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The human mind is extremely limited. The human mind can’t reason to truth. Agrippa the Skeptic discovered this 2,000 years ago. A German nobleman named Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen who lived from 1720 to 1797 is said to have also talked about the problem, although that isn’t confirmed. The trilemma is often called the Munchausen Trilemma because, in 1785, Rudolf Erich Raspe wrote about a fictional character based the German nobleman. In Raspe’s book, Baron Munchausen claimed to pull himself out of the swamp by his beard. The idea of the Baron pulling himself out the swamp by his beard is a funny way of showing how silly it is to believe the human mind can pull itself out of the proverbial swamp of irrational thinking. Hans Albert formalized the Trilemma in 1975, describing the impossibility for humans to provide rational justification for any truth claim. We can rationalize and argue, but we can’t prove anything to ourselves or each other. The trilemma refers to the fact that every attempt to prove a statement leads to one of three unsatisfactory outcomes:
- Infinite regress (each proof requires another, and this continues indefinitely). Logic has made a phenomenal goof. When it offers proof, there’s no proof of the proof.
- Circular reasoning (the conclusion is based on premises that require the conclusion itself). Here’s an example: “We know these fossils are millions of years old because they are in rock layers that are millions of years old, and we know the rock layers are millions of years old because the fossils in them are millions of years old.”
- Axiomatic assumption (an assertion is accepted without proof, as a self-evident truth). Here’s an example: “Evolution is a fact. It just is.”
This is why ungodly thinkers can’t think rationally. Today’s skeptics try to dismiss this problem by using irrational and laughable fallacies. Rational thought is based on truth. His name is Jesus. ALL wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.
Ask God to answer these questions:
- What is every human mind limited by?
- Why is Jesus the only source of all wisdom and knowledge for anyone?
- Why can’t your mind reason to truth on its own?
- Why can’t you prove things to yourself?
- Why do you need divine revelation?
Bonus questions:
- Agrippa the Skeptic was right about the limitations of the human mind. What did He miss?
- Rational thought is based on truth. Why?
- What is the human mind and the human soul and the human heart?
- What does infinite regress mean?
- What is circular reasoning?
- What does axiomatic assumption mean?
SEEKING GOD
audio recording for reflection: |
- Pray for the Lord to protect you and keep you in His presence and His presence only.
- Direct your mind toward the Lord only.
- Ask God what He want’s to talk about.
- You can ask God any questions. In all of this, be led by the Holy Spirit. God promises that He will answer you if you ask Him.
- Do not edit or change what God says even if you don’t understand it.
- Reject the lies and receive the truth.
- Take notes.
- Transfer your notes to your journal without editing what God said to you.
Keep in mind that God doesn’t want you to ever disconnect from Him. He wants to flow through you constantly in knowledge, wisdom, and love.
Memory Verse Song
Memorize Matthew 4:4 by writing a song.
“Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Father”
Make up a song melody to the words of the verse. Record a video of yourself singing the song and post it on social media. Let the Holy Spirit lead you in this. (Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.) Take what you learned, your notes or what you produced and videotape yourself. Become a kid influencer for Christ with your own social media platform by uploading your video as God leads.
