Philosophy

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Kurtni
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April 20th, 2008 at 07:01pm
Phi·los·o·phy
Pronunciation[fi-los-uh-fee]
–noun, plural -phies.
1.the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.


Philosophy has for quite some time be a very important aspect of cultures around the world. The names of renowned philosophers have cemented their place in textbooks around the world, and their ideas and principles are scrutinized and inspected in search of enlightenment and new meaning. Great philosophers used rational thinking to examine the world around them in great detail and develop methods and ideas to shape daily life. Philosophy is typically divided into branches consisting of ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, and logics.

The definition of philosophy is controversial, and various sources claim it is different things. Some say philosophy should not be based on "leaps of faith", but rational thinking, while at the same time others feel faith is one of the most significant parts of philosophy. Different yet, others feel that philosophy is seperate from both empirical science and religion. Some say philosophy only discusses the process of inquiry, while others believe it is much broader than that.

Popular Philosophical Theories

Dualism - The philosophy that the human mind is nonphysical, and that our material state is seperate from our mental; they exist dually. Although they may be seperate, the philosophy does not state that they cannot work together.(hence the name) René Descartes is the philosopher typically assosicated with dualism, however Aristotle and Plato both held similar beliefs on the mind as well.

Reliabilism - The philosophy that something is only considered knowledge if the information is gained by reliable processes. A true belief is only knowledge if there is a high ratio of true to false beliefs. This theory was coined by Alvin Ira Goldman, a professor of philosophy.

Internalism and externalism - Two of the more popular modern day philosophies, internalism and externalism are typically discussed with morals. Moral internalism states that morals or judgments are necessarily connected to our actions to follow morals or judgments.

On the opposing side, a moral externalist beliefs that there is no necessary connection between the morals we hold, and the actions we commit, and that external factors are connected to our actions.

Self-realizationism. - This philosophy states that in order to do good and be content in life, one must act in accordance with nature, and then they will realize their full potential. Another belief of this philosophy is that at birth, a baby is not a person, but a "potential" person, to grow into a person it is necessary to realize potential. Aristotle was the philosopher behind this theory, and he believed that unhappiness was relative to unrecognized potential in a person.

Feel free to bring any other philosophies or philosophers into the discussion, that was just a starting list.

Potential Questions for Discussion..
1.) What do you believe the definition of philosophy is?
2.) What philosophies do you choose to live your life by?
3.) Do you believe that philosophies were meant to adapt to changing times, or that a good philosophy will hold true infinitely?
4.) What is the difference between philosophy and religion, if you believe one exists?
5.) What errors do you see in any particular philosophy?
6.) Do you believe any philosophies should be treated as fact?
7.) Do historical philosophers and philosophies still have importance in modern times?
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April 21st, 2008 at 11:59am
ORLY? Lick

Btw, I believe Descartes was more idealist than dualist because 'I think therefore I am,' only retains idealist philosophies since on a second reading, he actually doesn't specifically mention the physical.
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April 21st, 2008 at 12:10pm
Yay, me. I'm a hypocrite. I firmly believe in existentialism, however with the presence of a god-like being not for inherit truth, but for interpretational meaning. This is simply because I doubt the creation of life without a given reason, however existance is not based on this reason, but created by ourselves and so search for inherit truth is absurd. In this way, I'm also a post-madern absurdist.

In terms of ontology, of course I believe in idealism for the existance of God, and I acknowledge that my belief is also flawed, but all ontonological beliefs; materialist, dualist, and idealist are flawed because one cannot exist without the other thus creating a paradox. It's a complex theory, but I'm telling you the logic is there.

Dualism is logical in only one aspect and that is the incorporation of idealism and materialism. However, alone these two cannot work together, but putting them together isn't the proper way to go about it either because as soon as you acknowledge dualism, it automatically becomes materialism. As soon as you acknowledge the figurative, it has to become literal because your mind has comprehended it and put it into artificial language, human constructed words which makes the conceptual very much real and literal. In this way, by default, materialism is the true ontology, but this is only so long as idealism and/or dualism cannot be proven. The proof, the translation of the concept, interpreted by our brain will make it real. Get it?
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April 21st, 2008 at 12:37pm
Kurtni:
Self-realizationism. - This philosophy states that in order to do good and be content in life, one must act in accordance with nature, and then they will realize their full potential. Another belief of this philosophy is that at birth, a baby is not a person, but a "potential" person, to grow into a person it is necessary to realize potential. Aristotle was the philosopher behind this theory, and he believed that unhappiness was relative to unrecognized potential in a person.
I utterly disagree with this because this theory implies that people are born with a certain amount of potential, and almost destiny because there is a limit to the potential of humans, which also puts a limit on happiness then. How can you develop 'potential', the theory relies on people born with innate talents really, and what happens if someone cannot develop that which they believe they have potential for? It implies we are born with luck due to our potential abilities, and I do not believe in luck, I believe in chance. This thoery limits people, whereas existentialism has the opportunity to free people if they can acknowledge that they're not set in stone with potential and that happiness comes through finding your own meaning in life. Happiness comes from freedom. You just have to acknowledge first that you are free from your 'potential' and your choices are down to chance. Your life is your own responsibility, not what you could or couldn't do.
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April 21st, 2008 at 01:27pm
Hell, I'll just answer all the questions. (This'll be fun! Cassie )

1.) What do you believe the definition of philosophy is?
Philosophy is just a study. Not of only existance and mind and knowledge and belief, but of the world, specifically how we interpret the world and all it's aspects. One of the interesting and wonderful things about philosophy is that it is a soley human interpretation. Animals can interpret sound and light and some can even interpret words, but philosophy is uniquely human.

2.) What philosophies do you choose to live your life by?
Already partially answer - partially.

Kierkegaard is a major influence in my own philosophies, and so is Mark and Beauvoir. Kierkegaard I praise for his concept of 'leap of faith' and I believe his concept of faith itself. And Either/Or is one of my favourite philosophical essays of all time because I think his theories were daring for his time. This leads into my belief in post-structuralism.

3.) Do you believe that philosophies were meant to adapt to changing times, or that a good philosophy will hold true infinitely?
Popular philosophies change over time reflecting public opinion in the face of increased knowledge. We know more now than we ever have, but the more we know the more we question and recent, radical philosophies only highlight the need for a different way to view the world. Empiricism appears outdated because it can be used as a model to answer questions from Aristotle's time, but there are different questions and different beliefs which require a different appraoch because imagination has created the difference and we need something beyond the simplicity of empiricism to approach it.

4.) What is the difference between philosophy and religion, if you believe one exists?
In general, there is no difference, they both require belief.

5.) What errors do you see in any particular philosophy?
Answered to one of these already, many more to come.

6.) Do you believe any philosophies should be treated as fact?
No. Because opinion is so divided, how can fact possibly emerge. Even so, how do you prove a philosophy to be correct. I almost hope it isn't possible to prove a philosophy because it would remove so much mystic from the world and ourselves. Philosophies are a reflection of ourselves and for one to be proven fact is to remove any prior personal philosophies which would make everyone the same in some sense. Philosophy also includes morals and ethics and everyone's morals and ethics cannot exist as fact together, this either means that only one set of morals is true, which would prove a god, or that there are no morals and ethics which would disprove philosophy.

Not really, but kind of, whatever, the answer is no.

7.) Do historical philosophers and philosophies still have importance in modern times?Yes, of course, for the obvious reason that modern philosophy wouldn't exist without a starting point.

This makes for a beginning of a really interesting idea, how did philosophy originate?
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April 21st, 2008 at 01:32pm
Btw, did anyone hear about the kid in university who went to sit a philosophy exam. The got their essay papers and the perscribed title was, 'What is a question?'

This kid wrote down four words, 'What is an answer?' And he walked out of the exam with full marks. tehe Smart kid, gusto move.

I'd never dare to do that, I'd probably write, 'What is an answer?...' and then go on to explain, 'Questions are defined by a etc.' I wouldn't dare to leave it just like that! lmfao

Oh, and, new favourite thread! Con
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April 21st, 2008 at 04:22pm
1.) What do you believe the definition of philosophy is?
I believe that the definintion of phiosophy is, to put it simply, trying to find and understand the meaning of life. "What is our purpose? How did we get here? Why do we behave the way we do?" These are the questions I believe a philosophy is trying to answer.

2.) What philosophies do you choose to live your life by?
I think we are all here for a reason, and the journey is trying to understand what that reason is. Living life to the fullest is my main strategy to living life. Live up to your full potential, and you will live a happy life. I guess that goes along with self-realizationism.

3.) Do you believe that philosophies were meant to adapt to changing times, or that a good philosophy will hold true infinitely? I think good philosophies will hold true throughout history. Though we may evolve, we still have the same feelings in our hearts and the same thoughts in our heads. In the end, we're all just trying to sort out what the heck is going on in this life.

4.) What is the difference between philosophy and religion, if you believe one exists?
Religion and philosophy are similar - it's a way a person chooses to live their life. But while religion is more of a belief, philosophy is more putting beliefs and standards into everyday actions.

5.) What errors do you see in any particular philosophy?
I personally don't agree with dualism. To say that your mental state is detattached from the rest of you is a bit absurd to me. You're actions come out of lots of things working together - mind, body, soul, heart...that's what I believe.

6.) Do you believe any philosophies should be treated as fact?
No. Nobody is right or wrong here. Whatever morals you have, beliefs you have - that's your own decision. And no one can be told that the way they're living their life is just an opinion of how one should live.

7.) Do historical philosophers and philosophies still have importance in modern times?
Yes. Although times have changed, as I said earlier, we still have the same feelings and are still searching for answers.
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April 21st, 2008 at 07:16pm
omg i think i will be creating my own philosophy when i'm old it will be like polexiaogly and it will be about nirvana and flannels and hippies and all that lovely stuff
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April 22nd, 2008 at 05:17am
Poette:
4.) What is the difference between philosophy and religion, if you believe one exists?
Religion and philosophy are similar - it's a way a person chooses to live their life. But while religion is more of a belief, philosophy is more putting beliefs and standards into everyday actions.
Religion applies its beliefs into everyday situations too. Like going to church, or giving to the poor or praying. Religion is a type of philosophy.
Poette:
5.) What errors do you see in any particular philosophy?
I personally don't agree with dualism. To say that your mental state is detattached from the rest of you is a bit absurd to me. You're actions come out of lots of things working together - mind, body, soul, heart...that's what I believe.
tehe Uh, if you believe in the mind, and the soul as well as the heart and body, you're a dualist. And dualism states that it's your mental state as well as your spirit and/or subconcious. It the concrete and the abstract together.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 07:16am
I really know very little about philosophy, except what I picked up through my 'perception' modules in Psychology, and through 'theory' essays in English lectures. I would like to learn though. Con
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April 22nd, 2008 at 09:04am
I read into philosophy way too much. Con

Wait, you study English? What kind? Because from what I've been told for English literature, it's almost nothing but philosophy lectures which you then apply to literature. Even last year in IB English literature everyday we had to apply philosophies to our texts. I kind of think literature a bit redundant without philosophy.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 11:42am
Well, Anji, the part about religion and philosophy is just my opinion. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong.

And about dualism - Dualism believes that the mind is separated from the rest of the body, and I don't believe that. I think everything works together.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 12:00pm
Poette:
Well, Anji, the part about religion and philosophy is just my opinion. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong.

And about dualism - Dualism believes that the mind is separated from the rest of the body, and I don't believe that. I think everything works together.
You don't understand the concept properly, dualism does say that they work seperately, just that there is the physical, your body, and then there is the abstract, your soul/spirit. These work together but they exsist seperately. To acknowledge the existance of the mind is to acknowledge this abstract part of ourselves. Dualism basically says that, unlike materialism, the mind is not a construct of the brain, the brain isn't our mind the brain is the physical part of ourselves that can tap into our mind which exists seperately as such.

Dualists believe there is a mind. Materialists don't. Idealists do, but not the body (mind over matter). You are a dualist.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 03:38pm
I dont know that much about Philosophy so if anyone could recommend me some books etc.? Coolio


I think I would be an idealist, although I probably have a mixture of various philosophies that I follow.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 04:04pm
Anji:
I read into philosophy way too much. Con

Wait, you study English? What kind? Because from what I've been told for English literature, it's almost nothing but philosophy lectures which you then apply to literature. Even last year in IB English literature everyday we had to apply philosophies to our texts. I kind of think literature a bit redundant without philosophy.

I don't know about that. I'm doing AS English Literature (which isn't too advanced, I guess...I don't know) and we don't really do any philosophy. In fact, we do far more about how authors use language, historical context and literary criticism. But I think it would be fair to say that English Literature and Philosophy are very much linked; English Literature is really a very broad subject in that it encompasses almost everything. I mean, one can write a book about anything. So I can see how the two are related.

Anyway, I don't really know much about philosophy. But philosophy means, to me, to be about thought and theory. Simplistic definition, but yeah. I've never really felt the need to live my life according to one philosophy...but perhaps that is a philosophy in itself. Actually, I do have one or two kind of core 'philosophies' that are funamental to my beliefs.

1. All humans are born good. Yes, every single human. I am by nature an optimist and I believe that it is society, the things we encounter, and our life experiences that make us who we are, not some accident of birth. I just don't believe we are born with a natural inclination to evil. Have you ever looked at a newborn baby and thought, yes, this baby is destined to cause genocide? That people become 'bad' is clear. But they aren't born that way. In my opinion.

2. Every human being deserves redemption. Maybe this is a philosophy I've picked up as part of my former Christian religion. I don't know, because many Christians probably don't hold to this one. Quite simply, I believe that every sin is redeemable, if the sinner properly repents. Most people probably don't agree with me on this one. In fact, in my English Lit class a few weeks ago, we were discussing the character of Michael Henchard (The Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy) and I said that he was redeemable because he always expresses guilt and regret for his actions. Always. And my best friend kept saying 'yeah, but he sold his wife, he lied to his step-daughter, he caused all this misery' and we went around in a huge circle. Simply, I believe in forgiveness and absolution.

Sorry if none of this is relevant, perhaps I've misunderstood philosophy D:
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April 22nd, 2008 at 04:52pm
Anji:
I read into philosophy way too much. Con

Wait, you study English? What kind? Because from what I've been told for English literature, it's almost nothing but philosophy lectures which you then apply to literature. Even last year in IB English literature everyday we had to apply philosophies to our texts. I kind of think literature a bit redundant without philosophy.
I did it in university in first year, both Literature and Language. Yes, most lectures were the theory of a certain philosophy applied to a text, although we only ever got to read like.. one essay on Marxism, or one on Sexuality, or Feminism, and then apply it to like Beowulf, or The Turn of the Screw, or My Beautiful Launderette, etc. It was much too fast-paced for me. I should have liked to spend maybe a module or so on a set few ideas instead of trying to cram everything in.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 06:52pm
Here are my views on philosophy and general, no specific one.

Philosophies offer great insights, I think, into how the mind and world works. But I can never say that I support any philosophies enitrely for one of two reasons;

1) I think that it's saying is impossible, such as dualism saying the mind is non-physical *coughanjireplytothiscough* Shifty
2) Even if I think what it is saying is possible, I don't think any philosophy holds true under all circumstances. For example, self-realization. One of the key elements of that philosophy is the fact that people with unrecognized potential will be unhappy, and I don't think we have a way of knowing that for certain. It's an assumption, and I cannot base my choices off of assumptions. I'm not saying that doesn't apply to some people, but I don't think that applies to everyone.

I think philosophies over simply life with complex theories, if that makes sense. I'm not saying I think they're unimportant or anything of the sort, they are, but I don't view any of them as something is 100% valid I should live my life by.

For example
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April 22nd, 2008 at 07:07pm
Anji:
Poette:
Well, Anji, the part about religion and philosophy is just my opinion. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong.

And about dualism - Dualism believes that the mind is separated from the rest of the body, and I don't believe that. I think everything works together.
You don't understand the concept properly, dualism does say that they work seperately, just that there is the physical, your body, and then there is the abstract, your soul/spirit. These work together but they exsist seperately. To acknowledge the existance of the mind is to acknowledge this abstract part of ourselves. Dualism basically says that, unlike materialism, the mind is not a construct of the brain, the brain isn't our mind the brain is the physical part of ourselves that can tap into our mind which exists seperately as such.

Dualists believe there is a mind. Materialists don't. Idealists do, but not the body (mind over matter). You are a dualist.


Okay, I see. It's a little confusing, but I understand it better now, so thanks.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 07:10pm
Bloodraine:


1. All humans are born good
What exactly do you do when you're born that makes you good? I would have to disagree, and say that we're born indifferent. When you're first born you haven't had time to be good or evil yet.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 07:14pm
Just wondering really quick - is this a debate thread, or not? I thought it was just a place to put your thoughts on philosophy and state different opinions. Correct me if I'm wrong.
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