Comments

  • What should the EU do when Trump wins the next election?
    My girlfriend's sock was pulled off her foot in such a way that it looks like the head of a dead pig. I'd reckon there's more philosophy there, than in this entire post...
  • Polyamory vs monogamy
    Perhaps the question ought to be who really has the time to "love" so many people if one is successful in loving one's own self?
  • If existence is good, what is the morality of non-life?
    Not necessarily. And just repeating the same argument just repeats the same fallacy. *shrug* I don't need to repeat the same rebuttal, as it still stands.
  • If existence is good, what is the morality of non-life?
    Of course it is, it suffers from the is-ought leap of logic, you'd need an additional premise that connects the initial descriptive with the final prescriptive. "We should increase existence" is not logically supported by the premise.
  • If existence is good, what is the morality of non-life?
    Except the argument you made is from presupposition on "what is good" among quite a few others. Which if we're going into logic ... well, let's not forget that fallacy.
  • If existence is good, what is the morality of non-life?
    Opinions change overtime, and well, could you imagine a time where there is too much existence?
  • If existence is good, what is the morality of non-life?
    I read the OP. I find it a suitable adaptation of "Selflessness is Selfishness." People that don't enjoy it probably just don't like the idea of "Objective Morality."
    The question here is are some philosophies "more true" (objective) than others?Benj96
    Fact is: the populace determines how "objective" something is in reality.
  • If existence is good, what is the morality of non-life?
    Is existence good?Benj96
    That's subjective. Which for Philosophim, it is. All philosophies are the prejudice of the philosopher who creates them, and although this isn't a philosophy, it could be the root of one. All philosophies are "wrong" in a sense that they are produced out of a limitation of life experiences beheld by its creators.
  • Wittgenstein and How it Elicits Asshole Tendencies.
    Fair enough, but I suppose the biggest issue with all philosophy is that any philosophy is the prejudice of the philosopher who admits them. Therefore every philosophy is not "right" or "wrong" in this regard as they end up building a world view for themselves. The strength of any interpretation comes from how closely it follows the philosopher's own point of view on these prejudices. Even the interpretation that occurs from the text to the reader in the text's native tongue.

    Philosophies are all just modes of thinking that other people tend to adopt. Especially when a certain mode resonates with their own experiences and prejudices.
  • Wittgenstein and How it Elicits Asshole Tendencies.
    More than one person has come here suggesting this post is you projecting your difficulty with the material upon others. That's probably worth noting.
  • Wittgenstein and How it Elicits Asshole Tendencies.
    Basically if I wanted to understand from Wittgenstein's point of view, wouldn't I stay within Wittgenstein's framework? Rather than assuming from some point external to Wittgenstein's framework?

    For example, in the "Was Schopenhauer Right" thread or whatever the full name is, people are using Schopenhauer quotes to clarify Schopenhauer's position... Even @schopenhauer1 is guilty of clarifying Schopenhauer with Schopenhauer, which seemingly makes him the butt of his own criticism? It's okay for him to do but not others. This whole thread seems like a pointless argument to establish "Superiority."
  • Wittgenstein and How it Elicits Asshole Tendencies.
    Is it not the same with nearly any philosopher? If I wanted to clarify Schopenhauer's position, would I quote Plato's or Descartes'?
  • If existence is good, what is the morality of non-life?
    At a glance I can tell it will be an interesting read. But I must run along and chase my wild hounds elsewhere at the moment! I'll be back, but I see why you directed me here "existences."
  • In any objective morality existence is inherently good
    If existence is inherently good then that would mean, as something fundamental to existence, perspective is also good, which means the only objective morality must be to respect the subjective over the objective, which means one must build many bridges.
  • Moral Subjectism Is Internally Inconsistent
    I cannot remember a single time in Nietzsche's work where he references a pluralist idea or notion of truth. Not a single time; in fact, he thought it was nonsense (just like pretty much every other philosopher out there).Bob Ross

    I'm sorry that you feel that way, but here, allow me to demonstrate a few times that he does:

    Ecce Homo;

    first section of Why I Write Such Excellent Books:

    I am one thing, my creations are another... But I should regard it as a complete contradiction of myself, if I expected to find ears and eyes for my truths to-day: the fact that no one listens to me, that no one knows how to receive at my hands to-day, is not only comprehensible, it seems to me quite the proper thing. I do not wish to be mistaken for another—and to this end I must not mistake myself. — Nietzsche

    first section of Why I am a Fatality:

    I refuse to be a saint; ... But my truth is terrible: for hitherto lies have been called truth. The Transvaluation of all Values, this is my formula for mankind's greatest step towards coming to its senses—a step which in me became flesh and genius... — Nietzsche

    Beyond Good and Evil section 231:

    In view of this liberal compliment which I have just paid myself, permission will perhaps be more readily allowed me to utter some truths about "woman as she is," provided that it is known at the outset how literally they are merely—MY truths. — Nietzsche

    I like to use the metaphor "everyone dies alone" as a thought experiment that can aid in the clarity, and it informs upon Amor Fati too. The metaphor "everyone dies alone," implies that dying, despite any physical presence of others, is an inherently solitary experience. Noone can truly share or fully partake and understand another person's death experience. The metaphor emphasizes the idea of existential isolation, which reflects a broader existential reality of our individual lives: that we too are truly isolated, no matter how close we may feel to another, we can never truly understand all of another's life experiences that has lead them to who they are at a given moment in time.

    This is one of the reasons why Nietzsche says "what is great in man is that he is a bridge."

    And since Existential Isolation is a topic spoken about by several philosophers, I'm doubtful that you're capable of seeing beyond your bias without someone prying it open. So I bid you and your objective world good day for I've not come here to suffer from THAT old wives' tale.
  • Moral Subjectism Is Internally Inconsistent
    “my truth”, “your truth”, “their truth”, etc. is patently incoherent; and no legitimate philosopher will back that kind of idea because they know it is nonsense.Bob Ross

    We are just different, you and I, I find Nietzsche to be a legitimate philosopher. Though he is quite a complexity I suppose.
  • Moral Subjectism Is Internally Inconsistent
    1. A belief is a (cognitive) stance taken on the trueness or falseness of a proposition; and
    2. Beliefs make moral propositions true or false.
    Bob Ross

    Again you're not explicitly framing the statements in the context of moral subjectivism. Moral subjectivism holds that moral propositions have no objective truth values independent of individual belief. So my subjective belief doesn't mean I believe it's a universal value. You see you're stuck in this objective "True" or "False" mode. There isn't a "True" or "False" to a subjective moralist. You have your way I have my way, but as for the right and correct way, that does not exist.

    They're all the same argument, or it seems that way to me, and that's why I was getting at your bias definition for belief and truth. I'm not suggesting that having a bias is bad, but there's not an inconsistency in moral subjectivism once you get beyond the notion of "True" and "False." If I came to you and said your belief is false because it's not my truth, then I'm being objective.
  • An Argument for Christianity from Prayer-Induced Experiences
    Why take that sick child to a hospital if you know that God can make him whole?Vera Mont

    Why did Kevin Kostner crawl away from his medical treatment in the beginning of Dances with Wolves?
  • Moral Subjectism Is Internally Inconsistent
    Yes but from your bias on truth being objective, you're conflating that a moral subjectivist would conflate their truth as objective fact with #2 hence you find it inconsistent. You're equating Moral Subjectivity to Moral Objectivity which a person who is a morally subjective wouldn't do.
  • Is atheism illogical?
    Ironically, Dawkins still made God the center of his universe ... but this isn't the case for all Atheist.
  • An Argument for Christianity from Prayer-Induced Experiences
    Here's how prayer works, in my opinion:

    When someone has a "moment" with prayer, this is an affirmation of one own existence that resonates internally. A passionate "yes" to their own needs. If you believe God gave you such an ability for a reason, then who needs to waste time even arguing in the first place? Faith goes where fact dare not, bridging many a void.
  • Moral Subjectism Is Internally Inconsistent
    I do not wish to read through the whole discussion, so my apologies if this has already been addressed:
    1. A belief is a (cognitive) stance taken on the trueness or falseness of a proposition; and
    2. Beliefs make moral propositions true or false.
    Bob Ross
    1 is your bias of the word belief, and certainly not mine, nor does it account for the history of the word, merely your own understanding of it.
  • The ultimate significance of "Thus Spoke Zarathustra", and most of Friedrich Nietzsche's other books
    Autobiographies are somewhat of a rarity in general. Thankfully for us all, Nietzsche was merciful enough and left us a very significant one, Ecce Homo. Ecce Homo is a gateway into Nietzsche's own insights on his books, and the Dionysian dithyrambs. The dithyrambs are Nietzsche's greatest invention and by far the least understood; a simple search of these forums indicates no one has ever brought this up:
    The whole of my Zarathustra is a dithyramb in honour of solitude. — Nietzsche, Ecce Homo, p. 26

    Directly following this Nietzsche indicates, in my opinion, what is the greatest significance of his work:
    The loathing of mankind, of the rabble, was always my greatest danger.... Would you hearken to the words spoken by Zarathustra concerning deliverance from loathing?

    The book Thus Spoke Zarathustra is a dithyramb concerning deliverance from one's own loathing. Hopefully, by the end of this post I will have detailed why this is the ultimate significance of his work...

    The following two quotes are additional context Nietzsche provides from Ecce Homo:

    The whole of Zarathustra might perhaps be classified under the rubric music. At all events, the essential condition of its production was a second birth within me of the art of hearing. — p. 97

    What language will such a spirit speak, when he speaks unto his soul? The language of the dithyramb. I am the inventor of the dithyramb. — p. 109

    So what exactly is a dithyramb? Well, first, we can ruminate upon what Nietzsche said about TSZ to begin with.... It is a book, and it is music, thus it follows that a dithyramb is music in literary form. To understand, more fully, what a dithyramb is we can consult Nietzsche's first book The Birth of Tragedy. In the second aphorism of The Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche suggests an intense visceral reaction occurs: "in the Dionysian dithyramb man is incited to the highest exaltation of all his symbolic faculties; something never before experienced struggles for utterance—the annihilation of the veil of Mâyâ, Oneness as genius of the race, ay, of nature." To put it plainly, the dithyramb is literary music that incites one into a certain state of heightened intelligence and creativity.

    So now that we know what a dithyramb is, I will point out how dithyrambs work. In aphorism 16 of The Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche details how the art of music distinguishes itself from all other art, based off the influence of Schopenhauer, such that music is the direct copy of the will of the artist. Such that Thus Spoke Zarathustra is a copy of the will of Zarathustra, or as Jung might suggest, a copy of the will of the archetype of the "wise old man."

    TLDR: Go learn something you're super passionate about, and then go back and read the right dithyrambs, and be incited into the state of heightened intelligence and creativity, what kind of thoughts will flood you then? This, in my opinion, is Nietzsche's ultimate secret of Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
  • Is Nihilism associated with depression?
    Nihilism can cause ennui which can eventually lead to dissatisfaction with life ...
  • A simple question
    How about I decide what opportunities I miss out on? Rather than someone else telling me what I can and cannot do?
  • Trying to clarify objects in Wittgenstein's Tractatus
    Sure, sounds like Wittgenstein's approach is more of a style of marriage between science and philosophy, where as Russell and the others were more in the line of trying to make a baby out of science and philosophy?
  • Trying to clarify objects in Wittgenstein's Tractatus
    not sure how to delete a post but it posted a few times
  • Christianity - an influence for good?
    As an atheist, I don't mind declaring: God gives purpose, which is generally something to live for...
  • Trying to clarify objects in Wittgenstein's Tractatus
    I'll accept that defense, thank you for the insight. I decided to pick up the text and got an audiobook of it also. Would you say Wittgenstein was attempting to bridge the gap between the disciplines of science and philosophy?

    Not quite, I'm here to learn, not debate. Zen's insight was enough of a glimmer to find a path I could get behind. A simple deflection isn't going to convince someone who has a healthy skepticism now will it? Thanks for the SEP post by the way. The replies to it were actually more interesting but without it, you and zen wouldn't have had that little exchange.
  • A thought experiment on "possibility".
    Enter Greek Mythology cause this is how many of them thought? Time is a Circle that repeats all things have happened all things will happen. Giving you the ultimate freedom to act as all possibilities have and will play out. It's quite a comforting thought in my opinion, should one allow the emotions of such an idea take hold. The trick is not being a spirit of gravity to the point you're like a Bill Burr joke character "DATS NOT HOW REALITY WORKS!" like a positivist would. To actually experience the effect just put a little faith into the words themselves and suspend your disbelief.
  • Our Idols Have Feet of Clay
    Nietzsche seems to have a few things to say upon this IIRC. I remember having to look up "atavism" from a song I really liked a long time ago, and I believe the first time I've ever seen it used was by Nietzsche. His book Twilight of the Idols, although I've only skimmed through it, seems as if it may be apt to this discussion. I'll crack open some dusty old books to try and find more for the discussion. It's weird, your name Isomorph makes me want to open Godel Escher Bach because that's the first time I encountered the word isomorphism, that I can remember. It makes me wonder if I came to this post because of knowing about Nietzsche's book Twilight of the Idols, and the titled of the post reminded me of said book. Like why do I click on any of these things? Desire, to do so sure, but it's like a desire for what? I wonder if we can learn to understand the types of desires that seemingly catalyze within us, as they occur. Maybe that's kinda what stoicism is all about?
  • Trying to clarify objects in Wittgenstein's Tractatus
    See how facts change? The fact: Tractatus is positivism simply by the first few lines. And according to sources it was only ever hailed as a masterpiece of philosophy by Positivists. Saying it's not positivism, at least to me, is like suggesting you're not a Christian for following the doctrine of Christ. They may not be a "church going Christian" but they're still a "Christian." A pig is a pig regardless of its make up. If it's not positivism, defend how it's not with something other than a deflection? Show us how it's not.
  • Trying to clarify objects in Wittgenstein's Tractatus
    A fact, is what is the case.013zen
    What is the case is often subject to perspective.

    The idea that Witt had a distinct early and late period wherein he outrightly dismissed his previous work developed when there was still good reason to wonder if the work was "pro-positivistic"....which the PI clearly is not.013zen

    If PI was clearly not pro-positivistic, but Tractatus is, then doesn't that espouse more than a marginal shift in stance?
  • Trying to clarify objects in Wittgenstein's Tractatus
    And of course, doesn't all of this rely upon Wittgenstein's presupposition of what a "fact" is? Doesn't Wittgenstein himself later overturn the logic of the Tractatus once he realizes the inherent bias in his presupposition? Melanie Klein, for example, her discovery of partial objects shows that objects don't always have a fixed static form.
  • Infinite Staircase Paradox
    The infinite staircase appears to only allow one to traverse it in one direction. It simultaneously exists and doesn't exist? Does this make sense? If we allow Hilbert's Hotel to exist in the abstract and possible realm, are we forced to accept the infinite staircase into the abstract and possible realm? Is this actually a paradox? What are your thoughts?keystone

    Icarus was a Greek. To the Greek, and especially the Stoics, time is an infinite circle, and they (many of the Stoics) thought that everything repeats after a full cosmic cycle. Such that all paths hitherto, and all paths henceforth have and will be a reality. Even if reality doesn't work that way, the emotional effect of believing in such a thing allows one to overcome hardships by accepting them as part of the necessary path they are currently on, and that anyway of overcoming that obstacle is correct as all paths henceforth will eventually play out. It's quite similar to several quantum theories.
  • Is it really impossible to divide by 0?
    It would be like trying to cut you with air, and without any force behind the air.

DifferentiatingEgg

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