For one thing, Eliezer misunderstands the meaning of “eliminative.” An eliminative materialist is someone (by their own definition) who holds that certain things do not exist, say for example beliefs or choices. Eliezer believes that these things are material things, but at least he believes that they exist, as he said about the rainbow. An eliminative materialist says that the word “belief” and “choice” refer to something that does not exist in reality at all, not that they refer to something material. Of course this position implies its own non-existence, since the word “position”, taken in this way, would also refer to something that doesn’t exist in reality.
As regards the substantial disagreement between Richard and Eliezer, Richard is so obviously right, and Eliezer so obviously wrong, that I am simply speechless.
For one thing, Eliezer misunderstands the meaning of “eliminative.” An eliminative materialist is someone (by their own definition) who holds that certain things do not exist, say for example beliefs or choices. Eliezer believes that these things are material things, but at least he believes that they exist, as he said about the rainbow. An eliminative materialist says that the word “belief” and “choice” refer to something that does not exist in reality at all, not that they refer to something material. Of course this position implies its own non-existence, since the word “position”, taken in this way, would also refer to something that doesn’t exist in reality.
As regards the substantial disagreement between Richard and Eliezer, Richard is so obviously right, and Eliezer so obviously wrong, that I am simply speechless.