On the Nature of Things | Forum

Simple Minded wrote: So are you still oppressing the poor by owning motorcycles and valuables?

SM,

As mentioned, you presented an elegant reductio ad absurdum argument. Of course I don't believe that every socialist has to be poor or every right winger has to be rich and neither (I suspect) do you.

Alex.

manolo wrote:

Simple Minded wrote: So are you still oppressing the poor by owning motorcycles and valuables?

SM,

As mentioned, you presented an elegant reductio ad absurdum argument. Of course I don't believe that every socialist has to be poor or every right winger has to be rich and neither (I suspect) do you.

Alex.

I agree. The fascinating aspect to me, is the mental lines of demarcation of equality, rich, poor, privileged, right, left, etc.

Always relative, always personal, always in flux, but strangely enough, always present..... The human need to classify and compare? Why?

Fred's concept at age 20 something of who the rich 60 somethings are, vary immensely from Fred's concept 40 years later of who the rich 60 somethings are.

Simple Minded wrote: I agree.

SM,

That'll do nicely.

Alex.

manolo wrote:

Simple Minded wrote: I agree.

SM,

That'll do nicely.

Alex.

Alex,

If you're happy, I'm happy!

I changed from hard sciences to economics in my second year, which I enjoyed much more, I seem to have a bullshit gene, hence an addiction to internet forums. I can't say it was any easier, indeed the subject is inherently much harder than theoretical physics, which is why so much of the it is useless.

If you ask me a question I won't answer, but I might provide you with multiple scenarios...

Manolo, you studied philosophy:
- then why are you not terminally depressed?
- someone was willing to employ you ?

If you have a connection to Husserl, that is phenomenal (pun intended...)

Endovelico wrote:

Typhoon wrote:Lucky sod.

My class spent 4 years trying to survive the various prof's assignments and tests: over 100 people in 1st year; end of 4th year 7 graduated.

Grad school was more of the same, only tougher.

I can't help thinking that's a bit excessive. There must be a better way to encourage excellence without being destructive to over 90% of people.

+1

Torchwood wrote:I changed from hard sciences to economics in my second year, which I enjoyed much more, I seem to have a bullshit gene, hence an addiction to internet forums.

Exactly the same here. I was in Physics first. I've probably even crossed paths with you on other forums.

I can't say it was any easier, indeed the subject is inherently much harder than theoretical physics, which is why so much of the it is useless.

True.

If you ask me a question I won't answer, but I might provide you with multiple scenarios...

That was essentially Truman's complaint about economists.

Manolo, you studied philosophy:
- then why are you not terminally depressed?
- someone was willing to employ you ?

If you have a connection to Husserl, that is phenomenal (pun intended...)

Torchwood wrote:I changed from hard sciences to economics in my second year, which I enjoyed much more, I seem to have a bullshit gene, hence an addiction to internet forums. I can't say it was any easier, indeed the subject is inherently much harder than theoretical physics, which is why so much of the it is useless.

If you ask me a question I won't answer, but I might provide you with multiple scenarios...

Manolo, you studied philosophy:
- then why are you not terminally depressed?
- someone was willing to employ you ?

If you have a connection to Husserl, that is phenomenal (pun intended...)

Torchwood,

Aaah, economics - the 'dismal science'.

I think depression came first and philosophy was the therapy. It has also kept me out of the hands of the catholics and buddhists. Like many of my ilk I had to teach something else to get paid, which was not so bad. I think teaching philosophy would have taken the spark out of it. Not even sure that we can teach philosophy, just tell someone when they are not doing it.

ATB,

Alex.

manolo wrote:
.....

I think depression came first and philosophy was the therapy. It has also kept me out of the hands of the catholics and buddhists. Like many of my ilk I had to teach something else to get paid, which was not so bad. I think teaching philosophy would have taken the spark out of it. Not even sure that we can teach philosophy, just tell someone when they are not doing it.

..

Alex.

alex,

One of the best paragraphs on philosophy, I have ever read. Kudos. The "search for truth" that leads to enrollment in college philosophy courses proves dissatisfying for many students.

It becomes a lot like a study of religion (or politics). Here is the book, here is the reader, and over here, and here, and here...... are legions of professional middle men who all claim that "their interpretation" is the only correct interpretation.

If you want to belong to their club, you must agree with their interpretation.

But of course, philosophers (unlike politicians or priests) do not expect that you accept that their interpretation is correct on faith.....