Debates

For the last couple of years, I've engaged in several online debates on Debate.org. Topics range from the scientific evidence for the beginning of the universe, to potential arguments for atheism from the theory of General Relativity. Below is a working compilation of these debates.

I. The Existence of God
Kryptic vs. Miles Donahue - In this debate, I defend two arguments for the existence of God, respond to objections raised by Kryptic, and provide a critique of his arguments for atheism.
II. The Kalam Cosmological Argument - The KCA is a profound argument for the existence of God, based on the beginning of the universe. It has been my experience that all of philosophy intersects in this one argument. Theories of time, the nature of infinity, scientific models of the universe, quantum fluctuations, and the nature of personhood arise in the narrative of this cosmological argument.
SirCrona vs. Miles Donahue - This debate reflects my most recent thinking on the cosmological argument's cogency. I respond to some unique objections about the intelligibility of the principle that whatever begins to exist has a cause. It was fairly clear to me who held the weight of argument. 
Magic8000 vs. Miles Donahue - Not my finest work, but the worth of a debate is not measured by who won, but by the refinement of arguments and improvement of communication skills therein produced. 
Wiploc vs. Miles Donahue - Wiploc presented a multitude of objections to the soundness of the kalam cosmological argument, but I believe I adequately responded to them all. 
Dakota Krafick vs. Miles Donahue - This is one of my favorite debates, because my opponent was knowledgeable and cordial, the qualities of all the best debaters. 
Rational_Thinker9115 vs. Miles Donahue - My first ever online debate. Ironically, I debated the most successful and talented debater on Debate.org! You can't fault me for lack of confidence!
III. Other - I have only debated on one other topic than the kalam cosmological argument, but I have aspirations to debate the moral argument for God's existence, along with the design argument.
Sargon vs. Miles Donahue - Sargon argues that General Relativity implies that God does not exist. I contend that it does not. A fantastic debate results.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Have We Misunderstood the Gospels?

Question - "On the issue of the Bible being divinely inspired, how do we know it wasn't meant to be a story to teach children to be good, and not truly god's word?" - Louis. Answer - I am going to use your question, Louis, as an opportunity to develop my thoughts on the gospels alone. Trying to tackle the whole Bible is too big a task for one article. Indeed, whole libraries have been written on the subject! So let us narrow our focus to the four biblical gospels.
Read more

Martin Shkreli - Evil Monster or Balanced Utilitarian?

A United States drug company – Turing Pharmaceuticals – recently raised the price of AIDS medication by over five thousand percent, having bought the rights to the drug in August. Following public outcry, Turing promised to reduce the price, though not specifying the exact reduction. The ostensible justification for their previous move from $13.50 a pill to $750 was to use that increased profit for medical research. Martin Shkreli, the head of the company, says that his critics do not understand the pharmaceutical industry, implying that his company’s actions were not immoral or selfish, but balanced and prudent.
Read more

"I think, therefore I have a soul" - Alvin Plantinga on the Soul

“Consciousness” writes J. P. Moreland, “is among the most mystifying features of the cosmos” (“The Argument from Consciousness” 119). Consciousness mystifies us because it is at once incomprehensible and deeply familiar. I identify with it and live within it, but if you ask me to define it, I cannot. The apparent identity of myself and consciousness gives questions of the mind a level of significance that is hard to beat. If I am nothing other than my brain, then when my body dies, so do I. If I am something more, then perhaps I continue even when my body ends. My focus is on an argument from philosopher Alvin Plantinga for the soul’s existence. His claim is that material things cannot think, and because I clearly can think, I am not a material thing. After examining the argument on its own terms and then in the light of recent neuroscientific evidence, I conclude two things: (i) that Plantinga does not succeed in giving sufficient evidence for the soul, but also (ii) that m...
Read more