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vigilant_mind
unfazed



Registered: 01/19/07
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Why Philosophize?
#7895334 - 01/17/08 10:34 PM (16 years, 15 days ago) |
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I believe the best answer I've seen so far to this question, is that which came from the eminent philosopher Bertrand Russell in his essay The Value of Philosophy. I just finished reading it for my philsophy and race class, and I must say, it was really inspiring.
Here's a link to the essay: http://skepdic.com/russell.html
And for all of you lazy folk who don't feel like reading the full essay, here's Russell's conclusion which sums up his main ideas:Quote:
Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves; because these questions enlarge our conception of what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation; but above all because, through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates, the mind also is rendered great, and becomes capable of that union with the universe which constitutes its highest good.
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learningtofly
Ancient Aliens



Registered: 05/21/07
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Why not?>
--------------------
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vigilant_mind
unfazed



Registered: 01/19/07
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Russell discusses some answers to that very question in the essay. You should read it.
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igwna
The Cap'n


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Quote:
learningtofly said: Why not?>

-------------------- I don't believe in cops, bosses, or politicians. Some call that anarchism. I call it having a fucking heart that beats.
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


Registered: 12/09/99
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Because, as Socrates was alleged to have said: "An unexamined life is not worth living," and as someone who is constitutionally an Introverted Intuitive Thinking type, I am compelled to agree.
Philosophy is clearly not for everyone or even for most people, judging by the nature of most peoples' passions in the USA alone. Sheldonian 1-7-1 extreme Mesomorphs and Pituitary giants who represent NFL and NBA cultures respectively seem to account for the majority of what I hear in discussions as I walk through this life. Such things like who is likely to be traded and who is going to win the Superbowl pass for some kind of folk 'wisdom.'
I remember slowing my walk through the ground floor (Early Childhood Education) of the college of education at the U. of Maryland (I was upstairs in the department of Human Development Education). I thought I heard two young teachers-in-training discussing Plato, so I slowed my pace to listen. They were discussing Play-Doh! Perhaps I should not have been disappointed, I mean, look at the nice Amanita mushroom one can make with the stuff rather than being a stuffy philosopher.
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skiihigh
underground



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its good for the mind;)
-------------------- When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. -Jimi Hendrix ALL OF MY POSTS ARE FICTIONAL Most Outrageous Thread Ive Ever Hijacked---http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/9613658/an/0/page/0
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


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Re: Why Philosophize? [Re: skiihigh]
#7899920 - 01/19/08 12:11 AM (16 years, 14 days ago) |
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Quote:
skiihigh said: its good for the mind;)
Whose mind? Your mind? My mind? THE Mind? Universal Mind? Are we not both the SAME mind - the Husserlian Transcendental Ego? Yes, yes...Who else do you know of who was sipping wine and reading 'The Sixth Cartesian Meditation' of Edmund Husserl with a momentary perusal of his book Ideas? I did put all that away to watch a couple of DVD episodes of 'Lost' with my Lady, so all is not lost!
-------------------- γνῶθι σαὐτόν - Gnothi Seauton - Know Thyself
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Ginseng1
Elegant Universe



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Philosophy is the key to our home.
-------------------- Flowing through beginningless time since time without beginning...
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AnastomosisJihad
Hominid



Registered: 01/01/08
Posts: 700
Loc: Ohio
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Re: Why Philosophize? [Re: Ginseng1]
#7901171 - 01/19/08 11:15 AM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Some say philosophy is a disease, an addiction of sorts.
-------------------- come together
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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"Father." "Yes son?" "I want to kill you."
"Mother..."
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs



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And what do you think about that?
--------------------
   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Why Philosophize? [Re: Middleman]
#7901272 - 01/19/08 11:35 AM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Middleman said: "Father." "Yes son?" "I want to kill you."
"Mother..."
Thank you Jimmy.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Re: Why Philosophize? [Re: Icelander]
#7901293 - 01/19/08 11:39 AM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Hey how'd you know my name? ...Oh, right.
Oedipus is bliss.
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


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Re: Why Philosophize? [Re: Middleman]
#7901334 - 01/19/08 11:51 AM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Middleman said: "Father." "Yes son?" "I want to kill you."
"Mother..."
Yes...Jim Morrison's rendering of Freud's formulation of the Oedipus Complex (named after Sophocle's play Oedipus Rex)...and...? It seems that Jim read more psychoanalytic and mythological stuff than pure philosophy. He even fancied himself as Dionysius apparently (having his clothes rent by frenzied followers helped), but...huh?
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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I don't think Morrison was thinking of Freud's interpretation.
I read an interpretation somewhere along the lines of "slaying the left brain logic and embracing the right brain intuition"
It also has something to do with the sorrow of Sophia...
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


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Re: Why Philosophize? [Re: Middleman]
#7901624 - 01/19/08 01:00 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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I'm afraid that logic is a bit too fuzzy for me. Morrison was steeped in primitive myth: Frazer's The Golden Bough for example, from which he pulled 'Not to See the Sun, Not to Touch the Earth.' He was not versed in neuropsychology. The "sorrow of Sophia" derives from Valentinian Gnostic myth - another area that Morrison was unlikely to have had much to do with. I'm not aware of it in his music, but I'm not well-versed in his verse, so...
Edited by MarkostheGnostic (01/19/08 08:01 PM)
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Spiritual Seeker
Nothing Matters



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I caint help myself. Life is too fucking weird just to sit back and accept it. Even when i DONT wanna philosophize my brain starts doing it on its own.
Its weird
-------------------- "Nothing in the world is a gift. Whatever there is to learn has to be learned the hard way." -Don juan
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Cherk
Fashionable


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the value of it?
simple:
it lets man do the same thing differently and makes him think he does the same
I won't embarass myself unless I can laugh too it doesn't matter if my laugh comes after if to be embarassed is really what is is
you won't lose your soul, don't worry just kiss me!
--------------------
I have considered such matters. SIKE
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Cherk
Fashionable


Registered: 10/25/02
Posts: 46,493
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Re: Why Philosophize? [Re: Cherk]
#7903997 - 01/19/08 11:07 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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I simply cannot accept that there is a truth you can die without this realization is not worth dying for but what brought me to it is
unfortunately no one has agreed yet even though I spend all my time preparing for it!
one day these streets will be paved with gold real gold too, none of this metaphorical gold that makes our cars go put, put, put
the dinosaurs are in our dreams and they're trying to show the way
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