Happy Atheist Forum

I think it was by laetus, or maybe McQ.....but whoever wrote it, could you please tell me about it, and explain it? Thanks. All I remember is "If I could imagine a Pringle of infinite size and perfect deliciousness" or something like that.

Ah, that would be me. I was responding to a modal ontological argument made by St. Anselm of Canterbury elsewhere and carried over my argument here for some reason.

The argument:
1. God is, by definition, a being than which nothing greater can be conceived (imagined).
2. Existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind.
3. God must exist in reality, if God did not then God would not be that which nothing greater can be conceived (imagined).

My response:
Let's say that I have P, a potato chip that has infinite surface, height, and perfect taste. This is the greatest potato chip ever, ever. P is the greatest potato chip that can exist - existing is greater than not existing, therefore P must have existed (before I ate it).

Edit: I later changed it to a Pringle because, let's face it, Pringles are the best potato chip.

thank you very much Willravel. I'm still a tad foggy but is this the gist of it?

"just because it CAN exist doesn't mean it does?"

Again, thanks for replying and I'm sure once I grasp it better It will be a nice argument to add to my repetoire!  

The gist is that the axiom is flawed.

First, perfection is always subjective. Second, existence in reality is not necessarily greater than the human mind as the human imagination can break the rules of reality.

Thanks!

Quote from: "Willravel"Ah, that would be me. I was responding to a modal ontological argument made by St. Anselm of Canterbury elsewhere and carried over my argument here for some reason.

The argument:
1. God is, by definition, a being than which nothing greater can be conceived (imagined).
2. Existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind.
3. God must exist in reality, if God did not then God would not be that which nothing greater can be conceived (imagined).

My response:
Let's say that I have P, a potato chip that has infinite surface, height, and perfect taste. This is the greatest potato chip ever, ever. P is the greatest potato chip that can exist - existing is greater than not existing, therefore P must have existed (before I ate it).

Edit: I later changed it to a Pringle because, let's face it, Pringles are the best potato chip.

Pringles odd way of getting a point across.

Quote from: "afreethinker30"What happened to the beets Will?

The beet analogy was for my particular attitude about homosexuality. I've got a food analogy for every occasion.  

Quote from: "Willravel"

Quote from: "afreethinker30"What happened to the beets Will?

The beet analogy was for my particular attitude about homosexuality. I've got a food analogy for every occasion.  ;)

Pringles are also the coolest shape - a hyperbolic paraboloid.

Quote from: "karadan"Pringles are also the coolest shape - a hyperbolic paraboloid.

A proof of an engineering genius behind each one The curves have to be just right.

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tc.umn.edu%2F%7Eaxda0002%2Fblog%2Fhello%2F1897104%2F640%2Fproblem3-2005.06.15-18.19.28.jpg&hash=df78f66fd36762dbb09bdad39962ef53bf169793)

Quote from: "Willravel"

Quote from: "afreethinker30"What happened to the beets Will?

The beet analogy was for my particular attitude about homosexuality. I've got a food analogy for every occasion.  

Okay.....(I'm afraid to ask) What's the beet analogy?

Quote from: "nikkixsugar"Okay.....(I'm afraid to ask) What's the beet analogy?

When I discuss my opinion of homosexuality with people, I usually end up talking about beets.

"I don't particularly care for beets, you see. The taste is off and I don't like the texture. Likewise, I'm not really interested in a sexual relationship with a man. But do you see me in the street picketing against beets? Do you see me disrupt the funeral of someone who ate beets? No. Why? Because I'm not an idiot. I understand that a personal choice that doesn't effect me in any way shape or form isn't something I need to get up in arms about. If someone wants to eat a beet or have a loving relationship with a member of their own gender, I'm happy for them because they've found something that makes them happy.

If you don't like the idea of homosexuality, stop thinking about it all the time you big queen!"

I absolutely love your analogies Will!

Quote from: "Willravel"

Quote from: "nikkixsugar"Okay.....(I'm afraid to ask) What's the beet analogy?

When I discuss my opinion of homosexuality with people, I usually end up talking about beets.

"I don't particularly care for beets, you see. The taste is off and I don't like the texture. Likewise, I'm not really interested in a sexual relationship with a man. But do you see me in the street picketing against beets? Do you see me disrupt the funeral of someone who ate beets? No. Why? Because I'm not an idiot. I understand that a personal choice that doesn't effect me in any way shape or form isn't something I need to get up in arms about. If someone wants to eat a beet or have a loving relationship with a member of their own gender, I'm happy for them because they've found something that makes them happy.

If you don't like the idea of homosexuality, stop thinking about it all the time you big queen!"

hahaha that's good. You've got talent, Will!

Quote from: "Willravel"

Quote from: "nikkixsugar"Okay.....(I'm afraid to ask) What's the beet analogy?

When I discuss my opinion of homosexuality with people, I usually end up talking about beets.

"I don't particularly care for beets, you see. The taste is off and I don't like the texture. Likewise, I'm not really interested in a sexual relationship with a man. But do you see me in the street picketing against beets? Do you see me disrupt the funeral of someone who ate beets? No. Why? Because I'm not an idiot. I understand that a personal choice that doesn't effect me in any way shape or form isn't something I need to get up in arms about. If someone wants to eat a beet or have a loving relationship with a member of their own gender, I'm happy for them because they've found something that makes them happy.

If you don't like the idea of homosexuality, stop thinking about it all the time you big queen!"

Brilliant! i'm gonna remember that one for future use if i ever cross paths with a bigot

I'm gonna call bullshit on this whole thread.  The phrase "perfect Pringle" is a glaring, glaring redundancy, like "wet lake" or "fishy salmon" or "salty salt."  Especially the cheddar cheese ones.  *makes Homer Simpson-esque moaning noise*

I think Willravel is my new hero, haha. I read about Anselm's argument in The God Delusion, and although I kind of got it, the chip analogy made it that much clearer. I love the beet analogy too!

Quote from: "Dickson"I'm gonna call bullshit on this whole thread.  The phrase "perfect Pringle" is a glaring, glaring redundancy, like "wet lake" or "fishy salmon" or "salty salt."  Especially the cheddar cheese ones.  *makes Homer Simpson-esque moaning noise*

Okay, stupid question: What do you mean?

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say it means "perfect Pringle" is a redundancy. LOL

Quote from: "Chimera"I'm gonna take a wild guess and say it means "perfect Pringle" is a redundancy. LOL

Oh no, I got that! I uh... ugh forget it.