Do you guys think autism is real? I have given it some thought and do not think so. In syllogistic form, these are my reasons:
1. Either autism does or does not exist.
2. If autism has
real existence (exists outside of the mind), then it must have an
essence or definition.
3. But it would seem that autism has no essence. Whenever people try to define it, they only bring up its symptoms or what kind of a condition it is—not what it is *in itself*.
4. Now, either autism can or cannot be defined.
5. If it can be defined, it has an essence (in which case it also has real existence).
6. Either this essence is
simple (not made of parts) or
composite (made of parts).
7. If the essence of autism is simple, it can be discovered in the same way we discover other essences—by thinking deeply about it.
8. But no one has discovered its essence since its introduction to psychology in the early 20th century.
9. So, for the last hundred years, we have remained bereft of any reason to believe it has real existence.
10. If we have lacked any reason to believe it ever existed, it follows that we have no reason to believe it exists here aud now.
11. If the essence of autism hasn't been discovered yet (as some may argue), they must do more than assert that it exists; they must *prove* that it exists by providing it. Otherwise, we remain bereft of any reason to believe it exists.
12. Now, either autism exists as a *spectrum* or it exists as a *condition*. If everyone has it in degrees, then it cannot be said to be a neurological condition any more than someone can be said to be "a little pregnant." You either have it or you do not.
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