| iambinarymind |

The moment that the agnostic asserts that it is impossible to state with certainty that gods cannot exist, due to this possible alternate dimension, then his statement is automatically invalidated as well, since in this alternate dimension, gods may not exist either, or his words may mean the opposite of what he thinks they mean in this dimension, and so on. No sane person can use this other dimension to affirm or deny any truth statement in this dimension — and so the agnostic merely takes himself out of the bounds of civilised and rational debate.

The moment an agnostic hears this argument, he will doubtless say, ‘But . . . ’

However, I merely interrupt him to reply, ‘You cannot use the word “but,” since the word “but” might have the exact opposite meaning in some alternate dimension.’

I would continue this process with every word he spoke after that, until he either dropped his position, or my company, which would be a relief either way.

This is what I mean when I say that all con artists wish to create a general rule, with a magical exception for themselves — the agnostic wishes to cast universal doubt on truth statements, except all the ones that he happens to make.