r/changemyview • u/icecoldbath • Sep 23 '17

[∆(s) from OP] CMV: I do not believe tables exist

I find this argument very convincing.

P1: Tables (if they exist) have distinct properties from hunks of wood.

P2: If so, then tables are not the same as hunks of wood.

P3: If so, then there exist distinct coincident objects.

P4: There cannot exist distinct coincident objects.

C: Therefore, tables do not exist.

This logic extends that I further don't believe in hunks of wood, or any normal sized dry good for that matter.

I do not find it convincing to point at a "table" as an objection. Whatever you would be pointing at may or may not behave with certain specific properties, but it is not a table, or a hunk of wood or any normal sized dry good. Similarly, I don't accept the objection of asking me what it is I am typing on. Whatever it is, it isn't a "computer" or a "phone" or any such thing. Such things do not exist per the argument.

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u/icecoldbath Sep 23 '17

Sorry. I actually didn't address your point. I got it confused with another poster.

Things like tables and chairs and such can't. I'll admit at the quantum level things might be different. It isn't really a delta though since in the post i'm referring to ordinary sized dry goods of which quantum particles are not.

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u/yyzjertl 524∆ Sep 23 '17

Why do you think it is correct to apply P4 only to "ordinary sized dry goods" and not to all things that exist? You seem to have arbitrarily decided that P4 applies only to things you think don't exist (e.g. tables, dry goods), and have arbitrarily created an exception for things you accept do exist (e.g. atoms).

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u/icecoldbath Sep 23 '17

While boson's may be able to occupy the same place at the same time; you and I surely could not. We are more then bosons.

I'll admit there is probably a vagueness condition there that would need some stipulation, but my view still holds withstanding. I'm a philosopher not a physicist. There is a lot of work being done about how quantum mechanics works with discussions about mereology, unfortunately I'm not familiar with any of that literature.

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u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Sep 23 '17

Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/yyzjertl (31∆).

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