the archives
dusted off in read-only
dusted off in read-only
All actions are the result of causal events and certain circumstantial conditions that induce us to act. Without these influences we would be unable to act, unable to decide between A or B. view post
If an agent's action is free the agent has to have had the ability to do otherwise. view post
[quote="Mats":2fjf6rse]All time favourites: Tolstoy - War & Peace Homer - The Iliad Nabokov - Pale Fire [/quote:2fjf6rse] Been meaning to read Tolstoy for so long. The Iliad is great, but I prefer the Odyssey, mainly because it is reflected in so many modern works. And if you enjoyed Pale Fire you should defenatly read House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewki, has some of the same themes. Great read. view post
Dan Brown is for idiots. Enough said. view post
[quote="Israfel":2we977y3]I'm afraid I'm of the opinion that the question is a pointless one. [/quote:2we977y3] Pointless because you don't like the answer? Or pointless because you fail to gain anything from it? The way I see it, I gain a whole lot from the discussion of free will, in the same way people gain a lot from their belief in a god. [quote="Israfel":2we977y3]Without accepting the idea of free will the whole background behind human interaction and one's idea of self ceases to have meaning[/quote:2we977y3] How does anything change by accepting that we have no free will? [quote="Israfel":2we977y3] It is impossible to truly believe or act as if free will doesn't exist, and is therefore irrelevent to pursue the matter of whether our actions are actually free.[/quote:2we977y3] It isn't impossible to believe anything, I could wholeheartedly believe that the sun rotates around the earth; I could believe any number of things. I fail to see how my belief in the non-existence of free will changes anything. view post
Determinism isn't the only argument out there, of which I am sure you know. Yet I am still puzzled as to why you would call this a non-question? I understand all the contradictions that determinism imposes, but what philosophical question does not come with these issues? From your explanation I would say you find the argument on personal identity a non-question also? What about consciousness? Dualism? view post
What makes you, you? Is it a soul that defines us, our brain, or maybe our memories? Are we the same person we were 15 years ago? view post
[quote="Lucky Sevens":1qxfndwx]What defines us is continuity, which is more-or-less the same as a soul. [/quote:1qxfndwx] So, you believe in life after death; or are you refering to 'soul' as a means for definition? [quote="Lucky Sevens":1qxfndwx]There are various mental tricks to get at these conclusions; one is to imagine a machine that can make a perfect copy of you. Is the copy you?[/quote:1qxfndwx] So if I am a continuity of (you have yet to explain), and someone makes an exact copy of me, with the same memories of the same experiences, would that mean there are two of me now? view post
[quote="Israfel":2z395ubl] So I would agree that causes are very often found within our character, but deny the assertion that these causes shackle us to a certain path. And it is that assertion that I believe stands at the centre of the point I made earlier about the lack of sense in asking the question as we do. [/quote:2z395ubl] So how does this make us any less of a 'robot programmed to move in certain ways'? Are you suggesting at some point in your judgement you way up the possible decisions, and act on what you [i:2z395ubl]feel[/i:2z395ubl] is best? So to put it crudely, you systematically eliminate possible decisions until you find the most probable action for success. Or do you somehow avoid using any form of judgement in your decision making? view post
[quote="Lucky Sevens":12j7d06a] No, there would be one you, and another who is very much like you. If nothing else, they occupy a different space than you, and begin to have divergent experiences the moment they are created.[/quote:12j7d06a] Then we are a compilatoin of past experiences, nothing more? view post
[quote="Israfel":10hi1foa] Not sure I understand the question you're asking here[/quote:10hi1foa] In plain terms, how would you explain your actions as being free? view post
[quote="Israfel":33zogeyp] Essentially mine is a conception of action in which the consciousness has a choice to make, and can genuinely decide which way to go.[/quote:33zogeyp] Determinism doesn't try to refute this; it accepts that we make a choice, it just dennies we would have made any other choice given the exact same circumstances. view post
Christianity believes in a whole lot of crap view post
Is God flawed? What God are you talking of? Do you have a description of this 'God' to criticize? view post
Darwinism anyone? view post
A lot of people are swayed just so they can fit in. Christianity is dying, and I hear the word 'atheism' being thrown around lately. view post
I don't think you should take it that seriously rogue.
And I still haven't seen any 'concrete evidence' that backs up your belief in the non-exsistence of a higher being. Also the link you gave us disputes the importance of Religion, not God.
I really did like the part where you called Harrol 'absurd and ignorant' though, clearly shows your superiority. And I assume you know Harrol in person, because the irony created from that post would just be to much to handle if you didn't.
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[quote="anor277":2il6hrge] Just wanted to add that I tend to doubt that any such evidence that "proves" the non-existence of a higher being [i:2il6hrge]could[/i:2il6hrge] exist. It's a bit of a [i:2il6hrge]non-sequitir[/i:2il6hrge]; belief in God or a higher-being is subject to neither proof nor disproof.[/quote:2il6hrge] Exactly. [quote="anor277":2il6hrge] As regards the link Rogue supplied, it does give us ample evidence that the higher being (however we define him) is not much interested in healing amputees (He isn't interested at all in fact). I think that is sufficient grounds to with-hold our worship.[/quote:2il6hrge] On what basis can you justify the claim that this divinity-in-question is not interested in us? And I am quite certain if you look - try thinking first - you will find dozens of logical arguments as to why a God would choose not to heal amputees. This argument alone accounts to nothing. view post
[quote="anor277":1v5upd97] Name one such argument; if God intercedes on behalf of cancer victims and those threaened by bush fires.[/quote:1v5upd97] Who said God interceds at all? And what's to say this life is just a test? It would be rather silly if the examiner helped you with your final exam don't you think? view post
[quote="anor277":s5vvgmiu] I did, for the sake of argument. [/quote:s5vvgmiu] I'm not saying that God intercedes. So I'm not sure why you would throw that in. [quote="anor277":s5vvgmiu] Earlier, however, you made a claim that dozens of "logical" arguments could be proposed for God's [i:s5vvgmiu]pathological[/i:s5vvgmiu] dislike of amputees and his stubborn intransigence with regards to answering their prayers. I asked you to voice one of them.[/quote:s5vvgmiu] I made no such claim. You are putting words in my mouth. I never said this God dislikes amputees I also never said this God was stubborn or intransigent. A God that is stubborn? Kinda contradicts the idea of God. However I did say there are dozens of logical arguments that could explain why a God would choose not to heal amputees, or in broader terms, why a God would choose not to intercede in our lives. 1.) It would destroy all the current belief systems as well as social order. 2.) If this God rewarded he would also have to punish in order to keep balance. The link provided before is as useless attempt to hurt current religions and beliefs in a biblical God. It is a pointless rant, backed up by a biased view, by some atheist with a grudge. And please, for future discussion, can we refrain from using a bib lical account of God? It is flawed, we all know it, it's been known since antiquity. view post
[quote="anor277":oob0qsgk] I don't think the link is all that useless in its attempt to discredit current religious belief. [/quote:oob0qsgk] I would quote all the flaws in his arguments but that would take to long and I don't have the patience. [quote="anor277":oob0qsgk] This might not have the effect of destroying the social order as you suggest, and the amputee might well be of the opinion, "Bugger the social order, give me my lost limb back". After all, as the link demonstrates, many attribute the remission of a cancer patient to God's intercession in actual human life, and this has had no palpable influence on human behaviour and society.[/quote:oob0qsgk] "Aged sir, I who came to you am a god immortal, Hermes. My father sent me dowde and go with youn to guide and go with you. But now I am going back again, and I will not go in before the eyes of Achilleus, for it would make others angry for an immortal god so to face mortal men with favour." From the Iliad book 24. And your example of cancer patients; well if God came down and said "Be Cured!" and all saw this I'm quiet sure this would cause a few ripples through society. Having a Christian, for example, say it was God's intervention that cured them isn't going to turn many heads, but if that person had solid evidence that it was God, well, you see how many people flock to see some so called mircale, imagine if that mircale was proof of God's exsistence. view post
I hope you're not refering to Odin? At least he had character 
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Does every human being have a right to live, or is it society that gives us this right? view post
Yet the human race has thrived of infanticide, and abortion is pretty much the same thing but less cruel. view post
Can we go to the basics? Why do I have a[i:2b4gvzz3] right [/i:2b4gvzz3]to live? Is it because it is only fair that we give everyone a chance? view post
Very enlightining, thank you. That pretty much answers my question. 
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Utilitarianism vs. Kantianism? Thoughts? view post
You're right, it is John Milton who did the whole fallen angel thing. Although William Blake does have some tasty proverbs from hell.
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Yeah that's one of my favourites; also I love the IX book: [i:3uunkgor]"His gentle dumb expression turned at length The eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad Of her attention gained, with serpent tongue Organic, or impulse of vocal air, His fraudulent temptation thus began."[/i:3uunkgor] view post
Yet couldn't suicide be considered immoral? In certain situations the suffering a suicide leaves behind is exponentially greater than if the person chooses to live.
I don't think we've out grown capital punishment yet, not when there are situations where the possibility of rehabilitation are zip. Think of the money spent on maintaining prisons, then think of the possibilities that that money could give to thousands of others.
With abortion I'm more favourable towards than against, especially with the worlds population as high as it is.
Got Utilitarianism?
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I'm all for a transcosmic voyage, haha, pretty dull if we are here just by chance. Makes me 
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Didn't [i:114b7ihn]'Lewis Carrol'[/i:114b7ihn] write Alice's Adventures in Wonderland while in an opium den? I know I have written some crazy stuff while on pot then when I read over it in the morning, although I remember writting it, I have no recollection of why, or how I came to write it. view post
You could spend a long time answering that question; I like
I feel we need to care about how other people live because it all reflects on how we live. There's also the wonderful, [i:3mvhys4q]do unto others...[/i:3mvhys4q] blah blah.
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My thoughts as of now: We cannot perceve reality, we only have perceptions which influence our thoughts and even then what's reality can we find in that? Basically I feel, to us, reality doesn't exsist in external objects, thoughts included. Reality is that uncomprehensable thought that you sometimes get that's impossible to draw out no matter how hard you try. I do feel that you can extend that feeling of knowing but never can you grasp it. view post
America makes me cringe view post
To sum it up - perfection is flawed. Lovely. view post
time doesn't exist. It's just a nice concept that makes things stick. view post
Vallum is a good follow on imo view post
Nice post. An interesting oppinion that I somewhat share. A conceptual scenario for ya: What if we developed a society that managed to eliminate negative behaviour towards anyone or anything? What if the concept of evil was eliminated from human thought through thousands of years of evolution? Sure it's improbable, but possible surely. view post
Exactly. The US constitution was based on a secular nation. The founding fathers escaped to america to escape religious persecution, christianity just took roots and grew. It's a scary thought what a theocratic US government could do; around 80% of US citizens consider themselves christians - Dominionism? Though, Islam is the fastest growing religion. And yeah Christianity and Islam are just branches of judaism, the difference is where they started. Just look at some of the comandments in the Koran (cannot be bothered searching for a direct quote - feel free to search, I'm sure it will be enlightening) for example not being allowed to work between, something like, mid-day till the afternoon, added because of the climate in the middle east. Islam, compared to christianity, is more accepting of the other abrahamic faiths labeling jesus as a prophet where muhammad was considered a heretic - or so I believe. I'd pick Islam over christianity any day. To me Christianity seems more of a farce than a faith. view post
House of Leaves is amazing which is unlike anything else you will read. Only Revolutions however is on the fail side of the boat. Highly, highly recommend House of Leaves. view post
I suppose the concept of 'Good' would be altered to mean positive and negative feelings, eg happy and unhappy - possibly how animals behave? view post
Problem solved. view post
Suffered enough view post
Not a discussion on the meaning of life but what makes for a meaningful life; a life worth living? I know there are thousands of answers for this (that's why i'm starting it ) but to be honest I have no idea.
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Need for govern; order. A way to control desire, lust, imagination, dreams. You could say that for the existence of man until this moment the concepts of Good and Evil were a necessary invention. We supposedly have free will and therefore certain parameters are needed to govern acts beneficial and unbeneficial to a race subconsciously and unconsciously fighting for survival. view post
Thanks. I tried adding to it this morning, however it lead nowhere and that is grounds for deletion. Any thoughts on where the story is going? Where does the main character go after he walks through that door? I really want to know! view post
[quote="baloogabear":6d9erl6z]I have no doubts that the christian faith has absolutly no bearing on george bush's decisicions,[/quote:6d9erl6z] Check out the Christian Right; I'm sure thier whispers will be heard in a few ears. view post
good luck, your thoughts wont be the same again... 
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Basically I am to drunk to make sense of most of what you said but I always see philosophy as a way in which to appreciate knowledge, life, whatever, not as a direct means to attain knowledge, altough... fuck circles.
Philosophy gets you to a postion of nothing, it's when you reach that nothing that you either realise wow the world has something or, wow wtf is this I'm dealing with. I dunno maybe we are just taking the fabrics of life, picking a fabric and going hmmm wonder what makes that work. Possibly by being to envolved in individual fabrics we miss the entire weave. Just let go. (love that saying )
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It really is an experience reading this book so make sure you are in the right mood in order to squeeze those juicy bits out - there are many. view post
The Gnostics believe(d) that God, the creator, was unworthy of worship, a far more logical concept, something even I could swallow. The God of the canonical gospels is the creator and is as fickle as man. Why should I worship someone who can't control there temper? As to the bible being THE solution, I can't disagree more. Yeah the bible has many moral teachings that would be an ideal solution, yet that is coated in crap. The bible isn't the word of God, it was chosen by a man around 100 A.D from a selection of many gospels; those that were not selected by this Roman (Roman being the key word) were outlawed and burnt. So why should I throw myself at a book that holds no significant value apart from a few basic morals that all are instinctually brought up on? view post
I think what my main concern is the way in which society makes a slave of our lives. Societal expectations pressure, force(?), people into living lives that are designed to sustain the grand community; choose a career, make money, give it back in order to survive, reproduce, retire and die. (Over simplified I know) I feel this is moving more and more into the extreme, and I feel this takes away from what it is to be human; to live consciously. We are special; there is no doubt about it at all. The universe has given itself self-conscious, an amazing, mind-blowing, concept, and with the way society operates consciousness is turned into novelty. view post
[quote="Cnaiür":lg8eq35o] but, at least, they want to decriminalize marijuana and possibly legalize it. There's just too many pros about that plant, besides smoking it, and its long overdue that we take advantage of it. Its ironically amusing that the US Declaration of Independence is written on hemp paper and their first president grew fields of hemp and marijuana, and even smoked it. [/quote:lg8eq35o]
To right!
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But seriously, who would want Palin as vice president, let alone president? She scares the fuck out of me. If you all manage to vote McCain in everywhere around the world you will hear this giant "sigh". view post
She doesn't seem to have any notion of what's going on, only what she has been told. She claims 'God's will' on anything that passes under her nose, pro-guns, and she's pretty far right. If it's true, she fired some official who refused to fire an officer who had broken up with her sister, shows how much control she has. Could you really see Palin in control? I can only see her being controled, very easily. view post
Who I am is who I will be, being defined by who I was? view post
All that moping could just be a gradual shift to enlightenment; I actually found his chapters quite interesting, it was the only real discription that we get of kellhus and his actions which makes me think he will be the person to confront Kellhus. view post