The Purpose Of Philosophy

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by impermanence, Feb 19, 2023.

  1. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    Why bother saying things like this? This is a conversation. Would you say something like that to somebody you were having a conversation with in person?

    Otherwise, please find somebody else to chat with. Thanks.
     
  2. edna kawabata

    edna kawabata Well-Known Member

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    My point:
    "And yet he comes here with an extraordinarily long laundry list of things he is not okay with: society in general, women, liberals, men's treatment, abortion, humans (lower than slugs), California......someone this miserable with the world around him is a long way from Nirvana, maybe he's on the wrong path."
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2023
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  3. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    You don't understand. Should I be ok with all the injustices of the world. Do you believe that this is "Nirvana."

    Remain within the confines of what you know.
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2023
  4. edna kawabata

    edna kawabata Well-Known Member

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    So you are not "ok with life as it is".....and thanks for the condescension.
     
  5. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    You just want to argue. There is no discussion. And on this particular subject, you have demonstrated a lack of understanding, yes. Open your mind a little bit. When I am speaking to somebody who knows a lot more about a subject, I try to learn. It's not about trying to win every single time you write.
     
  6. edna kawabata

    edna kawabata Well-Known Member

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    A discussion is an exchange of ideas, when one disagrees with an idea that is called an argument but remains under the heading of discussion just as agreement would. The idea I brought was that your comments have been egocentric and hypocritical. When I see that displayed to a general audience, should I let it go, keep my mouth shut? You have every right to counterargument. To prove I am wrong.

    Here are your responses: (I’m) somebody who knows a lot more about a subject, try to learn, remain within the confines of what you know….they seems to be coming from a person with a very large ego.
     
  7. Swensson

    Swensson Devil's advocate

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    Justified. I don't see why there would need to be a person. I would not be justified to say "1+1=3", even if I had convinced myself and any other person.
     
  8. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    You don't agree with anything except your narrative which makes you an ideologue. You start with the conclusion and try to work your way back. So you find somebody who has a different take than yours and you 100% disagree. There is never any common ground. This makes for a ridiculous conversation.

    I am almost 70 and I've spent a good deal of my life studying a variety of subject matter outside of my profession. Being scientifically educated gives one a pretty good background for delving into a variety of other subjects. I've followed economics and political economy since the 70's and have a good handle on that, as well. My foray into philosophy and then Zen has been going on for over 30 years. What can I say? While most people were watching TV and whatever most people do with their time, I was reading and studying. That's what I enjoy.

    And, if you haven't noticed, most people are woefully ignorant and incredibly lazy.
     
  9. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    You stated..."My post is not questioning that, it's questioning whether your "purpose of philosophy" is justified."

    I responded..."Justified to whom?"

    You came back with the above.

    My question to you stands, why would I have to "justify" my purpose of philosophy? It is what I believe it is for the reasons I put forth. What kind of justification does one need when chatting about esoteric subject-matter?

    I do not believe that the term "justified" belongs in this discussion. It's just an opinion which has no bearing on anything else.
     
  10. edna kawabata

    edna kawabata Well-Known Member

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    I am over 70 and I've spent a good deal of my life studying a variety of subject matter outside of my profession. Being scientifically educated gives one a pretty good background for delving into a variety of other subjects. I've followed economics and political economy since the 70's and have a good handle on that, I try to empathize with people who have a different point of view. The people I have a problem with are those that lack empathy on the right or left. I've argued with the left on here, but it seems the preponderance of those lacking empathy, not seeing the other side, on here, comes from the right.

    The opposite of egocentrism is the ability to see anyone’s perspective rather than just your own.
     
  11. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    I do not consider myself political in the least. You seem to be suggesting that I am Right but remember that Liberals have moved incredibly to the Left over the past fifty years, so it makes people in the middle seem Right. I am a-political. I support whomever supports the most freedom.

    Good luck with that. The Left is immersed in an ideology that makes these folks seem like complete morons. I am sure that those on the Right who are as extreme would seem the same way but where are these people? You hear from people on the Left EVERYWHERE. Again, they start with what their goals are, e.g., equity, and try to work backwards. It's idiotic.

    I am the one that says you have to be open to all things. Please give me an example of what you are referring to...

    Another thing to keep in mind is that during times like these, all kinds of things become increasingly transparent. If you have been following economics since the 70's as well, then you understand what's going on in the economy, in the banking system and why the primary problem is corruption. You might also understand why globalism failed once again and what that means for much of the world. Major changes ahead...
     
  12. Dirty Rotten Imbecile

    Dirty Rotten Imbecile Well-Known Member

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    People are people regardless of where they are on the political spectrum. There are just as many extreme idiots and just as many reasonable people on either side of the spectrum.

    The worst is when people try to dehumanize people in different social groups.
     
  13. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    The difference is that the Left has infiltrated almost every institution. When I have to read in my medical journals that merit is less important that diversity, you know we're not in Kansas anymore.

    These people on the Left are attempting to shut down the debate that is essential to reaching consensus. Can you actually believe how many people got on the defund the police train? You don't need to be a Rhodes scholar to figure out how that was going to end.
     
  14. edna kawabata

    edna kawabata Well-Known Member

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    When left/right is used it is generally shorthand for liberal/conservative and politics need not come in to it. You definitely swing conservative, but above and beyond that you are misanthropic. You don’t seem to like humans, society in general, women, liberals and probably children.

    The left has always been about achieving equity. Civil rights, women’s rights, worker rights, child labor laws have all been resisted by the right. Maybe it is you whose perspective has changed and joined the bitter right, unable to extend any empathy. Take “defund the police” for example. Now a negative catch phrase that lives on in the right’s vernacular as a joke that was suggested by a small minority on the left. What did they want to do with the money? Well someone who had “the ability to see anyone’s perspective” rather than their own might understand they wanted to increase funding to drug treatment programs, gang violence de-escalation, increased social worker and psychiatric availability i.e. anything that would reduce crime. Not bad ideas (or “complete morons”) but a bad catch phrase and an example of not being open to all things.

    I could go on about corruption and the increasing transparency of who is making the rules and globalization’s “failure” but those subjects in themselves.
     
  15. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    Oh really? I have dedicated my adult life to helping all people as a physician. What do you know about me and what I have done and how I have treated people?

    This is worst part of these discussion forums...when people like you believe you actually know me well enough to say things like you did. That's not showing a great deal of good judgement or compassion. And why would you tell anybody these sorts of things [even if you knew them to be correct]?

    Do you think that the Left were the first people to think about these problems? Their solutions are not solutions. They are morons. Have you ever known a cop? Sit down and talk to some and maybe you will get an idea of just how difficult there job is. You're talking like an idealistic 20 year old.

    And the Left sure was about equity in the USSR and Red China and everywhere else these lunatics got in power!

    I could go on about corruption and the increasing transparency of who is making the rules and globalization’s “failure” but those subjects in themselves.[/QUOTE]That what I thought. Time to move on... . And good luck to you!
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2023
  16. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    That what I thought. Time to move on... . And good luck to you![/QUOTE]
    Now you are headed into conspiracy theories and geopolitical nonsense.

    I thought you were in the religion/philosophy biz.
     
  17. Dirty Rotten Imbecile

    Dirty Rotten Imbecile Well-Known Member

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    Yeah the right has infiltrated almost every institution too. That’s because the institutions employ voters and voters come from either side of the political spectrum.
     
  18. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    Think less...read more.
     
  19. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    Just for fun, where do you see that the Right has infiltrated any institution? They're all controlled by the Left.
     
  20. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I know you are opposed to intellectual activity.

    I am absolutely opposed to that.
     
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  21. Dirty Rotten Imbecile

    Dirty Rotten Imbecile Well-Known Member

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    Do you remember the time the USA invaded Iraq using drawings of mobile chemical weapons labs as evidence to justify its actions?
     
  22. edna kawabata

    edna kawabata Well-Known Member

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    That what I thought. Time to move on... . And good luck to you![/QUOTE]

    It looks like all that time spent Zenning would make you more self aware. With statements like humans are lower than slugs, most people are woefully ignorant and incredibly lazy, women’s function is to reproduce, women are miserable and more misogyny, society sucks, liberals are morons, etc. does not put your opinion of your fellow mankind in a favorable light or that you are "ok with life as it is". Excuse me if I missed anything positive you have said about humankind.

    You seem to be ignoring just who pushes for social change. Conservatives? No, they want to keep things as they are or go back to the bad old days. Any progress comes from progressives. “Defund the police” never really happened but it lives on in right-wing mythology but the programs they were pushing do. The police would love to not go out on domestic calls, wellness checks or deal with addicts, that is what these underfunded programs would address, that is if you had the ability to understand someone else's perspective.

    You pathetically bring up the Soviets and China which is the antithesis of liberalism. The idea at one time may have been attractive to some but in practice it failed miserably.

    Start threads on your opinion of globalization and systemic corruption and I’ll be there. I might agree with you, but I’m not holding my breath.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2023
  23. impermanence

    impermanence Well-Known Member

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    The Left has WAY outdone the Right on the warmongering front [although there is so much money at stake that I am sure both sides cannot resist the payoffs].
     
  24. Dirty Rotten Imbecile

    Dirty Rotten Imbecile Well-Known Member

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    Partisan nonsense is nonsense.
     
  25. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    You were asked about Iraq.

    After you answer that, maybe you could work on actually making your case.
     

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