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  • How to relate Mental Illness to The Nature of Consciouses

    "Do I display symptoms of paranoia." - Wallows

    Yes, and sometimes delusions. For example I will think (delusionally?) that radio broad casts have messages for me, and I can hear them. I don't know if its interferences or just my mind making up stuff while I listen. This doesn't happen often, though.

    My other paranoia I equate to social anxiety. I get very nervous when having to do things outside my home and comfort zones. I also trouble talking on the phone, because I think I won't know what to say -- its apprehensive.

    I think FOR THE MOST PART hallucinations are different than a perceptual disorder, though, I have been recommend to get my eyes throughly checked out. Perceptions can alter my hallucinations, such as flashing lights. Too much perceptual stimulation arouses the hallucinations.

    "Can we objectively talk about the mind?" - Wallows

    I am not sure what an objective statement about the mind would be. Maybe something like it experiences emotions and perceptions, memories and beliefs, etc.. I think it can be objectified through categorical understandings..
  • On Suicidal Thoughts
    I have been helping people cope with suicidal ideation for many years. It is certainly waya said, "clouded judgement." I like to help see that they are searching for a way out of the current conditions, they are seeking a change in their lives, and that suicide is short cut out of their unwanted circumstances. Once you see it like this, you will try to form a better strategy, that is more rational, but requires more work than just having "get out now/suicidal ideation".
  • Music as a Form of Communication?
    I think music can become communication. Sometimes I over hear people talking, and it seems that some of what people are talking about, or talking like, has its origins in the musical industry. The impact is one where communication is affected.

    You might play a certain type of music, and than you feel like you have communicated something about yourself. I do this when playing music in the car, and I think most people who play music in their car, that other people can hear, are indeed communicating something about themselves.
  • Thought experiments and empiricism
    I think all thought experiments, if they are to be totally used for verification of a theory, should be able to be put into a real experiment/demonstrated.

    Einstein is famous for his thought experiments. One such experiment is "riding a wave of light", what would that be like, how fast would you be moving, how does it related back to relativity, etc.. Does the thought experiment help to predict any real instances of light (having velocity)? And does the experiment itself transcend the empirical?
  • Question About Consciousness
    William James coined the term, "Stream of Consciousness." However, in my readings of him he doesn't describe how consciousness narrative can take a hold of the experience of being an Other, or as you have said the experiences of reading as John or playing as Kratos. In my studies I have not encountered any single term for what you are referring to. It is a kind of "conscious narrative". When you search such a term in google it comes up with Stream of Consciousness and Narrative. According to my purview there isn't much on how it works, but rather when it does.
  • Are there philosopher kings?
    How does one differentiate the use of philosophy from the use of common wisdom? That is to ask, what makes a philosopher ruler different from a ruler who is simply wise? Aren't all politicians in a sense philosophical?
  • Can you class a group of people with social statistics in this way?
    Statistics can prove that a group or race of people are more likely do something - crime or not. I don't know rather it should be used as a benchmark to make judgments about particular races or that it is no more than a bias confirmed by empirical evidence. In any case, the question arises, "Will you treat a group or race of people differently based on such evidence?" I am not certain if I would or wouldn't. I have had many friends of many races and I didn't use statistics to make my primary decision to engage with them.

    What happens when this classification takes place in a judicial setting? I'd like to know if this kind of classification should be used in the court room, or if it is a standard prejudice. Is it right?
  • The Definition of Infinity is Contradictory
    Every number is inherently finite.
  • What are some good laymen books on philosophy?
    I have been studying philosophy informally for 10 years. I just bought this book, "A world of ideas" by Chris Rohmann. Its a good starter, and if you have some knowledge of philosophy, you will enjoy it for its clarification of some rather obscure ideas. There are also several anthologies you can find, as well as histories of philosophy, such as Bert Russel's "History of Philosophy." Your local library and online book stores will generate plenty of reading sources for your inquiry.