A ChatGPT experiment in refuting relativism

 Stylised using Augustine's Contra Academicos as a foundation.

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Dialogue 1 — “I cannot know anything for certain”

Skeptic: I cannot know anything for certain.

Augustine: Are you certain of that?

Skeptic: Certainly.

Augustine: Then you know at least one thing for certain — which means your statement is false.

Skeptic: I cannot know whether I am certain or not.

Augustine: In claiming that, you are both affirming and denying the very same thing — that you can and cannot know whether you are certain.

Skeptic: I don’t follow.

Augustine: Your statement assumes it is either true or false that you are certain — there is no middle ground. This assumption is the law of non-contradiction: that something cannot both be and not be in the same way at the same time.

Skeptic: So, I must already accept this law to even say what I just said?

Augustine: Exactly. Without accepting this, your words lose meaning and collapse into contradiction. Thus, your claim refutes itself, proving you already know some things for certain.

Skeptic: I see now.

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Dialogue 2 — “There are no absolutes”

Skeptic: There are no absolutes.

Augustine: Are you absolutely certain of that?

Skeptic: Certainly.

Augustine: Then you have found one absolute — and your statement is false.

Skeptic: Then, I cannot know whether I am absolutely certain or not.

Augustine: By making that claim, you are both affirming and denying your absolute certainty simultaneously.

Skeptic: That seems impossible.

Augustine: It is. Your claim depends on the law of non-contradiction, which forbids something from being and not being at once in the same way. Without accepting this law, your claim cannot be understood or hold true.

Skeptic: Then the very idea that there are no absolutes presupposes absolutes itself.

Augustine: Precisely. Meaning and truth are fixed absolutes you rely on, even in your doubt.

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This shows the laws of logic are necessitated. Here is ChatGPT's explanation of all three:

Here are the three key classical laws of logic, each with a brief summary and a syllogism illustrating it:

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1. Law of Identity

Summary:

Every thing is identical to itself. In other words, something is what it is.

Formally: A is A.

Syllogism:

Premise 1: A thing must be what it is.

Premise 2: This object is a book.

Conclusion: Therefore, this object is a book.

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2. Law of Non-Contradiction

Summary:

Nothing can both be and not be in the same way at the same time.

Formally: ¬(A and ¬A)

Syllogism:

Premise 1: Something cannot both be true and false in the same respect at the same time.

Premise 2: The statement “This book is on the table” cannot be both true and false at once.

Conclusion: Therefore, the book either is on the table or it is not, but not both.

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3. Law of Excluded Middle

Summary:

For any proposition, either it is true or its negation is true. There is no middle option.

Formally: A ∨ ¬A

Syllogism:

Premise 1: A proposition must either be true or false.

Premise 2: The statement “It is raining” is either true or false.

Conclusion: Therefore, either it is raining or it is not raining.

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These laws form the foundation for all rational thought and argumentation, underpinning the clarity and coherence of any meaningful statement.

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A related error to refute is Presuppositionalism, which implicitly affirms scepticism and then builds on it with faith. Here's ChatGPT's dialogue with a new interlocutor:

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Interlocutor: Augustine, I’ve come across a view called Presuppositionalism. It claims that all knowledge and reasoning must start by presupposing God’s existence. Without that, logic and truth collapse and cannot be understood. What do you make of this?

Augustine: That is a notable position. So, Presuppositionalism insists that God is the necessary foundation for all knowledge, and one cannot even reason about God without already assuming God?

Interlocutor: Exactly. It says that without that presupposition, reasoning fails, and no knowledge is possible.

Augustine: I see. That view aims to avoid skepticism by rooting knowledge absolutely in God. But tell me, is this not close to fideism — the idea that faith is independent of reason, or even that reason is suspect without faith?

Interlocutor: They are related, yes. Fideism holds that faith comes first and reason is either secondary or unreliable on its own.

Augustine: I appreciate the desire to protect faith, but to dismiss reason’s role is problematic. Humans naturally use reason and can grasp truths even before explicit faith. For instance, infants and those unfamiliar with God still employ logic and can know some things with certainty.

Interlocutor: Presuppositionalists might say these people implicitly rely on God’s truth, even if unknowingly.

Augustine: True, God’s truth sustains all things, but this does not mean we must assume God consciously before reasoning begins. To do so risks circularity — trying to prove God by first assuming God.

Interlocutor: So, what is your position?

Augustine: Reason is a natural gift and a path toward God. It reveals eternal truths and logical laws accessible to all, regardless of faith. These truths prepare the mind to receive faith. Thus, faith and reason are companions, not opponents or prerequisites.

Interlocutor: So you reject the circularity in Presuppositionalism and the exclusivity of fideism?

Augustine: Precisely. Faith without reason can become blind, and reason without faith can become prideful. Together, they guide us to truth. Reason opens the door; faith walks through it.

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Next, an argument from these conclusions through to the Trinitarian God:

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Interlocutor: Augustine, I see how faith and reason work together, but how exactly do they lead us to the God Christians worship?

Augustine: Let me guide you through the journey step by step.

Interlocutor: Please.

Augustine: When we look around, we see that everything that exists has a cause — nothing simply happens without a reason. But this chain of causes cannot stretch back endlessly, or nothing would be here now. So, there must be a first cause, a source of all things, itself uncaused and eternal. This source is what we call God.

Interlocutor: So reason shows there must be an ultimate beginning?

Augustine: Exactly. But to understand what God is like, we realize that God is not like anything we know in the world. God is not limited, not changing, not confined by time or space. We come to understand God by recognizing what God is not, because God's essence transcends all our human categories.

Interlocutor: So God is beyond our full understanding?

Augustine: Yes, but faith invites us to accept the truths God has revealed about Himself, especially the mystery of God’s nature.

Interlocutor: How can we grasp that mystery?

Augustine: Consider love itself. Love is never simply one thing. It involves at least three realities: the lover, the beloved, and the love that binds them together. Without these three, love cannot truly exist.

Interlocutor: So love requires a threefold relationship?

Augustine: Exactly. Since God is perfect love, this threefold relationship exists eternally within God’s own being: a Lover, a Beloved, and the Love that unites them. This is the Trinity — one God in three persons, united perfectly in love.

Interlocutor: That helps me understand the Trinity better.

Augustine: So, reason leads us to the necessary source of all things and helps us understand God’s transcendence, while faith embraces the divine mystery of the Trinity revealed by God’s perfect love.

Interlocutor: Faith and reason together illuminate the path to the living God whom Christians worship — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Augustine: Precisely. The journey of the mind and heart is to recognize and enter into this perfect love, the source and fulfillment of all truth and being.

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Next, how one goes from trinity, to incarnation and a church from ChatGPT:

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Interlocutor: Augustine, you’ve shown me how faith and reason lead to the triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But how does that knowledge lead us to the Incarnation?

Augustine: A profound question. The triune God is perfect love — a communion of three persons. Out of that love, God desired to unite us fully to Himself. Since we were separated by sin, only by God becoming man — the Incarnation of the Son — could we be redeemed and restored to that divine communion.

Interlocutor: So God became human to bridge the infinite gap between Himself and us?

Augustine: Exactly. The Incarnation reveals God's ultimate love and mercy, making possible our salvation and participation in divine life.

Interlocutor: And from the Incarnation, how do we come to understand the Church?

Augustine: Christ founded the Church as His living Body on earth, to continue His mission of salvation. The Church is the community called to share in the life of the Trinity through grace, to worship God, and to teach all nations what Christ commanded.

Interlocutor: But there are many groups all claiming to follow Christ. How do you identify the true Church?

Augustine: The true Church is the one that preserves the fullness of the apostolic faith, maintains visible unity under legitimate leadership traced back to the apostles, and faithfully administers the sacraments instituted by Christ. This Church is the Catholic Church — universal in mission and unity.

Interlocutor: Some say the true Church isn’t a visible institution but the community where Christ and His Spirit dwell in people’s hearts. They say they can tell who truly has Christ by the Spirit’s witness, and that’s where the true Church is — not necessarily in the Catholic Church.

Augustine: It is true that Christ dwells in believers by His Spirit. Yet, how do you propose to recognize this community universally, beyond personal impressions or experiences?

Interlocutor: We rely on the Spirit’s immediate guidance and the fruits we see in people’s lives — love, holiness, and power. The visible structures can be empty or corrupt; the Spirit’s presence is the sure sign.

Augustine: I agree the Spirit works in hearts, but the Spirit does not contradict the visible Church Christ established. Without a visible, unified community with consistent teaching and sacraments, how do you safeguard against deception or division? The Spirit works through the Church as the guardian of truth and unity.

Interlocutor: But many in the Catholic Church do not show these fruits, and sometimes it seems lifeless or corrupt. How can you say the Spirit is truly there?

Augustine: The Church is composed of sinners but guided by the Spirit. Its visible unity and apostolic continuity preserve the true faith and sacraments, even when individuals fail. The Spirit’s presence is not guaranteed by perfection in members but by the Church’s faithfulness to Christ’s mission.

Interlocutor: So you insist that the true Church must be visible and organized, with apostolic succession and sacraments?

Augustine: Yes. Christ gave authority to His apostles and their successors to teach, govern, and sanctify. This structure is not a human invention but divine institution, necessary for the Church’s unity and faithfulness throughout history.

Interlocutor: What about those who claim personal faith and Spirit-led worship without formal hierarchy?

Augustine: Without order and authority, faith risks becoming fragmented and subjective. The Church’s visible unity and sacramental life provide the objective means to preserve and pass on the faith rightly.

Interlocutor: So the Catholic Church, with its apostolic leadership, sacramental life, and catholic unity, is the Church Christ founded?

Augustine: Precisely. From the mystery of the Trinity, to the Incarnation, to the Church, God’s plan is for us to live in communion with Him and each other. The Catholic Church is the historic, visible expression of that plan, entrusted with the fullness of faith and grace.

Interlocutor: Augustine, some argue that the Bible alone is enough for faith and practice, and that no other authority like the Church is needed. How do you respond to this idea that Scripture alone guides us perfectly?

Augustine: Scripture is indeed essential, but it was the Church that recognized and preserved the Bible as inspired. Without the Church’s teaching authority, interpreting Scripture can lead to many conflicting views. The Church provides the context and guidance needed to understand the Bible correctly, maintaining unity in faith and practice.

Interlocutor: But how do we know which books truly belong in the Bible? Different groups have different lists of books. How can anyone be sure the Bible they read is complete and authentic?

Augustine: Exactly. The question of which books are inspired—the biblical canon—was settled by the Church through careful discernment guided by the Holy Spirit. The Church’s authority ensured the correct list was recognized and preserved. Without that historic authority, anyone could claim any writings as Scripture, leading to confusion.

Interlocutor: Some also say that we are saved by faith alone — that our actions or the Church’s sacraments don’t contribute to our salvation.

Augustine: Faith is the foundation of salvation, but true faith is never alone. It naturally produces love, good works, and participation in the life God gives through the Church. Saying “faith alone” risks separating belief from the living reality it calls forth. The Church teaches that faith and works, empowered by grace, cooperate in our salvation.

Interlocutor: Some argue that humans are totally sinful and unable to do good or cooperate with God’s grace, so only God’s action matters and humans can do nothing to contribute.

Augustine: Sin does deeply affect us, but God’s grace heals and elevates us, enabling a free and willing response. Humans are not powerless; they must cooperate with grace. The Church’s sacraments and teaching help believers grow in this cooperation, restoring our ability to choose the good.

Interlocutor: So you see the Church as essential for rightly understanding faith, practicing it, and receiving grace?

Augustine: Exactly. The Church is the living community Christ founded to preserve truth, administer grace, and guide believers. Without it, faith risks fragmentation, misunderstanding, and isolation.

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