Recent Responses
How does a philosopher become popular? Why do we teach the writings of some philosophers, but not others if all philosophers work from a common history, or work within a common tradition or set of ideas that include logic? Is there a social construction to philosophical ideas?
Gordon Marino
July 8, 2010
(changed July 8, 2010)
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Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and a few others aside, the stocks of philosophers does seem to go up and down. In the late forties and fifties, for example, Kierkegaard was quite popular. Then analytic philosophy developed a strangle hold and he was dubbed to be too obscure. Then in the late eighties, wit... Read more
At 57, I have spent much of my life feeling a little superior to others. I have never stolen anything. I am pained whenever I say something that is even close to a lie. I am dedicated to fairness. And so on. I have long considered myself to be a highly ethical person. In recent years, though, not so much. I no longer feel compelled to tell the truth on my tax return if I think I won't get caught. I am less likely to stop for a stop sign in the middle of the night. I am willing to turn a deaf ear to a bill collector when I can't pay or even when competing priorities make me feel overburdened by the prospect. What's happened is that I have come to realize that I am embedded in a culture that is so pervasively unfair, among powerful entities devoted to ripping me off, subject to laws that I not only disagree with but find counterproductive and stupid, often evil. Despite a cheerful attitude, reasonable skill and good work ethic, this society has not allowed me even minimal prosperity. And so, I find myself increasingly set loose from the social contract. I consider the rules to be guidelines at best and only follow those that I, personally, agree with. Viewing the dysfunction of every system, I feel increasingly ruthless in my consideration of those in positions of power and how one should consider acting to improve society and ones own life. Have I come completely unhinged ethically? Have I, despite generally doing good things, become a bad person? Is there a way to see oneself as a contributing member of a society that is largely despicable?
Charles Taliaferro
July 6, 2010
(changed July 6, 2010)
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Wow. I am also 57 and I admire your candor and your question(s), but I am troubled by your situation. Your mention of the social contract brings to mind one of the problems with political and ethical contractarian theories. They are usually based on some form of psychological or ethical ego... Read more
Are double standards always wrong? Even though I am a female, I have always had more (and closer) male friends than female. For example, one of my best friends is male, and we talk on the phone/computer about once a week, not counting intermittent texts throughout the week. However, I would be extremely uncomfortable if my boyfriend (of six years, perhaps irrelevant) had the same type of relationship with a female. He does not have any close friendships with women, both prior to and during our relationship, whereas prior to our relationship I have had many close friendships with men. Is it morally wrong for me to expect something from him that I do not apply to myself? For example, I would not like it if he called another woman on the phone, "just to talk." In response to the question of whether he is comfortable with my friendships with men, most of them are his friends as well, and he does not indicate any problem with my friendship with them. But as already said, I don't have many close friendships with females, and thus if he did start a friendship, it would be with a stranger.
Gordon Marino
July 5, 2010
(changed July 5, 2010)
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If we think of justice as, in part, equal treatment, then yes it does seem unfair. Why couldn't you work at being less threatened. Sometimes doing the right or fair thing means bumping up against and dealing with feelings that we don't like; feelings of the sort that you are describing. Also, might... Read more
Why philosophy? Mindful of truly urgent issues like climate change and the gulf oil gusher, if the question is existence or extinction, doesn't merely thinking about either seem a dubious luxury?
Gordon Marino
July 5, 2010
(changed July 5, 2010)
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It depends on how you think of philosophy. If we think of it as an abstruse set of problems - then yes it does seem a luxury. Like doing crossword puzzles. On the other hand, philosophy is about the love of wisdom, which has much to do with a knowledge of how to live. And there can be no doubt that... Read more
I am an atheist, so I tend to find belief to be equivalent to superstition and group-think. I generally admire the ethical thinking of some believers -- the compassion, the commitment to justice, the reverence for "creation" -- but I am insulted at the suggestion by some believers that atheists cannot be equally ethical because our ethical commitments are not anchored to any fixed basis in revelation, scripture, or the promise of eternal rewards/punishments. When I reflect on the subject, I realize that there are certain advantages to having a moral framework as one finds in his chosen/inherited religious tradition. Where can an atheist go to consider and adopt his own framework? Are there any recommended readings on this question?
Andrew Pessin
August 5, 2010
(changed August 5, 2010)
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I would also recommend Daniel Dennett's recent book re religious belief "Breaking the Spell" -- he has an excellent treatment of the relationship between religion and morality, which you might find useful. Another thing to consider -- not what you asked about -- is whether there is any genuine... Read more
Is listening to a classic book on tape, unabridged, sufficient to be able to claim to have read it?
Peter Smith
July 3, 2010
(changed July 3, 2010)
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Here's a somewhat differently slanted view -- in favour, perhaps, of being a bit "daft"! :-)
No matter how many times I read three-year old Daisy her favourite book, no matter how well she knows it by heart, she hasn't read it herself. She can't read.
No matter how many times the adult illiterate l... Read more
What do we really mean when we say that a theory is "true"?
Peter Smith
July 20, 2010
(changed July 20, 2010)
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Perhaps it is worth taking continuing the conversation just a bit further.
The idea that a proposition (statement, belief) is true if and only if it "corresponds to reality" is -- as I'm sure William would agree -- not entirely transparent. What does it commit us to, exactly?
The deflationist about... Read more
Is it better to adopt children or to create them?
Charles Taliaferro
July 3, 2010
(changed July 3, 2010)
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Great question, though "create" may not be the best term when you might refer to giving birth to a child. It seems that without considerable details, it would be very difficult indeed to answer your question. Still, one can identify some of the values that are in play. In adopting a child,... Read more
I would like to take liberty on discussing an issue which is taxing my mind for the last many decades, which is "Vulgarism and Other Errors of Speech." I am proud to say that I have been brought up by my moralist father on universal ethics and moral grounds without any streak of religious thought or teaching. His education and moral guidance inculcated in me not to speak a single vulgar word ever in my life. I have never spoken a vulgar or indecent word from the day I learned to speak up till today. But it has been bothering me, why people use vulgar and indecent words in their speech when it has no pragmatic role. It is all over the world in every culture and in every society. Highly educated people have a vulgar explitive or a 'F' and 'S' word needlessly and habitually used in speech which they will spit out whether sitting in the drawing rooms or in the company of family members. I was almost stunned when the Vice President excitedly said to President Obama that this 'Fucking Bill of Health is finally approved.' I would welcome your opinions and views on this subject that, what is the psychology or mentality behind this linguistic phenomenon that people use vulgar language unnecessarily. There are no books or any article in my knowledge on this subject and if some one knows any reference, article, book and etc., please let me know. Mirza
Charles Taliaferro
July 3, 2010
(changed July 3, 2010)
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Very interesting! Your specific interest seems to be vulgarity as opposed to blasphemy (e.g. using 'God' or 'Jesus' in cursing) or insults in general. I am not acquainted with much philosophical work on vulgarity per se, but there is some literature on politeness and respect that may be rele... Read more
When choosing between two paths, isn't it rational to choose the path where you are most wanted? If I am choosing between two partners, would it make sense to choose the path where I am more needed rather than where I would rather be? The argument goes like this: 1. More needed = more wanted 2. More wanted = more useful 3. Life = using your time to be the most useful you can be 4. Life should be made with choices that allow you to be where you are most needed If someone hears this argument and argues that I should choose where I WANT to be, wouldn't it suffice to say that I will want to make the choice that is most rational?
Charles Taliaferro
July 3, 2010
(changed July 3, 2010)
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This raises a number of issues. Perhaps the categories you are identifying (most wanted, where you want to be, most useful, most needed, more rational) need to be subordinated to the concept what is good, irrespective of who wants what. So if you are choosing between two partners (to take yo... Read more