I could do without people being humble as long as they're honest. I think people often respond in ways that aren't very honest here. At least I hope that's the case, because the other alternatives would be even more disheartening
Can you be harsh to your friends and kind to adversaries? If I agree with someone I go for the throat - not to ‘win’. I mean I actively look for a means of conflict.
If there’s a rabid beast at your door don’t kick it. If there is a docile beast at your door kick it into life. I have a feeling it is these kind of approaches that get mixed up that bothers you? Insisting on humility does more to kick a rabid beast than placate it. Walk away and don’t be tempted to put the boot in on leaving.
that was kind of implied by this, only perfect beings can recognise perfect answers or other perfect beings.you could also maybe make an argument that the perfect person can only be recognised as such by other perfect beings.
If you see people, and things in general, as unique individuals, it's easy to see each thing as perfect. It's perfectly what it is at every given moment.
I think this is the key. What we are really talking about here is optimism vs. pessimism in the case of serious and complex situations with lots of unknowns. In that context, to me, optimism takes the form of believing that "we can make a difference" not just that "the best result will ensue" (a la Leibniz). Pessimism that "there is nothing we can do".
Broad Optimism" in the sense that a solution is possible, the negation of narrow pessimism.
"Narrow Optimism" in the sense that a solution is guaranteed, a subset of broad optimism.
"Broad Pessimism" in the sense that a solution is not guaranteed, the negation of narrow optimism.
"Narrow Pessimism in the sense that a solution is impossible, a subset of broad pessimism.
These are just the four basic logical modalities (possibility, necessity, contingency, and impossibility) applied to the solvability of the problem.
It seems to me that some people are arguing against narrow pessimism and so in favor of broad optimism (but not necessarily in favor of narrow optimism), while other people are arguing against narrow optimism and so in favor of broad pessimism (but not necessarily in favor of narrow pessimism). Those two arguments are compatible with each other, and if both are right (as I agree) then [the right attitude is to assume that] a solution is what I like to call merely possible: possible but contingent.
I don't think anyone alive made the rule "don't kill." We just follow it when it suits us. Sometimes we value life, sometimes we don't
I don’t know about that, biology does a good job of making us value air, food, water etc. Maybe I’m faking it though, maybe I don’t really need food or water or air?
— Mark Dennis
You separate yourself from your biology? That's a neat trick.
Truly becoming nihilistic isn't something everybody is going to do. It's not a way of thinking I'd recommend (or warn against for that matter.) It just comes.
Perfect knowledge is right. So, if one can be right and assailed, then it is not true that if one is being assailed one is not right(perfect).
That was the context...
- Matthew 23 v1-7Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2 The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. 3 So obey everything they teach you, but don’t do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else.
4 They pile heavy burdens on people’s shoulders and won’t lift a finger to help. 5 Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels[a] for everyone to see. 6 They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. 7 And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers.
You can't be made to value something. You can only be made to put on a show.
Why would we need to make rules around our values?
Optimism is the expectation that things won't get any worse; and (somehow) things will get better. (Re: nostalgic)
• Pessimism is the expectation that things won't get any better; and (somehow - let me count the effin' ways) things will get worse. (Re: entropic)
4th wall break inside a 4th wall break... that’s like 16 walls!
@Isaac (Sorry I wrote this awhile ago but forgot to tag)The trouble is, there's potential solutions and there's actual solutions. The problem of climate change has been caused almost in its entirety by what were called 'solutions' to other problems - how to feed the ever growing population, how to provide white goods to poorer people, how to make whatever bigger, faster, cheaper... These were all 'problems' at the time and the 'solutions' we came up with are the very things which caused the next problem. As a thought experiment (you'll need a bit of anthropology to do this right) try to make a list of technological advances which are not aimed at solving a problem brought about by previous technological advances. The list is quite thin.
Solar cells have their indium problem at the moment, when that's solved (probably with graphene), they'll be a graphene problem that we hadn't thought of. Wind power has it's limits too (what some people don't seem to realise is that the wind is actually doing something, it's not just wasted energy, it's driving the weather)... So it's not a matter of solving any problems, it's a question of rates. Can we solve one problem quicker than the inevitable next problem (caused by our previous solution) arises. I think what we're experiencing now with climate change, mass extinction, pollution buffers filling up etc is not just another problem to solve like we did with the others, its a symptom of our solution-induced problems catching up with us, our rate of finding new solutions is not keeping up with the rate at which problems are caused by them.
Over 365 days you will be brought food, water and will be washed. On the first day of next year all these things will cease and you will be left to die. Also, every night a tiger will come into your cell and attempt to eat you. Use the sword to fight it off each night, he’s scared of the sight of his own blood but is immortal and will follow you even after you escape so take the sword with you. The pommel of the sword can be used to wear away the mortar the chain that binds you is imbedded in, within 365 days. If you free yourself before the tiger kills you, no one will stop you leaving.”
As a species we're wired to deny that we're ever fucked - especially by our own wishful negligence. Except for fringe types, homo insapiens refuses to be pessimistic enough to grapple en mass with the hazards trending (above) and so they'll go on 'amusing themselves to death' until they're begging to die rather than watch each other's babies starve or slowly waste away from thirst in briny drowned cityscapes. The optimistic cunts who wage wars feeding masses of other optimistic cunts down abattoirs of convenience, profit or ruin always do so again because THIS TIME IT WILL BE DIFFERENT; the latest and greatest war to come: surviving the "climate change" (near?)extinction event. AND THIS TIME, FOR US, IT WILL BE DIFFERENT ... for fuck's sake.
Can you see how that if I command you to value birds (when you don't of your own sentiment), then your actions will be hollow, and you'll likely drop iy when you realize I have no power over you?
I mean that we’ve been stuck in a world (humanity), for a long time, where ethical ideas and law have taken away human choice and responsive social activity.
when other's go around indirectly claiming this form of faux-humility (which is really just faux low-self esteem self-depreciation posts glossed up to look noble)
attempting to lower the confidence that other's may have; and pseudo-diagnosing people with emotional problems while claiming to have some transcendent upperhand on self-reflection/critical self-analysis, and etc.
That to me, is the nature of philosophy. Conflict. So conflict-avoidant people (shining their superior passivity), attempting to intervene and silence different communication styles that hold more conviction than yours makes little sense to me. But sure, let's call people that speak with conviction "aggressive," "rude" etc, etc. THESE types of silencing tactics do not work on me. Save your bullshit, honestly. As someone that's taken various speech classes and has been said to have a naturally commanding tone, I find these posts about silencing diverse communication styles to be just nonsensical.
It is just a pet-peeve of mine when other's go around indirectly claiming this form of faux-humility
Oh I see, so when you command things and others don’t listen your ego gets bruised and you call them insecure for not recognising your true place as leader of all? Right then. Maybe you should read my intellectual honesty post again and take some notes. Unfortunately though I’m not so weak willed that I bow to trumpism.As someone that's taken various speech classes and has been said to have a naturally commanding tone, I find these posts about silencing diverse communication styles to be just nonsensical.