Christian Friends... Theoretical Bullshit 2009-09-09 | Please only participate if you consider yourself a "Born Again Christian". Thanks again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAmJ3qfyq4I
...And What If Im Wrong? Theoretical Bullshit 2009-09-08 | Follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/CliftonsNotes
Gods Checklist 2.0 Theoretical Bullshit 2009-08-25 | Same list as the original, with some alterations and additions. Follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/CliftonsNotes
Updates! Theoretical Bullshit 2009-08-23 | CARM Message Boards, Atheism Forum: http://www.christiandiscussionforums.org/v/forumdisplay.php?f=46
Rational Purpose... Theoretical Bullshit 2009-07-14 | You may have noticed, I'm quoting Jack's video directly, only I've replaced all references to "atheists" and "their purpose" with "God" and "His purpose". I think it's a valid question that Jack should have to answer before making his claim.
Bouncing Philosophical Checks. Theoretical Bullshit 2009-06-24 | A response to Noah's "Veritas48 Challenge" on the Argument from Facts of Normativity.
Onto-illogical! Theoretical Bullshit 2009-05-16 | I've been hearing the Ontological Argument from Christians WAAYYYY too much lately. It boggles my mind that anyone would take an argument seriously which attempts to "define" God into existence.
UPDATE: Stickam Tonight and the Infamous Twitter. Theoretical Bullshit 2009-04-21 | Twitter: CliftonsNotes *or* do a search for Scott Clifton
The Matt/Matt Debate - Part 4: Minds and Jet Engines Theoretical Bullshit 2009-03-01 | Matt Slick calls in to "The Atheist Experience": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb1mfKJU6bo For parts 1, 2 and 3 click here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C494E2C093CDF2E1
The Matt/Matt Debate - Part 3: Pigs and Trees Theoretical Bullshit 2009-03-01 | Matt Slick calls in to "The Atheist Experience": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb1mfKJU6bo For parts 1, 2 and 4 click here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C494E2C093CDF2E1
The Matt/Matt Debate - Part 2: Borrowing Worldviews Theoretical Bullshit 2009-03-01 | Matt Slick calls in to "The Atheist Experience": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb1mfKJU6bo For parts 1, 3 and 4 click here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C494E2C093CDF2E1
The Matt/Matt Debate - Part 1: Introduction Theoretical Bullshit 2009-02-28 | Matt Slick calls in to "The Atheist Experience": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb1mfKJU6bo For parts 2, 3 and 4 click here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C494E2C093CDF2E1
The Things I Do for a Chick... Theoretical Bullshit 2009-02-23 | Went out of key once or twice, and probably botched a few of the lyrics. Ah, well...
Pulling Teeth... Theoretical Bullshit 2009-02-04 | A diatribe on my frustration with Zkueker88, and request for a do-over.
Random... Necessarily. Theoretical Bullshit 2009-02-02 | A fond farewell to Veritas48, as well as an answer to his problem with "Lord Logic".
Brief Update & To-Do List... Theoretical Bullshit 2009-01-04 | TheoreticalBullshit's QuickCapture Video - January 04, 2009, 09:00 AM
