Jonti said:
But I'm genuinely at a loss to understand what your point is.
There are many. And not black/white. They require a different kind of thinking, too. Even - and especially! - if one doesn’t come from that background, one still must make an effort, sorry.
Jonti said:
...think phildwyer is a like-minded soul. That's about as much as I can get.
No it isn't. You can get much more but you choose not to. You choose not to go point by point when you feel cornered. You then emulate a fish. Slippery... "Ooops, sorry, I don't get it..." None of it? Really... Yeah, right...
And leave the "personal/tribal" stuff behind, will you? It's so unbecoming. Let's deal with the issues, please...
Jonti said:
Giving me reading lists isn't going to help in that regard.
And how would you know that before you try? And how do you think anyone knows anything but study? Self-fulfilling prophecy comes to mind. That way we are doomed to failure in terms of coming to an understanding. No effort - no progress.
Jonti said:
I decry "scientism" too -- but you haven't yet said anything to persuade me this is an error I am making.
I have seen no evidence that is the case. Quite the opposite, actually. As for the errors - I have made many a point you chose to evade/ignore/not deal with at all... Like conceptual distinctions I started with: instincts - drives/urges - reflexes and onwards, with Darwin's theory and various elements in it etc. etc. All ignored and evaded like the plague, as you would have had to make certain changes in the way you see it... Well, it's much easier not to, so...
Jonti said:
There may be some cultural misunderstandings here (in part perhaps caused by your flawless English leading me to make assumptions, for which I apologise, if that is the case).
Not sure what to make of this one, sorry... Apology, if sincere, accepted, of course. However, my English is not flawless and earlier, if memory serves, you made that "suspicion" clear, too, so not sure...
But I think there is a flawed [easy and cheesy] assumption that because English is my second language one shouldn't make an effort in the thinking sense, because a sentence might be a bit demanding [longer than your average sentence, a number of parts which demand attention and concentration, on occasion, plus an unusual theoretical background and so on].
Jonti said:
I really don't mind the Socratic, "adversarial" approach of having to respond to your questioning, and thereby having my errors made clear.
Sorry, this I haven't seen yet.
Jonti said:
7 On the contrary, I would welcome the chance to defend myself against your charge, or, if it is accurate, to be be shown the error of my ways.
I gave you many, having dealt with your Q's or assumptions, charges and so forth, one by one... This is "giving the left turn sign and turning right" syndrome, to my mind...
I repeat: this is not about winning/losing, dominating or subduing, hunting and cornering your prey, as you put it - this is about much more and it has nothing to do with one's vanity, either!!!