It is so rooted in our society because the 'system' promotes the consumption of alcohol and other similar products which are equally dangerous - tobacco, for example - for the sort of enjoyment. Furthermore, the state even collects revenue thanks to the consumption of both cigarettes and booze, when these are a threat to our health, actually. I do not want to sound 'puritan' nor condemn the people who usually drink or smoke, but it is obvious that it is not an activity of enjoyment.

Although it is true that some drink to avoid problems, others do so to face them and get more confidence. I don't know if some of you had to deal with alcoholics, but I had to. It doesn't cause any confidence when their only purpose is to waste their income or pension on a drink at the bar. This is the thing that bothers me the most. An alcohol-dependent acts legally. We cannot ban them from buying alcohol or going to a bar. It is stunning the number of people who destroy their life - or even die - because of this. But the state doesn't care because it hasn't forced you to 'consume'... Is this really true? I think it is literally the opposite. It is the environment which forces us to be drinkers or smokers, because they are acts of developed societies.

I also believe that you have got totally into Kazantzaki's spirit. — Alkis Piskas

This assessment makes me very happy, friend. Kazantzakis has become one of my favourite writers. I will keep diving at his works. I have a little book - just 95 pages - which is called 'Symposium'. It seems to be very interesting!

Do you agree? — Alkis Piskas

Of course, I agree! :up:

And I this is maybe an ideal moment to remind us of Kazantzakis' famous quote: "I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free." — Alkis Piskas

Kazantzakis was a clever and original writer. Thanks to you, I discovered his works this year, and I recommend him since then. It is important to have a look at Kazantzakis's works because he discovers the religious prophets in a more realistic way: humanisation, rather than the metaphors we used to read in the Gospels...

Gratitude to parents.
Gratitude to teachers.

Bearing in mind that it is impossible to be "one's own person" and not need anyone. — baker

:up:

Could you plug it in? I'm not sure what to do with that! — creativesoul

If you do not mind, I would like to take part in your interesting exhange.

A's - to be one's own person - formation is existentially dependent upon B - teachers - which both could not exist without C - our parents - because they are the cause of the born ourselves, thus our existence. Nevertheless, I am wondering to what extent B - teachers - and C - parents - are linked. Yet, what is an affirmative premise - let's say p1 - is that A - to be one's own person - is existentially dependent upon B and C.

OK, I consider them acceptable too, and I am not anyone to dive in other people's businesses. But it seems to me that they are more acceptable by people generally than believing in Jesus. While I have to take Bromazepam to take control of my anxiety, others go to Church and pray. Both actions are tolerated and respected by me.

Hi Javi! (You changed your avatar again! — Alkis Piskas

Geia sou, Alkis! Yes, I changed my pic. It is a cover from a Murakami's novel. :smile:



OK. I understand your definition of freedom, and I partially agree with it. The notion of an absence of obstacles is applied depending on the circumstances. I would like to use 'freedom to' meaning in my example of religion. I think some believers profess their cult to just get redemption before they die. When they think their sins are forgiven, they can be accepted in heaven. Speaking in a general overview, I guess this is what they understand as freedom.
For example: Last summer, I read a novel by Kazantzakis about Assisi. He and his faithful cross through many difficulties and in one specific they were close to death because of sickness. There was not a doctor in the village, but a good person helped them to drive them to another city. When they got attended, one of them shouted: We crossed through a dilube, but without a pure image of Jesus it would have been impossible... - He quoted a psalm from the Bible - so, they experienced 'freedom to'

Of course, I have another sense of freedom! But I want to respect their faith.

We can know some things are prior to others. We can know some things consist of others. Etc. Seeking and acquiring some knowledge is a useful endeavor. We need not know everything in order to know some things. — creativesoul

:up:

What are those things that one is free from? What are those things that one is free to do? — baker

I understand your point, but it is complex to answer those questions. This is due to the individualistic sense of freedom we all have. An abstract concept such as 'free' or 'freedom' is difficult to define, and what means 'free' to me, can not mean the same to you. Maybe I used the incorrect word. Let's try it again.

A religious person - anyone who believes in God - uses his faith to find answers about life and getting a calm state. The latter is a more precise word: calm, or placid, mild, etc.

What is that? What does that mean? — baker

Didn't you ever experience pessimism or uncertainty? Each individual face these life states in many different ways. Some just make an effort to understand what is going on with living. Others don't care, and many explain it through religion. I don't attempt to defend that the latter is the best way. But I understand why some people 'shelter' themselves in it.

A free state of mind is a shelter to keep living. I guess this is why they want to redeem their souls.

I think you are mixing up sufficient and necessary conditions. This is how I read the OP: If A is existentially dependent upon B, then B is a necessary condition for A, but not (necessarily) a sufficient condition. Apples are necessary for apple pie, but they are not sufficient. — Leontiskos

I agree with you, and I think I have expressed somehow the same thought, but I didn't use the same precise vocabulary and knowledge as you did. I said that having apple trees and apples are elements for an 'eventual' apple pie.
But you explained it better: they are not sufficient for the apple pie.

Apple trees existed prior to apple pies. Insert p1. Hence, apple trees cannot be existentially dependent upon apple pies. — creativesoul

Exactly.

I think we have to focus on what is needed to exist a priori to let apple pies exist. Because, despite apples and apple trees being key elements to their existence, we understand that they are not the only elements of an eventual apple pie.

Apple pies are existentially dependent upon having the elements combined by some capable agent. However, not all complex entities are. — creativesoul

Understood.

Then, there are complex entities which do exist by themselves, and they are one of the main causes or agents that others can exist. In the example of this thread, the complex entity which does exist is the apple tree, because the apples and the apple pie are existentially dependent upon it.

The apple tree matches with 'p1 That which exists prior to something else cannot be existentially dependent upon it', right? Or am I missing something?

I agree that apple pies are existentially dependent upon more than just apples, hence, the "- in part at least -" bit. There is more to a complex entity than just one singled out element, and the emergence of complex entities includes all of the elementary constituents comprising the entity. That is the hallmark of necessary elemental constituents; if we remove any particular one, what's left is not enough. No single one is both necessary and sufficient. — creativesoul

I agree. :up:

There are uncooked apple pies. — creativesoul

Ha! This is tricky, but I am honest, and I admit that I didn't think it that way. Exactly, 'A' can be 'uncooked' apple pies too, but if the act of cooking were a possibility, it is still existentially dependent upon my action. I think rather than being 'uncooked apple pies', they are eventual apple pies.

Note: this is the way I see it too. I don't attempt to disagree with your arguments, but to exchange other ways to see the existence of the entity - the apple pies! -

The OP seems fairly obvious. — Leontiskos

Obvious? I think the OP has tricky premises which are interesting to discuss. I do not see it is so obvious that A - apple pie - is existentially dependent upon C - apple trees -, unless I am missing something 'obvious' in those premises...

Three years later... another attempt to generate interest... — creativesoul

Your OP is very interesting, and I am surprised that it didn't get attention back then. I hope this thread gets more replies, because it deserves it. Although I am not an expert on logic, I am interested in your premises and conclusions. But it is obvious that I would probably not have the answers or debate you are looking for. Yet, I would make an attempt to keep up with the path or sense of your thread.

Apple pies consist - in part at least - of apples. Apple pies are existentially dependent upon apples. Apples are existentially dependent upon apple trees. When A is existentially dependent upon B and B is existentially dependent upon C, then A is existentially dependent upon C. Apple pies are existentially dependent upon apple trees. Apple pies cannot exist prior to apples or apple trees. — creativesoul

I agree that B - or apples - is existentially dependent upon C - apple trees - but A - apple pies - is not existentially dependent upon C, because its existence depends on other factors.

p1 I have the apples but not the rest of the ingredients. So, apple pies are existentially dependent upon the latter - or other factors -

p2 I have all the ingredients, but I do not cook the apple pie. It depends existentially upon me, not B or C.

p3 Apple trees and apples are produced to make juice - for example - so it is not necessarily that their purpose for existing is the apple pie.

Ah! I understand you better now.

They won't correspond to the feelings any real author wants to express, but the prose will be excellent. — Count Timothy von Icarus

I still don't see it as reliable. I don't know if it will really satisfy my emotions. I am not asking for 'perfect' prose, but to cry, laugh or be afraid. The 'Book' seems to be an artificial product created for quick consumption rather than be savoured. By the way, if one of the requirements is 'no longer retain' any information from any other books, lectures or films, don't you see it as twisted? I see this book holds an obscure trap.

I have to accept that it is impossible to do everything I wish. So, a book which is 'capable' of helping me out is suspicious to me. I feel like I would leave my soul to the Book and let it think for me.

No, I will not take that book. It doesn't seem to have what I am looking for when I want to read a book. I am not looking for truths or 'satisfaction', but for emotion and beauty. I guess that 'The Book of Imperfect Knowledge' could help me out in a lot of things, but I doubt it will make me cry, sad, nostalgic, melancholic, etc. I think literature is an art, and I leave to each person their own path to experience those emotions. On the contrary, that kind of book could be boring and rigid.

I would be bothered if this book were shared with others precisely. It would be an attack on their emotions. I do not consider it a privilege to hold a book such as this one in my hands or someone's else. It could be even dangerous, because it removes the information from other books and lectures, leading people to live under only one perspective.

More than undergo a spell, it would be a curse.

I think it is all of it altogether. I interpret basement 2 as the space where each of us is ourselves. For this reason, he said that basement 2 is 'above' religion, language and custom. These need a collective or community to exist.

@praxis @Jamal Murakami receives the Princess of Asturias Award today. He had a conversation with fans and journalists yesterday. I want to translate into English the following quote. I think it describes what 'Murakamism' is about.

I write when I accept something and introduce it inside me, without previous analysis. Our consciousness is like a house with its floors and, much more important, its basement. On the top floor, we sleep; on the bottom floor, we interact with family members and eat, and in the basement we are alone with the subconscious. And there is a secret door that leads further down to basement 2. And it is with everything we find there that a novel is made. But you have to be willing to go all the way down there. It's not easy, do any of you have basement 2?
It is there at the bottom where you find the important things that are above religion, language and custom; it is there that the writer finds his readers regardless of the religion they profess, the language they speak or the customs they inhabit. — Murakami

:up:

It is raining in Madrid. I love rainy days, and while I enjoy the nature I am listening to Lonikos Psimikakis-chalkokondilis. He is a very talented shakuhachi player, and one of his virtues is to express the wilderness.

I fully recommend you to listen him and his works.

Ah, I understand better. You consider religion as an enemy of human development. Christianity has managed to 'zombify' the people with the aim of not allowing them to think by themselves, and this caused slow progress in some parts of the world. Well, I used to think in this way too, but I think I am switching my beliefs and thoughts because 'progressivism', 'collectivism', and leftism have disappointed me. It is not a crisis because of scepticism of the current situation, but an act of open my eyes more often.

But we should move on from this since the act of bashing religion, while understandable, is dull. — Tom Storm

Yeah, and it is infantile. At least, I acted in such a way...

s a nihilist, I don't see reason to accept any transcendent meaning... — Tom Storm

I cannot conceive that an upright and clever person like you has no interest in life and existence - per se -

it doesn't change the fact that the religious are often experts at it — Tom Storm

It is true that some religious groups use the rhetoric of the Bible - or Quran - viciously. But this is far away from making people lose vitality. I think religion is one of the main causes of keeping people active. Let's see the Evangelists or Pan-Islamists.

Luck determines most things, but you can roll with the punches, adapt and make opportunities even in adversity. — Tom Storm

Where does 'luck' come from? It is a metaphysical thought, or we can only know it though spiritedness. Because it is obvious that some have more luck than others. Why does this happen?

But giving up is always a possibility... :wink: — Tom Storm

I hope you don't give up on believing - on whatever you wish -. I was close to that abyss, and it is not worth living in such a way. :smile:

Katsumoto : The way of the Samurai is not necessary anymore.
Algren : Necessary? What could be more necessary? — baker

Excellent! What film does this quote come from?

Many people who embrace religions do see the world through a very limited and doctrinaire lens which is its own form of zombification. — Tom Storm

I agree. But as much as some people who embrace themselves in political doctrines and sectarianism.

Not sure that really means very much. What is 'something'? The issue with a belief is whether is is useful or true or good. Not just any belief will do — Tom Storm

Although existentialism has been becoming less relevant in philosophy, it has key elements to understand our relationship and cause with life since we were born. I don't attempt to say that religion has answers to 'Who am I?' 'Why do I live well and others die in Gaza?' 'What is my destiny?' Etc. I understand that, in such a sense of uncertainty, some have faith. I am not referring to religious collectivism or the Church itself, but the aesthetics of 'experiencing' a belief individually.

Well said — 0 thru 9

:up: Thanks!

Religious/spiritual people seem to be "free" to you? Free of what? Free to do what? — baker

A free state of mind or consciousness. They want to redeem their souls. I am not anyone to rant about them. It is my guilt that I have not found faith yet.

But religions an spiritualities are already zombifying people anyway. — baker

As much as consumerism, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, pornography, or TV do to the youth. Who are we to judge people who want to redeem themselves? I searched for the definition of zombifying, and Google says: Deprive of energy and vitality. For example: She will stare zombified on TV for 20 minutes.

Do you really think that religion or spirituality deprive people from energy? I don't think so. It is just -let's say - a pathway to a free state of mind. Whether you like it or not, there will always be the necessity to believe in something. Far away from what we are all able to perceive or understand.

she could be indicating there IS NO sense of correctness in this “question”, and thus how CAN she “answer” at all—the “correct” “answer” is to throw up her hands and say “no”, as if to say: “What?”. Another way to interpret this is that, of course, Carol CAN answer ‘no’, she can say whatever she wants, defying your idea of correctness with her own truth to herself, in protest. — Antony Nickles

Exactly. That's what I attempted to explain to @PL Olcott, but it is impossible to agree with him, because according to his point, there will always be an incorrect answer because the question is 'posed' to Carol. It seems that poor Carol is guilty of everything regarding this tricky dilemma!

Progress on 7 required reforms 2022 Feb 28 - 2023 Jun 22 (wartime) — jorndoe

Yes, sure, they are capable of making progress during a war... :roll:
The rest of the countries need years, even a decade. And these Ukrainian mates in just nearly two years are progressing... Are there any who really trust in such fictional data?

Additionally, Ukraine wouldn't be accepted into the EU if there was a genocide going on. — jorndoe

They would not be accepted in any possible way. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, and Moldova are recognised candidates which cannot join the EU yet. They made a lot of efforts to join the club, especially Moldova with a huge tax reform or Serbia with a big reform on civil issues (such as being more empathic with gay marriages, for example).

Ukraine didn't do anything. Their 'potential' membership is just a stupid movement from the West to keep deteriorating Russia's interests and safety.

Article 49 of the Maastricht Treaty (as amended) says that any "European state" that respects the "principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law", may apply to join the EU.

Do you really think Zelensky's Ukraine fulfils those requirements?

This article says: — Hanover

I do not consider the Western press and media as reliable.

It <is> the lack of a correct answer thus
Can Carol correctly answer “no” to this [yes/no] question?
has (a) yes (b) no (c) anything else as not a correct answer to Carol's question
thus proving that anything that Carol can say or fail to say is not a correct answer
when posed to Carol. — PL Olcott

OK. But why is the question being asked to Carol if it will end up in an incorrect answer? It is difficult to see the logic of the question at all. So our answer to both paradoxes may be that they actually have no meaning and so cannot have a truth value. Your proposition is Universal Negative. Carol's answer is not correct - "No S is P" -. Yet, the relation with other logical propositions can connect contradictions, where the truth of one implies the falsehood of the other, and vice versa. Thus, it is false that Carol's answer will always be incorrect because there could be a possibility - as we debated before - but, at the same time, due to the set of preferences, it is also true that Carol cannot answer correctly. We end up in a loop where it is impossible to leave...

So Carol's question when posed to Carol meets the definition of an incorrect question
in that both answers from the solution set of {yes, no} are the wrong answer. — PL Olcott

Well, yes. If there is only a set binary solution: 'yes/no'. What I disagree with, is that an omission from Carol is not necessarily an incorrect answer, since she didn’t say 'yes' nor 'no'. I mean, she doesn't 'express' one of the set solutions.

Likewise no computer program H can say what another computer program D will do
when D does the opposite of whatever H says. — PL Olcott

OK. I don't get this. I thought we were debating about Carol and now two computer programs have arisen. It is not clear to me why 'computer program D' will always do the opposite of 'computer program H'. You are assuming that Carol will always do the opposite as well, and then this is why there will be an incorrect answer continuously, right?

So don't say to me that Japanese culture is somehow dead. It's very alive and influential. And if Samurai warriors don't walk around armed to the teeth in Japanese cities anymore, it hardly isn't an example of cultural decadence. — ssu

I agree on this point. Of course, Japanese culture is still influential, but the main debate that conservatives - or populists - have in Japan is if it was that worthy the influence of Western culture in Japan. Most of the Japanese citizens who I talked with agreed with this, and they love Europe and the USA in general. They are not nationalist because they learnt the lesson after WWII. I am not going to lie to you: I wish I see some Samurai if I go to Japan one day, as well as I watched them in Kurosawa's films. :wink:
But I am aware that this is just my taste, and most of the Japanese don't feel represented by their Samurai past any more.

The aspect that surprised me the most, is that they consider 'cultural decadence' the way they wear clothes. Suits are Western, and some of them miss wearing a yukata or kimono, because these are only used at important festivals. Yet, they are aware that if they wear a yukata the foreigners would not take them seriously...

I think many Japanese are proud of what they have made of their Island nation compared to other Asian nations. — ssu

Absolutely. They truly believe this.

Yukio Mishima is the perfect example here. He made his "coup" and tried to get Japanese soldiers of the Self Defence Forces to stage a revolution. They mocked him. Mishima stopped after few minutes and then took his own life. — ssu

Well, Mishima committed seppuku after losing the last hope he had in Japanese society. He knew that after the nuclear attacks, Japan would be a different country and even the Japanese citizens felt ashamed of themselves. There is a good quote by him: 'If Japan had won the war, Japanese youngsters would go to Kabuki theatre. But the Americans are the ones who won, so they go to dance at Jazz clubs instead' This quote perfectly represents the impact of the nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Furthermore, being an immoral murder, it has nearly vanished a millennial culture.

Mishima even stated in some essays that 'corruption' and 'representatives' in a Parliament are just a Western thing and Japan was poisoned with these elements. He had nostalgia about living in a Samurai era where honour and loyalty were the pillars of Japan: 'Bushidō' He was right in terms that, after Japan becoming a 'modern' nation, they had to face big social problems: the middle-class way of life - capitalism - and, yes, corruption. Nonetheless, the roots of Japanese honorary culture remain, because when a case of corruption arises, the average politician resigns. An example: Japan's Olympic minister resigns over Fukushima gaffe

Do you know what is the worst? That a great part of modern Japanese society feel ashamed of their past and values for not letting them win the war, and post-changes were necessary to become a 'Western' alike modern nation...

It's similar with the question of Japan's surrender. Would the war have dragged to 1947 and would have quarter of a million US servicemen died? Who knows. — ssu

It is obvious that Japan would have won against the US if Truman hadn't dropped the atomic bombs. To be honest, I think it was a filthy movement from the government of the United States because they were aware that the honourable soul of the Japanese is unbreakable. The kamikaze ('kami' God/ 'kaze' air) were considered martyrs of the glorious Japanese Empire. Yukio Mishima and Shintaro Ishihara wrote a lot of this. Rather than a big destruction, it was a KO in their integrity and self-esteem. They understood that after a nuclear bomb, they would not be able to face the USA again militarily. Fortunately, the Japanese soul of working hard and improving continuously didn't change.

The beautiful Hiroshima nowadays:

Well, just imagine yourself in the shoes of President Truman, when he is told about this new bomb alternative. — ssu

Now, imagine ourselves in Hirohito's shoes afterwards. Japanese folks have always believed that the royal family were holy, and they were treated like deities. After losing WWII, there were a lot of changes to the Japanese constitution: the Emperor no longer had the treatment of holy; Japan lost their army, and Japanese foreign principle is resolve conflicts using peace. Conclusion: the USA erased the Samurai soul of Japan... this is what bothers me the most. Well, the ministers of defence and military authorities committed seppuku after losing the war because of the shame they felt about themselves. Amazing. This kind of honour is impossible to see in the Western world. For example: when the Republicans lost the Civil War here, they fled to France or Argentina. :roll:

(Carol could answer with a word that is synonymous with no) — PL Olcott

Exactly. Good point, but it is difficult to find a synonym with 'no' because this is an adverb used to give negative answers. I did research on Google and in the Cambridge Dictionary and I found 'none', a pronoun. Does this could be a correct answer if it is used by Carol?

Carol can say or fail to say cannot possibly provide a correct answer to that question from the stipulated solution set of {yes, no}. — PL Olcott

Unless synonyms or omissions are allowed, yes, Carol will always fail to answer this stipulated question set

Well, after having a reasoning with myself, I came to the conclusion that omission cannot be an incorrect answer from Carol. This is due to the premise one: you are expecting from her an ambiguous answer: 'yes/no'. Either of each is wrong, but her silence doesn't. We are not on a duty, but a simple question. But she is not forced to answer at all, right?
Ability and possibility of answering are the key factors in Carol. Because:

A) Carol is capable of answering, but there is no possibility with the patters given.

B) Carol is able to answer, but she remains in silence and doesn't say 'no' nor 'yes' to not fall into the trap of the 'incorrect' question.

C) The only possible correct answer is the omission of Carol because the 'incorrect' result is posed to her only if she answers in any case.

If Carol doesn't want to get blamed for answer incorrectly, then she remains silent.

Check this: When I visited TPF a few minutes ago, I had in mind to check about your recent activity (comments)! — Alkis Piskas

Ha! This is funny because when I saw this thread I thought you would dive in, because I am aware that you like logic and tricky questions.

How can you call this (in Japanese)? :smile: — Alkis Piskas

I do not know, and I must accept that I haven't taken Japanese lessons for a while. I am very busy!

You are not wrong. And I think you do have a clue, and a correct one. — Alkis Piskas

Thank you, Alkis. This tricky thread has got me thinking more than I expected.

I would check more of your recent messages but it's got late. Maybe tomorrow ... — Alkis Piskas

OK. By the way, we can speak through PM if you want to.

(c) No answer is not a correct answer from Carol.
We have exhaustively examined every possibility and thus proven every action taken by Carol does not result in a correct answer. — PL Olcott

Interesting...

Let me think about this deeply. Maybe I can come back with more substantive comments, and see other possibilities. I appreciate how you considered each feasible scenario of Carol's behaviour. I still believe that there can be a possible correct answer.