Possibilianism

[RussBLib]

I'd never heard of this until today, during a chat with some East Texas Humanists. A couple of members were looking for something beyond atheism. Sounds intriguing enough.

David Eagleman, a neuroscientist, coined the term possibilian back in 2010.

He doesn't like specific religions because they are so convinced of their gods.
He doesn't really like the term atheist because atheists are so "certain" of no gods.
He sees agnostic as sort of too apathetic to investigate anything, so he came up with possibilian, and possibilianism.

His website.

A 20 minute video from a talk he gave at PopTech. Embrace the uncertainty. (If the video cannot be viewed in this post, it can be seen at the website link above

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/16177455?color=3d96d2&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/16177455">David Eagleman on Possibilianism</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/poptech">PopTech</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

[Lordquinton]

1. another person who doesn't realize almost all atheists are agnostic

He's an atheist who doesn't want to associate with other atheists, it seems to me.

[RussBLib]

9. elaborate on that, please, my Lord?

you say "another person who doesn't realize almost all atheists are agnostic"....

meaning? atheists are humble enough to admit they could in fact be wrong about their being no Gods, but the chance of a God resembling the Abrahamic god is infinitessimal?

or...

agnostics are too timid (or lazy?) to proclaim themselves athiest?

or...

atheism is the most logical position, but there is still a remote possibility?

or...?

[Curmudgeoness]

12. Let me venture an explanation.

Definition of agnostic: a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable.

So atheists do hold that view. It is unknown. Atheists go a step further though, and believe that there is no evidence that a god exists. If there is a time where there is evidence, their disbelief could be revised. But so far, that isn't happening.

Many atheists are agnostic in that they do think that the existence of a god is unknown and unknowable. But agnostics are not atheists since they do not have the certainty the god is a creation of man that the atheists have.

At least that is my take on it.

[Lordquinton]

15. it's covered in this thread by others

And I don't have time to watch 20 minutes of someone arguing against a straw man, while probably holding a shakey position himself.

He'll create the next brights movement.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. does he also embrace the possibility of the easter bunny?

or does he just reserve his possibilianism for normative woo-bullshit?

[trotsky]

3. And that's what annoys me the most about that mindset.

You bet your ass there's stuff he dismisses out of hand. The people who promote this "everything is possible until you prove it isn't" bullshit don't even follow it themselves. They just use it to sit in judgment of others.

[RussBLib]

5. I don't know if y'all watched the video...

it is a little long at 20 minutes....

He discounts the woo too. Like ESP, for instance. Science has never confirmed it, so.....it ain't likely. It could still be possible, but not probable. I doubt if he would spend any more time on trying to find evidence of ESP.

So I would say, yes, he does dismiss some things out of hand. I don't think the "possibility" of anything leads to acceptance of anything.

Seems like a reasonable guy to me.

[trotsky]

6. Yeah not in a spot to watch the vid right now and 20 minutes is a bit of a commitment. :)

"It could still be possible" - then it's in the realm of possibilianism, so he shouldn't dismiss it.

[RussBLib]

7. right, but...

(I feel like I'm starting to defend the guy, and I'm not intending to do that)

...just because something is possible is no reason to alter your life to pursue it or follow it.

No evidence for it? Bye.

[trotsky]

8. In that regard, there's no evidence for gods.

So why can't we say bye to them?

[RussBLib]

10. right again

you can, and I think this guy does.

I know I do, but there is still a tiny possibility of beings (somewhere) that have odd or different abilities. I think that's all he's saying.

I could be wrong.

[RussBLib]

20. I can think of many many worse ways to spend 20 minutes

I found the guy pretty entertaining.

[AlbertCat]

4. I wish people would stop making up stupid words.

The belief that a god is possible enough to worry about is called "Theism".


http://www.wordgenerator.net/fake-word-generator.php

[edgineered]

11. that explains it quite clearly

[Curmudgeoness]

13. I think that this guy misunderstands agnostics.

He is trying to make a new term for agnostics, because they really are the same thing that he is proposing. Agnostics are not as apathetic as he seems to think. I believe that most agnostics will admit that there is a possibility that there is a god. They just are not comfortable believing that without any evidence.

[progressoid]

14. Agreed.

And as much as he may not want it, I expect the woo woo crowd will co-opt his word.

[AlbertCat]

16. They just are not comfortable believing that without any evidence.

So are atheists.

Besides, if there was evidence, who wouldn't believe?

(Religious people, probably.... because it wouldn't be the right kind of evidence....or something )

Agnostics are just atheists who won't call themselves atheists.

[Curmudgeoness]

17. I don't know if I agree

that agnostics are atheist who won't admit it. I know that for me, that was the case. I went with the agnostic moniker for years before I acknowledged that I was, in fact, an atheist. But I think that for many, it goes deeper than that. They really are two different philosophies---one that is sure, and one that concedes that it is not possible to know for sure. Being sure is a giant leap.

I think that agnostics are probably less caring at all about religion. It isn't on their radar. Atheists see the problem with ignoring it.

[OriginalGeek]

21. I have no problem with being both

I don't know if there is a god - I'm agnostic. At the same time, I don't believe there are any gods. I am an atheist.

[LiberalAndProud]

18. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't fit into that particular cult.

Best selling author and neuroscientist: while those are impressive credentials, a great philosopher he isn't.

[NeoGreen]

22. I haven't watched the video...

... but am inclined to discount the narrative given the term "certainty" being used to describe atheists, but I do empathize with the "let's find a better word" POV.

I personally use/prefer "Realist" and "Realism" as a replacement for atheist/atheism.
But I'm not particularly militant about it.

NG