New scientist is discussing debating robots, and starts with a reference to Dirk Gently and a computer programme "Reason" that can retroactively justify any decision, providing an incontrovertible argument that whatever was decided was the right thing to do.
This issue had been earlier discussed by the Greeks.
Aristotle in Rhetoric discusses logos - arguments based on facts and figures, ethos, appeals that rely on the speakers credibility and expertise, and pathos, those that rely on the audiences emotions.
Ok, what happened, why did one of those forms of argument get turned into a major religion?
Was it a failed attempt to deify reason?
Logos ethos and pathos
Logos ethos and pathos
"We cannot slaughter each other out of the human impasse"