From: Brian Holtz [brian@holtz.org]
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 10:19 PM
To: Alt.Atheism.Moderated
Subject: Re: Science & atheism are cultures.

"Paul Holbach" <paulholbachSPAMBAN@freenet.de> wrote:

> A: For all x, Px or not Px.  (by virtue of the law of excluded middle)
> B: For some x, Px or not Px. (because B is implied by A
> [..]
> D: Therefore, logic necessitates that at least one entity be invoked.

If you assume that "for all x" implies at least one binding of x,
then you haven't demonstrated that there must be at least one binding
of x -- you've merely assumed it.  This fallacy is called
"assuming the consequent".

Now, it may be the case that logic as a formalism works better
if stipulate that "for all x" implies at least one binding for x,
but this stipulation certainly does not impose on the multiverse
the requirement that at least one thing must have ontological
existence. I'm afraid that the multiverse just doesn't pay attention
to us in this way.
--
brian@holtz.org
http://humanknowledge.net