Why are we involved with this forum?: Philosophy Forums

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Why are we involved with this forum?

The_Thinker
Assistant Professor

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Joined: Apr 18, 2002

Total Topics: 23
Total Posts: 388

Posted 06/10/02 - 01:25 PM:	#11
Distortion, that is quite some task. I am very proud of you. I do not wish to deter you from your goal, however, I believe that a book on philosophy will never be finished. It has yet to be truly defined (nothing can be defined). No philosopher will be able to define anything. The more one thinks, the less definite things seem to get. It is very interesting that a lot of people have many things in common. MyRoad.com has a personality test. I would like some people to take this test and share the results with the rest of the forum. I believe that we should all fall into similar categories. If a school code is needed, I will contact Elite Thinker and get the school code from him, and you all may use the school code to take the test. Edit: Distortion, I have some friendly advice to you. When sharing your ideas, consider that those around you may have ideas that differ from yours. To tell someone that they are wrong is strange. However, in reality, there is no such thing as right or wrong, nothing is justified, nothing has a purpose.

Paul
Tenured Poster

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Posted 06/11/02 - 04:41 AM:	#12
I think I have almost nothing in common with any of you. Actually the main reason I'm here is that I changed my major to philosophy, and that inspired me to seek out discussion -- previously I certainly did have personal views and theories on philosophical issues, but hadn't read much of anything philosophical and had never really considered looking for philosophy online... I guess I was too confident that I had it all figured out and didn't need to read opinions of others. When I did look for philosophy discussion online in about February, I wasn't entirely satisfied with what I found (sciforums.com is good but their philosophy section is small) and since I enjoy creating websites I created this one. What inspired me to philosophy itself (not to reading it, which I haven't done a lot of, but rather to thinking it), I would have to say, is my natural inclination to disconnect from the way everybody else likes to see things. I've always been antisocial, I spent my time alone thinking about things. As an atheist I never trusted the majority to be right about things and recognized that ideas of truth are often created by what people want to believe rather than what's real. Basically I owe my interest in philosophy to the fact that I grew up keeping to myself and viewing society from more of an anthropological perspective, questioning why people act as they do, rather than as a full participant in society. I can identify with what Macon says about being in a rut (although not so much the age part), and I think getting out of a rut may have something to do with why I'm at this forum also. I'm not sure it really gets me out of a rut, but it's at least a slightly more interesting (to me) rut, and that's what really matters I suppose. Distortion: I thought briefly about writing a book on philosophy, with the idea of explaining my entire view of the universe, but decided I know of no good spot to begin or end and so it'd be better served as distinct essays or just posts. It's kinda the opposit of the problem I have in writing anything else, normally I have the beginning and end but no middle but for philosophy there's only a bunch of middle. Good luck though.

Distortion
Oh yeah?

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Joined: May 08, 2002
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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Posted 06/13/02 - 10:24 PM:	#13
To The_Thinker - there are a few instances in which things are objective, based on facts, and I can say that someone is wrong. If someone says 2 + 2 is 5, there is a good chance that I will simply say they are wrong. In some abstract terms, or in your own personal philsophy, nothing may be completely 'definite', but in some instances it certainly is reasonable to say that someone is wrong. Maybe, if you can give me a reasonable and concise argument as to why 2 + 2 is 5, then you can criticize me for giving definite descriptions. Logic is in a way the math of linguistics, and sometimes, especially when one contradicts themself, or contradicts factually substantiated information, one is most definitely wrong. If you happen to catch me stating that someone is wrong based on something that isn't substantiated, or is subjective, then it is me that is wrong. (and I will personally mail you a platinum medal, to boot ) To Paul, I agree with you wholeheartedly, and I wish that I had created this website. I know 11 programming languages, I am an expert at web design, graphic design, perl (cgi) and many other computer related things, but the thought of this site never occured to me until the day I found it. Had it not have been registered already, I just might have registered the domain and made this site myself. You beat me to the punch. As for the book, I suppose, had I waited to start it, I might never have. It is largely written in my mind. It is a gentle religion killer. It exposes ignorance and demonstrates the apparency and infalability of logic to start, and then expands onto all avenues of philosophy that I have considered. I plan to start the book with this quotation: 'So often people say that we should look to elderly, learn from their wisdom, their many years. I disagree, I say we should look to the young: untarnished, without stereotypes implanted in their minds, no poison, no hatred in their hearts. When we learn to see life through the eyes of a child, that is when we become truly wise.' -Mother Theresa It is the same with the great majority of people, I suppose. Everyone has good intentions, but daily life takes over. Things never happen, ambitions shrink and people are humbled, the Ferrari becomes the model on the shelf and the pipe dream as opposed to the real aspiration. So, in short, I plan to write as much as I possibly can and publish it before a certain age, which is very impressive. Impressive enough that I believe it may sell a million copies on shock value alone should it actually be published. I mean.. 'a philosophy book... by a * year old? Unreal!' And if people actually read it... well... bonus! Let me assure you, if this should go past the stage of pipe dream, the royalties will buy this website a dedicated server, with a fiber connection and the domain registered for eternity, and well, you get the idea. -Distortion
Make your own rules.

i know
Professor

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Posted 06/13/02 - 10:41 PM:	#14
I'm 14, I just graduated from my Catholic school that went through 8th grade. I have a few friends who like to discuss these kinds of things, but I seem to be a leader with new ideas in the group. Seeing as how I'm in/was in a catholic school many people are well, Catholic. This of course puts pretty much everyone against my views, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Seeing as how you have to pay a hefty amount to get into my school I know it's usually the smarter ones that are in my school. (if you care to debate on this start a new strand) I think it is intelligence mostly that brings me and others like me to this forum. If you can't comprehend the topic you most certainly dont want to discuss it, and if you can comprehend the topic I can't see how you wouldn't want to discuss it.

Paul
Tenured Poster

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Posted 06/14/02 - 03:39 AM:	#15
Distortion, there are two types of philosophy books that sell: ones that professors write specifically so that they can force their students to buy them, and ones by dead people. Ludwig Wittgenstein, for example, has written tons of philosophy... but IIRC only one book was published while he was alive, and as soon as he died they started publishing the rest. So to make a philosophy book sell, unless it's one of those self-help junk things, you have to either become a teacher or die young.

Distortion
Oh yeah?

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Joined: May 08, 2002
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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Posted 08/28/02 - 04:34 PM:	#16
I'm thinking that the reason all the other ones don't sell is because they have boring titles. I'll just have to give mine an interesting title like.. 'The Anarchists Guide to Home and Gardening' or 'The Great Big Book of Mumbo Jumbo' or 'The Holy Bible' (although that may have been done already). My book's going to be a bestseller -Distortion
Make your own rules.

ChrisNA
Initiate

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Joined: Aug 02, 2002

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Total Posts: 15

Posted 08/28/02 - 05:19 PM:	#17
i am only 20. not sure if thats young. i come here because most of you have very intelligent things to say. And as i get older (even tho im not old at all yet) i tend to question more and more every day. And this is a place i can put my opinions into text and see what others think of them without being "flamed". everyone is mature here, so i keep coming back.

Progression
Student

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Joined: Jul 14, 2002

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Posted 09/04/02 - 06:46 PM:	#18
I'm changing my major to philosophy because it's the most interesting subject I've ever laid my eyes on. I searched the net and found a couple of forums, but this is the best as far as intelligent opinions are concerned. I like to surround myself with people I consider more knowledgable than me...if they can handle it when your goal is learning at your own pace and not competing with everyone, philosophy is a very rewarding subject...

steve
Assistant Professor

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Joined: Aug 07, 2002

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Posted 09/05/02 - 11:51 AM:	#19
hi yeh i think there is a character type that tends to be philosophical. I have been curious to know the fundamental truths of the world since as far back as i can remember. Some of us are just drawn to it i geuss, but unfortunately we are a small minority. That is one of the great things about the web and forums like these. They vastly increase the chance of meeting up. But the thing i look forward to in particular is dialogue, as i find that it is very creative. Sometimes we find ourselves responding to a post with ideas and words that we have never thought before and a good vibe rally is the best.

xxuxx
Tenured Poster

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Joined: Aug 06, 2002

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Posted 09/07/02 - 12:51 AM:	#20
I'm a chemistry student, I just have nothing better to do. When I start making millions I think I'll bell up Distortion and see how he's doing with his book

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