Matt_Simpson comments on Conversation Halters - Less Wrong
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I disagree with, Appeal to inescapable assumptions. My specific reason is that I think it would insulate physical materialism from the main type of argument you can make against it. I see empiricism as a huge, impenetrable fortress built on assumptions that are reasonable but not necessary. Interestingly, while appealing to the possession of different assumptions, I probably would appeal to humility, personal choice, etc.
An assumption is still an assumption. Some assumptions are more natural than others in the context of a scientific worldview, however, we haven't established that the scientific worldview is applicable always and everywhere. If anything changes -- for example, if reality is far more strange than we anticipate -- then as a culture and a society we need the flexibility to reconsider assumptions.
Also, did you mean, 'appeal to escapable assumptions'?
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Where does that preclude criticizing assumptions? (I presume this is your quarrel) In fact, the next line endorses the criticism of assumptions: