Recent Responses
Does science depend on philosophy, or vice versa? What does it mean that philosophers are taking the role of theoretical scientists? Thanks.
Aaron Meskin
October 27, 2005
(changed October 27, 2005)
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I suppose I don't think philosophy (in general) depends on science, nor does it seem plausible that science depends on philosophy. With respect to the former--it's hard to see how science could possibly help very much with a range of philosophical issues (e.g., vagueness, the nature of moda... Read more
Is the experience of thoughts as predominantly verbal universal, or nearly so? What alternatives are there?
Aaron Meskin
October 27, 2005
(changed October 27, 2005)
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Temple Grandin (a high-functioning autistic who is a professor of animal science at Colorado State) describes herself as 'thinking in pictures' rather than linguistically. Her book Thinking in Pictures is quite interesting.
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What is the reasoning behind the existentialist claim that existence precedes essence?
Douglas Burnham
January 29, 2006
(changed January 29, 2006)
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Unfortunately, there is not one reasoning, since there are many different philosophers who have been called 'existentialists'. However, generally, the line of argument has to do with understanding the ontological differences between human beings and other types of beings.
Other types of... Read more
Why do some words like "gorge" sound ugly, and some words like "exquisite" sound pretty?
Nalini Bhushan
November 9, 2005
(changed November 9, 2005)
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However, following up on Richard's point about meaning, consider two similar sounding words:
a) gorgeous (for gorge)
b) excrement (for exquisite)
Does 'gorgeous' sound as ugly to you as does 'gorge'?
Does 'excrement' sound as pretty to you as does 'exquisite'?
I think that while there migh... Read more
Is it irrational to want power and prestige for their own sake? I think a lot of people today (especially in Christian countries) would answer yes. But people from some ancient societies (like, Homeric Greece) probably would answer no to the question. Who's "right"? And why might there be this difference in opinion?
Jyl Gentzler
October 26, 2005
(changed October 26, 2005)
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Aristotle argued that it is irrational to want prestige or honor for its own sake. Why? In the Nicomachean Ethics,Book I, Aristotle asks you to imagine yourself honored by people forwhom you have no respect and who honor you for attributes that you donot believe are particularly worthwhi... Read more
Is the experience of thoughts as predominantly verbal universal, or nearly so? What alternatives are there?
Aaron Meskin
October 27, 2005
(changed October 27, 2005)
Permalink
Temple Grandin (a high-functioning autistic who is a professor of animal science at Colorado State) describes herself as 'thinking in pictures' rather than linguistically. Her book Thinking in Pictures is quite interesting.
Log in to post comments... Read more
What is an irrational action?
Richard Heck
October 26, 2005
(changed October 26, 2005)
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There could be several different sorts of irrational action. Some actions might be irrational in the strong sense that the actor did not have much approaching a reason for the act. The person might "just be reacting". Another possibility would be actions for which the actor has reasons but f... Read more
Can a new color be made that is not like, or mixed from, any other?
Richard Heck
October 26, 2005
(changed October 26, 2005)
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The answer to this question obviously depends upon what color is. and I haven't a clue. But there is a little we can say anyway. Let us ask: Could there be a color that human beings perceived that was utterly unlike any other? To this question, I think the answer is no. Human color perceptio... Read more
Why don't people who say that when you die you go to a better place kill themselves? If death is a better place, why are they staying in this "lesser" world? Is it that they are unsure if they are right or not and don't want to risk it? -Dylan (13)
Alexander George
October 26, 2005
(changed October 26, 2005)
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Maybe some people are, as you say, confident but still not certain about the afterlife. Perhaps some don't wish to cause pain to their friends or loved ones, who will miss them terribly. And perhaps some don't believe that they have the right to "quit their station in life" (as the phi... Read more
Seeing as you are Philosophers I thought you would be the ones to ask this question. Is there, or has there ever been, any truth to the existence of the Philosopher's Stone?
Peter Lipton
October 26, 2005
(changed October 26, 2005)
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You have probably asked the wrong website, since the 'Philosopher' in 'the Philosopher's Stone' does not refer to a philosopher but to a scientist, or an alchemist. The term 'scientist' was only invented in the 19th century; Newton was a 'Natural Philosopher'. And in fact Newton himself wa... Read more