From: "Tobin Nellhaus" <nellhaus-AT-gwi.net>
Subject: Re: BHA: Santa, God, kneeling
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 1998 09:35:29 +0300


Hi Colin--

I'm puzzled by what appear to be contradictions between some of your
arguments.

>   Anyway, whatever, I don't personally believe that such a
>person exists - and if he does can he kindly add me to his list of visits
>on December 24th because up to now it is costing me a fortune.
[. . .]
>     Society exists and has material
>effects regardless of whether people believe in it or not. This is not the
>case with Santa.

Despite your disbelief in Santa, "he" is clearly having material effects
upon you, in the form of presents etc that cost a fortune, yes?  Also:

>    Santa,
>however, would seem to have no causal power if no one believed in him.
[. . .]
>         Put simply, santa only has a causal power
>insofar as someone believes in him. Society has causal powers not derived
>from the belief in it.

Is it necessary for *anyone* to believe (or to have ever believed) in the
real existence of Sherlock Holmes or Lady Macbeth for them still to have
causal powers?  So while I have no problem with the general point that there
are different types of existence, it nevertheless seems to me you're
oversimplying a bit about the importance of belief for the existence of
entities like Santa.

BTW, it'd be nice if you and Michael would stay on list with this
discussion.

Cheers, T.

---
Tobin Nellhaus
nellhaus-AT-gwi.net
"Faith requires us to be materialists without flinching": C.S. Peirce





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