What would make you change your views?

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It doesn't matter.

It could be something as simple as "Coke v. Pepsi" or as complex as "String Theory v. Quantum Chronodynamics" or as foundational as "Theist v. Atheist."

If someone wants to change my views, then they need to provide, on demand, a practical demonstration of their beliefs, do so repeatedly, and be prepared to accept a critical examination of every aspect of their demonstration.

Thus, the burden of proof is always one the asserting party (and not on any person that merely requests evidence), and the grandiosity of the evidence must match the grandiosity of the claim.

Example of the Grandiosity Principle: If someone tells me that he can hook me up with any woman of my choice, and is willing to bet money on it, then I am going to choose the most unwilling woman I can think of, while still maintaining a reasonable level of accessibility. Of course, she would have to be alive, living nearby, free to refuse, and nothing illegal or immoral could take place (no drugging or kidnapping, for instance).

(I used to win that bet about twice a year while in the military - every time we'd get a new rotation of enlisteds. There was always one guy who thought that he was First Pimp to the World.)

nope

Well, I'd certainly become religious if, for instance, Zeus were to appear to me one day, show me a bunch of magic tricks and invite me to dinner at Mount Olympus with the rest of the gods.

Of course, while this would convince me that there is such a thing as gods, it in itself would not be enough to convince me that they should be followed - I'd hold them to the same standards of trustworthiness as I would any other being.

Last edited by Arcanyn on 20 Jan 2009, 2:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

I always change my views/opinions when I am shown to be in error, how is that shown; rational logical argument, factual proof, weight of evidence. etc..

I just realized that I do not know what would make me leave Linux behind and prefer an unfree OS. So I guess, Linux is more of a religion for me than religion.

because I regularly change my views, they never change drastically. But I do actively seek intelligent discussion through which to alter or adjust my views to make them more logical and more "refined"

Rational/empirical/scientific evidence to the contrary.

- Jo

Wouldn't what? Become a communist or become religious?

- Jo

There is nothing in the world that could make me change my views. Admitting you were wrong is an admission of weakness. And I'm all for self-deception.

And another response I like.

water-boarding would

Room 101.

But... I mean not a forced change of mind but what would make you change your views voluntarily.

Honestly, I don't know. Some organic process.

I never used to have any strong views at all - the first time I realised I did was taking an online philosophy course 2 years ago - suddenly I realised that all the conclusions I'd arrived at independantly by experience were valid philosophical positions that had logical defenses. These views are still being shaped by things I read or hear, although I have realised, quite unhappily in a way, that I have become less open-minded and more fixed in certain viewpoints.

Ideally I would change viewpoints if confronted by evidence, but what would really happen I do not know - my own deterministic nature is as unclear to me as anyone elses and I don't know what it would take to convince me to believe in God or free will. I have become more consciously aware of using logic in arguments and most of my current beliefs are based upon logic and I assume that will continue as there isnt really anything better to replace it with.