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Philosophy
In reply to the discussion: Is it possible to exist outside ideology? [View all]
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)19. Why aren't you answering my questions?
How do we detect Germany?
How do we detect legal authority?
1. Human behavior is definitely an object. Anything that can be viewed or exists in the material world is.
If you wish, but this doesn't prove the existence of legal authority, just like prayers to Zeus doesn't prove Zeus is real.
2. "An idea of an external object cannot exist without that object existing as well." The meaning and statement of this statement are clear and true. If you think they are not, then say why.
I still don't know what you are saying because it is too vague for me to understand what you are saying. I don't know if you mean objectively real objects, like rocks, or any kind of object, or what. If you feel this is an important point, then explain it. Maybe use an example. If you don't feel this is an important point, then we should just forget it.
3. We weren't discussing meanings in the previous exchange. So don't be coy; it doesn't help your argument.
I have been discussing meanings. If you don't see that then you are not understanding my posts, which wouldn't be a surprise.
4. Yes, the Nazis killed the Jews, it wasn't just "people" in general who killed them. Labels are definitely real; they exist in the real world both materially and ideally. And you and others type out these labels into other forms of reality when you type about them. So, I have to ask you, how do you define "reality" and what is "real" and what isn't. Your use of the term so far has been flawed and inconsistent.
Reality is what exists outside of the imagination. The imagination exists, so it is real, but not everything imagined exists. Legal authority only exists within the imagination, so legal authority is strictly imaginary. If you feel legal authority exists outside of the imagination, surprise me and actually say how we can detect it.
5. You can object to the "objective existence" of Germany all you want, it still objectively exists. There is no objective moral authority, since the concept and its "authority" are inherently undecided. There are, however, clearly written and executed laws, so legal authority objectively exists in the hands of those wielding and interpreting it. All the people we have inhumanely executed have particularly felt the objective existence of legal authority.
OK. How do we detect Germany? How are countries made? How do countries cease to be? The land isn't any different, so what is different when a country enters or leaves existence?
So, I look forward to your definition of reality and how you decide what's real and what isn't
My favorite method of determining reality is science. It's not perfect, but it's the best method I am aware of.
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