Has anyone seen the arguments for "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?"?

Question

I was always told "that is like asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, " if I asked an awkward question. Then I saw somewhere a compilation of these actual arguments. I always thought they were chimerical. But, yeah, people really addressed this isssue. Some of the arguments were astounding in the facility of language. Has anyone else seen these?

Answer 1

Quite ancient or medieval speculative array of argumentation, either for the sake of itself or for valid theological reasons. What answers have you seen? Always struck me that as many as God wanted would be the correct answer; always supposing both angels and God existed, of course.

Answer 2

The modern use of this as an analogy means that since no one knows anything qualitative about angels, the question is moot and unanswerable. Like asking what percentage of unicorns are allergic to watermelon, or how much gold is in a leprechaun's pot o' gold.

Of course, theologians in medieval times actually spent large amounts of time debating nonsense like this. Philosophy was not nearly as advanced or disciplined as it is in modern times, and as such was not particularly bound by any rules of logic or reason. In more modern times, theology is often still sorely lacking in empirical thinking, but at least not many people confuse theology with philosophy nowadays.

Answer 3

Ridiculous question.

I got a violation because someone asked the question in earnest a week ago. I was like: "You're fkn kidding me." So much damn prejudice on Y!A, they don't know what philosophy is. I reported him, I think I report most of the evangelical proselytizing-- and still I'm the pariah! Me! I've been banned for speaking the truth! LOL

F*ck this website.
F*ck your dumbass question.