Philosophy thread

bearsfan_51 · 05-02-2009, 10:55 AM

I'm guessing since at least a good third of the board is in college, or has graduated college, it would be interesting to see how many people read, or are interested in philosophy.

See the poll above to give your input. Obviously 10 is a pretty limited # of theorists to choose from, but I tried to think of the heavy hitters.

Xonraider · 05-02-2009, 11:05 AM

what poll?

bearsfan_51 · 05-02-2009, 11:21 AM

Give me a second hoss.

Also, sorry to leave out any eastern theorists, or most religion, but that's a bag of worms to itself.

bearsfan_51 · 05-02-2009, 11:25 AM

I vote post-structuralism. There is no objective truth. Everything is created through discourse. All things are fluid. The individual's sense of self is illusory. Perception creates reality.

Ya dig?

Addict · 05-02-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

I vote post-structuralism. There is no objective truth. Everything is created through discourse. All things are fluid. The individual's sense of self is illusory. Perception creates reality.

Ya dig?

my second favourite. I was really torn between Post-Structuralism (gotta love Nietszche, right?), but in the end I picked rationalism. But it's really close for me.

A Perfect Score · 05-02-2009, 11:29 AM

We were actually having a great philosophy discussion in IRC the other day. I was telling Brent how my favorite philosopher is Machiavelli, and Brent called him a warmonger. People these days! But yes, of the options given, I've got to go with Existentialism, with Post Modernism a close second.

Addict · 05-02-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Perfect Score

We were actually having a great philosophy discussion in IRC the other day. I was telling Brent how my favorite philosopher is Machiavelli, and Brent called him a warmonger. People these days! But yes, of the options given, I've got to go with Existentialism, with Post Modernism a close second.

Macchiavelli was awesome. Even if he was a bit of a warmonger from time to time.

bearsfan_51 · 05-02-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Perfect Score

We were actually having a great philosophy discussion in IRC the other day. I was telling Brent how my favorite philosopher is Machiavelli, and Brent called him a warmonger. People these days! But yes, of the options given, I've got to go with Existentialism, with Post Modernism a close second.

Machiavelli was anything but a warmonger. The whole point is to establish stability in society and thus decrease the likelyhood of rebellion.

A dick? Sure. But not a warmonger.

I considered putting him up there with the rational humanists, but he's a bit different in comparison to More and Erasmus.

A Perfect Score · 05-02-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Machiavelli was anything but a warmonger. The whole point is to establish stability in society and thus decrease the likelyhood of rebellion.

A dick? Sure. But not a warmonger.

I considered putting him up there with the rational humanists, but he's a bit different in comparison to More and Erasmus.

Again, thats what I was telling Brent, he wasnt a warmonger, he was an advocate of actually getting something done. He didnt dick around, he saw what he thought society should be and this was the way to go about getting to that point. If there was bloodshed, fine. But yes, I've read The Prince multiple times and he is my favorite philosopher to read. He had a very unique take on the world, and thats refreshing at times I find.

ATLDirtyBirds · 05-02-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Perfect Score

Again, thats what I was telling Brent, he wasnt a warmonger, he was an advocate of actually getting something done. He didnt dick around, he saw what he thought society should be and this was the way to go about getting to that point. If there was bloodshed, fine. But yes, I've read The Prince multiple times and he is my favorite philosopher to read. He had a very unique take on the world, and thats refreshing at times I find.

I quite enjoy the Prince/Machiavelli myself. Of these, I'd say Rationalism.

dabears10 · 05-02-2009, 11:30 AM

I went with social contract philosophy. Not because I think it makes the most sense but because it is the most interesting to me at this time.

Personally the most interesting part of philosophy discussion and in of itself is what philosophy has become and what can be defined as. Often trying to define the undefined while in my opinion being undefinable.

Gay Ork Wang · 05-02-2009, 11:35 AM

Plato and Aristotle were totally awesome. I think Kant said a lot of useless stuff.

bearsfan_51 · 05-02-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *** Ork Wang

Plato and Aristotle were totally awesome. I think Kant said a lot of useless stuff.

It depends on what you define as useless. Obviously Aristotle was wrong on about 99.9% of what he said (ie: people are made up of humors), but considering his period and what he had to work with, it's mighty impressive.

Kant was a piggy-backer to the Enlightenment. After the French Revolution he was discredited for a while, but most of the "rationalism" he espoused is still widely accepted today.

Brent · 05-02-2009, 11:39 AM

It's definitely Ancient Philosophy for me. Socrates (through accounts), Plato and Aristotle, make up a large bulk of what I read in my rhetoric classes and I loved it. Locke had a lot of ideas I agreed with, and Kant was pretty awesome as well. Admittedly, I think the one who I share a lot of views with is probably Marx and Hegel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Perfect Score

Brent called him a warmonger

I did?

Gay Ork Wang · 05-02-2009, 11:43 AM

im not quite sure, but Kant said a lot of weird stuff that was basically wrong lol.

the ones that come to my mind are "What is Enlightenment" and his idea of war and such

bearsfan_51 · 05-02-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *** Ork Wang

im not quite sure, but Kant said a lot of weird stuff that was basically wrong lol.

I'm just guessing, but I would bet that Kant and Rationalism is especially denegrated in Germany post-Holocaust.

Americans tend to have a much more positive outlook on Rationalism, in part because they didn't suffer from a lot of its negative aspects in nearly the same way.

Gay Ork Wang · 05-02-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

I'm just guessing, but I would bet that Kant and Rationalism is especially denegrated in Germany post-Holocaust.

Americans tend to have a much more positive outlook on Rationalism, in part because they didn't suffer from a lot of its negative aspects in nearly the same way.

nah its not about Rationalism, just Kant. I havent read enough of Voltaire or Descartes. im 18 after all. but the stuff we read from Kant were kinda weird and not really right lol.

JeffSamardzijaIRISH · 05-02-2009, 11:58 AM

Existentialism is where it's at.

Addict · 05-02-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *** Ork Wang

nah its not about Rationalism, just Kant. I havent read enough of Voltaire or Descartes. im 18 after all. but the stuff we read from Kant were kinda weird and not really right lol.

Kannt did have a pretty skewed view of the world, but that's mainly due to the fact that he not once in his life left his home town. All he knew of the world was what travellers and explorers who visited him, told him. With any philosopher, taking the circumstances around which they formulated their ideas into account is very important.

A Perfect Score · 05-02-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent

It's definitely Ancient Philosophy for me. Socrates (through accounts), Plato and Aristotle, make up a large bulk of what I read in my rhetoric classes and I loved it. Locke had a lot of ideas I agreed with, and Kant was pretty awesome as well. Admittedly, I think the one who I share a lot of views with is probably Marx and Hegel.

I did?

You most certainly did you drunk bastard.

Brent · 05-02-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Perfect Score

You most certainly did you drunk bastard.

Yikes. Well, I was probably over-exaggerating my views. As was said above, he wanted to get **** done and prevent rebellion. I suppose "warmonger" wasnt the best choice. I would say ruthless was a trait he advocated. I'm more of the type that thinks we can solve all problems with discourse but some resort to violence, which is ridiculous.

Gay Ork Wang · 05-02-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent

Yikes. Well, I was probably over-exaggerating my views. As was said above, he wanted to get **** done and prevent rebellion. I suppose "warmonger" wasnt the best choice. I would say ruthless was a trait he advocated. I'm more of the type that thinks we can solve all problems with discourse but some resort to violence, which is ridiculous.

id agree with that statement

yourfavestoner · 05-02-2009, 11:40 AM

Definitely, rationalism. Voltaire FTW.

Xiomera · 05-02-2009, 12:29 PM

I'm a fan of this philosophy stuff. Some of it is fascinating.

There were many good poll options, but I have a particular appreciation for the Ancient Greeks since they were philosophizing (yes, I've made it a word) before modern science and were essentially theorizing things for the first time, not building off of the work of others.

Nietzche is a close second.

Menardo75 · 05-02-2009, 02:41 PM

I am just finishing philosopy 101, and I really enjoyed learning about Kant probably my favorite. It was also interesting to learn about Marks, and Buddha.