THE
EVADER
A Play in One Act
The
following play was written in order to encapsulate what I consider to be the
salient points in my discussion of the “Transcendental Argument for the
existence of God” (TAG) with Christian apologist Paul Manata in May of 2004. I
wrote this play for the purpose of illustrating the essence of a dialogue which
Mr. Manata and I carried on over the course of several exchanges. In the play PRESUPPOSITIONALIST is the part of the
Christian apologist, and many of his statements are taken verbatim from Mr.
Manata’s own messages to me. ATHEIST 1
represents an atheist who initiated the conversation on the All_Bahnsen
discussion list, and ATHEIST 2
represents my side of the conversation. Some license has been taken in creating
this for the sake of presenting it in the form of a condensed dialogue. But for
those who are interested in the actual exchange, readers are encouraged to join
the All_Bahnsen discussion list in order to review the May 2004 archives of the
list, which are reserved for members only.
_______________________
Enter
ATHEIST 1, PRESUPPOSITIONALIST, and ATHEIST
2.
A sunny afternoon, late in the day. The three are gathered in a park.
ATHEIST 1: Hey, you know, I'm not even sure Bahnsen really
presents an actual argument for his claim that only the Christian worldview can
account for logic, science and morality.
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: What are you talking about? Nobody denies that
Bahnsen argued! What are you, daft?
ATHEIST 2: Well, now that you mention it, you might have
something here. It seems to me that Bahnsen simply asserted his claim and tried
to shift the burden by denouncing those who didn't accept it. That's not
arguing for the truth of anything.
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: What are you, dense or something? Blimey! I can't
believe it! Everything Bahnsen said was an argument! You just don't like the
conclusion!
ATHEIST 2: Well, hold on here, let's look at an example and
see what we find. Here's Bahnsen's opening statement in his debate with Gordon
Stein. Where exactly is his argument?
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: Are you kidding? Bahnsen royally stumped Stein in
that debate! Stein even admitted this. And Michael Martin says that Bahnsen
"argued"! That's proof that there's an argument here! Error #1!!
ATHEIST 2: Hmmm…it's not clear to me what his argument is.
Let's look at those final four paragraphs in Bahnsen's opening statement. Which
statements are to serve as the premises in his argument, and which statement is
the conclusion? If there's an argument here, it's certainly not clearly
articulated.
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: That's because you don't understand a TA, fool!! Go
back and read Bahnsen and Van Til, bonehead. Error #2!
ATHEIST 2: I'm sorry, what good will that do
if Bahnsen does not present an identifiable argument for his position in his
opening statement in a public debate? Where's the argument?
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: Come on, you dummy! I'll show you the basics since
you can't figure it out by yourself. The argument goes like this: If X is the
case then Y is the case because Y is the precondition for X. X is the case, :. Y is the case. Get it, numb nuts?
ATHEIST 2: Okay, well, that looks like Modus Ponens to me.
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: Your idea that the general stucture [sic] on a TA
was just a basic modus ponens does show that you do not grasp TAG. Error #3!
ATHEIST 2: Sorry, I
must have misunderstood your earlier statement. You said the argument is If X
is the case then Y is the case. X is the case, therefore Y is the case. That's
not Modus Ponens?
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: You clearly don't grasp TAG, idiot! Take a
philosophy course, man! Learn how to read, goofball! Go back and learn the
basics. Right now you're just embarrassing yourself.
ATHEIST 2: I'm puzzled, Sir. Presuppositional theorist David
Byron, who's done a lot of work to refine and strengthen Bahnsen's and Van
Til's apologetic, makes it very clear: "A transcendental argument may be
expressed in the form of Modus Ponens."
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: I am familiar with Byron and his underdeveloped
view means nothing to me.
ATHEIST 2: So, you're disagreeing with Byron on this point?
You're saying that a TA cannot be expressed in the form of Modus Ponens, even
though your own representation of the structure of TAG clearly follows this
form?
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: You heathen idiot! I know it takes the structure of
MP! I never said it didn't! You just don't grasp TAG! Error #4!
ATHEIST 2: But so far it appears that your assessment that I
don't understand TAG is premised on the assumption that I am wrong to suppose
that TAG can be expressed in the form of Modus Ponens, but now you've agreed
(since I quoted Byron) that it indeed "takes the structure of MP."
Can you tell me where an argument which "takes the structure of MP"
can be found anywhere in Bahnsen's opening statement?
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: [BLANK OUT]
ATHEIST 2: Then I must say, TAG
remains an utter mystery, for it's not apparent where Bahnsen presents anything
that takes the shape of MP in his opening statement. All he seems to do is
attempt to shift the burden onto his opponent and carry on ***as if*** he's
presented an argument. Meanwhile, he accrues an increasing inventory of burdens
of his own which he never attempts to meet. What's up?
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: You just don't understand TAG, fool! Error #5!!!
ATHEIST 2: Okay, I admit I don't understand it. You say it
"takes the form of MP," but I've not seen any argument presented in
the form of MP, not from Bahnsen, that's for sure. Why don't you present your
own version of TAG?
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: The argument was: The atheist worldview cannot
account for logic, science and morality.
ATHEIST 2: Where's the Modus Ponens here?
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: See! You
just don't grasp TAG! I can't believe it! It is perfectly clear that to even
ask that then I know I am wasting my time.
ATHEIST 2: Well, let's see. First you insist that there's an
argument. When I ask you to point it out, you say that I don't understand it.
When I ask what the argument looks like, you say: If X is the case then Y is
the case because Y is the precondition for X. X is the case,
:. Y is the case. I then ask how this is different from MP, and again
you respond by saying that I don't grasp TAG. Then I quote a heavy-hitting
presuppositional theorist who says explicitly that "A transcendental
argument may be expressed in the form of Modus Ponens." (Note that he does
not mention any other argument form which a TA might assume; Byron singled out
MP specifically.) Then you turn around and say that you're not denying that it
can be expressed in the form of Modus Ponens, but dismiss out of hand the
presuppositional theorist who says it can be. Then I ask you to point where an
argument in the form of Modus Ponens can be assembled from Bahnsen's opening
statement, and then you again complain that I don't understand TAG. So, I ask
you to present your own version of TAG, and what you present does not take the
structure of an argument, Modus Ponens or otherwise. In fact, it looks like a
conclusion in need of an argument, like a little girl who's lost in the woods.
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST: Look, I am a single father will [sic] full custody
of a four yr old. I am trying to finish school and have a full time job… this
is way to [sic] time consuming. [EXITS]
ATHEIST 2: [LAST ONE STANDING] Well, that's a pity. I was
hoping to finally see what TAG looks like. I'm afraid this guy turned out to be
a disappointment on this matter, just as Bahnsen was in his debate with Stein.
I suppose I'll have to continue seeking for presuppositional apologists who
actually have an argument to present. So far, I've not found one. Good day.
[ATHEIST 2 walks off into the sunset
singing dixie…]
FIN