created by AutoModerator on 27/01/2020 at 18:48 UTC
14 upvotes, 18 top-level comments (showing 18)
Welcome to this week's Open Discussion Thread. This thread is a place for posts/comments which are related to philosophy but wouldn't necessarily meet our posting rules (especially PR2[1]). For example, these threads are great places for:
This thread is **not** a completely open discussion! Any posts not relating to philosophy will be removed. Please keep comments related to philosophy, and expect low-effort comments to be removed. All of our normal commenting rules[2] are still in place for these threads, although we will be more lenient with regards to CR2.
2: https://www.reddit.com/r/philosophy/wiki/rules#wiki_commenting_rules
Previous Open Discussion Threads can be found here[3].
Comment by Darkmatter0051 at 28/01/2020 at 21:38 UTC*
3 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I want to discuss about why we feel anxiety. I think anxiety is fundamentally caused by our desire for the reality to be in a certain way. It might be our acknowledgement of our inability to mold things in the way we desire, and how little control we have over all the arbitrary things of reality. We want things to be in certain manner but the anticipation of it to not being the way we imagined causes anxiety. For example, we all have anxiety regarding death, because we what we want is not to die obviously, but we cannot change the reality of death, it is forthcoming for everyone, and as we acknowledge the fact that we have no control over it but we want to be in a certain way, different than what it is, we feel anxiety. Another example, we feel anxiety while talking to a girl at bar or anywhere, because we want them to see us in the way we present ourselves to them, but we know that we have very little control over her judgement, and we cant control, hence gives rise to anxiety. Same can be said for the fear of public speaking. If we take more of a daily life things that gives us anxiety in this context, for example fear of not having money to pay for expenses, fear of the future, and fear of leaving a job that you hate but is the primary source of your income. Fundamentally, it all cones down to our realization of our lack of control over the things of reality, to mold it in the way we want it to be.
Comment by en-ani at 28/01/2020 at 23:49 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
From law to philosophy!
I have an education in law and have just started to study philosophy. I have previously studied legal philosophy but am now taking a course in theoretical philosophy. I am wondering if anyone has experience of what misconceptions are common when you have a background in law and then study philosophy?
Comment by MagolorX at 29/01/2020 at 15:45 UTC
2 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I actually took my first philosophy class not too long ago. Read bits and pieces of Republic, On the Genealogy or Morality, and The Trial and Death of Socrates. Read some other texts. Have learned about the Euthyphro dilemma, the apology of Socrates, Plato's theories of justice and his perfect society, existential love, and the master and slave morality.
Any ideas for good texts to read from where I'm at?
Comment by landone440 at 02/02/2020 at 05:12 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Hey guys, loved this subreddit for a long time and recently I’ve been trying to figure out a theory that I’d heard a while ago.
Basically, the theory states that there should be a world in which, no matter where or how or who you’re born to, you shouldn’t need to choose because it should all be the same living conditions.
Does anyone remember or know about this? The theory states that, before your born, you should be able to be placed in any position in the world and have the same life and opportunities.
It’s some theory within the egalitarian world but I just can’t remember it enough to google it. Does anyone have any tips? Much appreciated :)
Edit: it’s the veil of ignorance! Sorry, I’ve figured it out. If anyone wants to debate or discuss it though, down to have a comment section to debate!
Comment by subredditsummarybot at 27/01/2020 at 19:01 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Your Weekly /r/philosophy Recap
┌───────┬──────────────────┬──────────────────���────────────────────────────────┐ │ score │ comments │ title & link │ ╞═══════╪══════════════════╪═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ │ │ `[Article]` For MLK Day, 'Letter from a │ │ 4,175 │ 145 comments[1] │ Birmingham Jail', one of the most important │ │ │ │ pieces written on civil disobedience[2] │ ├───────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ `[Blog]` Why you don't know your own mind: the │ │ │ │ consciousness you think you have isn't the │ │ │ │ consciousness you actually have, because there's │ │ 3,039 │ 299 comments[3] │ always a gap between reality and what humans │ │ │ │ intuit - ascertaining which parts are accurate │ │ │ │ should be the top priority for philosophers of │ │ │ │ mind[4] │ ├───────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ `[Blog]` Reductio: if we consider merely │ │ 1,234 │ 580 comments[5] │ affecting the environment to be morally wrong, we │ │ │ │ face the conclusion that our existence is evil. │ │ │ │ This indicates we have made a mistake...[6] │ ├───────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 1,162 │ 52 comments[7] │ `[Blog]` At once tiny and huge: the feeling of │ │ │ │ the sublime[8] │ ├───────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 1,075 │ 54 comments[9] │ `[Blog]` The First Stoics – Philosophical Themes │ │ │ │ In The Bhagavad Gita[10] │ ├───────┼─────────��────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ `[Blog]` The claim made by materialists that │ │ │ │ "phenomenal consciousness doesn't exist" is │ │ 1,027 │ 268 comments[11] │ weakened by their other claim that our phenomenal │ │ │ │ experiences don’t correspond to reality, │ │ │ │ especially when fallible conscious experience is │ │ │ │ exactly what idealists argue for.[12] │ ├───────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ `[Blog]` Why design arguments for God's existence │ │ 239 │ 238 comments[13] │ persist, and why they are ultimately │ │ │ │ unconvincing[14] │ ├───────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 204 │ 7 comments[15] │ `[Blog]` Stiegler’s Memory: Tertiary Retention │ │ │ │ and Temporal Objects[16] │ ├───────┼──────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 70 │ 10 comments[17] │ `[Blog]` Spirited Away With Heidegger[18] │ ├───────┼──────────���───────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 49 │ 97 comments[19] │ `[Article]` On Rights of Inheritance - why high │ │ │ │ inheritance taxes are justified[20] │ └───────┴──────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
2: https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
4: https://iai.tv/articles/why-you-dont-know-your-own-mind-auid-1297
5: https://www.reddit.com/r/philosophy/comments/etscqq/reductio_if_we_consider_merely_affecting_the/
8: https://aeon.co/ideas/at-once-tiny-and-huge-what-is-this-feeling-we-call-sublime
9: https://www.reddit.com/r/philosophy/comments/eu74i6/the_first_stoics_philosophical_themes_in_the/
10: https://outlookzen.com/2020/01/26/the-first-stoics-philosophical-themes-in-the-bhagavad-gita/
12: https://iai.tv/articles/the-mysterious-reappearance-of-consciousness-auid-1299
16: https://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/stieglers-memory-tertiary-retention-and-temporal-objects/
17: https://www.reddit.com/r/philosophy/comments/eu4dqp/spirited_away_with_heidegger/
20: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10892-019-09283-5
┌───────┬─────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ score │ comments │ title & link │ ╞═══════╪═════════════════╪════════════════════════════════════════════════════╡ │ 11 │ 33 comments[21] │ `[Open Thread]` /r/philosophy Open Discussion │ │ │ │ Thread | January 20, 2020 │ ├───────┼─────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 13 │ 27 comments[22] │ `[Video]` Moral Reasoning: How Socrates Argued It │ │ │ │ Would Be Immoral to Escape His Execution[23] │ ├───────┼─────────────────┼─────────���──────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ `[Blog]` Individuals are required to make many │ │ │ │ decisions daily. Due to the limited capacity of │ │ 28 │ 27 comments[24] │ human understanding, all decisions must be made │ │ │ │ bearing some level of ignorance. Thus all │ │ │ │ decisions employ a Kierkegaardian Leap of Faith at │ │ │ │ some point in their resolution process.[25] │ ├───────┼─────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 7 │ 20 comments[26] │ `[Blog]` A defense of abortion: bodily integrity, │ │ │ │ responsibility, and deprivation[27] │ ├───────┼─────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ `[Blog]` "You probably do not agree with │ │ 7 │ 8 comments[28] │ [Karl] Popper — unless you are completely │ │ │ │ out of your mind"[29] │ ├───────┼─────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 6 │ 8 comments[30] │ `[Blog]` The Vices of Truthlessness[31] │ ├───────┼─────────────────┼──────────��─────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ `[Blog]` A philosopher’s guide to optimism | │ │ │ │ pessimism is a powerful self-fulfilling prophecy, │ │ │ │ but if we actively remind ourselves of humanity’s │ │ 0 │ 4 comments[32] │ vast progress in recent years, and take with a │ │ │ │ pinch of salt the news stories saying otherwise, │ │ │ │ we can reclaim the optimism needed to keep │ │ │ │ progress going[33] │ └───────┴─────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLTPKjSb5yI&feature=share
25: https://tweakingo.com/the-leap-of-faith/
26: https://www.reddit.com/r/philosophy/comments/erimp6/a_defense_of_abortion_bodily_integrity/
29: http://fakenous.net/?p=1239
30: https://www.reddit.com/r/philosophy/comments/ery7uw/the_vices_of_truthlessness/
31: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/openfordebate/2017/08/28/the-vices-of-truthlessness/
33: https://iai.tv/articles/a-defence-of-progress-auid-1289
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Comment by [deleted] at 28/01/2020 at 13:36 UTC
1 upvotes, 2 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by Tok_Kwun_Ching at 28/01/2020 at 16:29 UTC
1 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Hello everyone! I have one question related to the philosophy of science and mathematics:
(1) Is the universe ultimately a mathematical model? (cf. Tegmark)
(2) Why is mathematics so useful (has so vast and unparalleled application in quantitative fields, etc.)? Is it an accident or merely a matter of trial and error?
Any relevant papers or books or websites etc discussing these topics?
Thanks!
Comment by SparePartCart at 28/01/2020 at 21:26 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If you have any interest in the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, specifically his profound and influential masterwork: the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, but were intimidated by its density and complexity, I recently made something that could help you dig into it.
When I started to read the book, I found myself getting lost in his sub-points, and sub-points of sub-points, but the way he structured the book in a hierarchical, tree-like way made me think of depth-first vs breadth-first searching in computer science.
The linear book format implicitly restricts readings of these structures to depth-first search, going as deep into the concept as possible before zooming back up to the highest level of abstraction and going back in. This format, using the website WorkFlowy, allows you to do a breadth-first search of the work, starting with the most abstract and general propositions and working into the details progressively. I’ve found it useful and I hope others will as well.
The site operates like a collapsible bullet point list, and clicking on the bullet points allows you to zoom into a view of only that sub-list.
Sadly, diagrams and some mathematical symbols are not available. If you find any issues I missed, please let me know and I can edit it. Feel free to share this link or copy the content.
Additionally, if anyone knows of other texts where this format could be particularly helpful to reading, please let me know, and I can try to do the same for them.
Comment by [deleted] at 30/01/2020 at 17:40 UTC
1 upvotes, 5 direct replies
I'm starting a research project for university, and my thrust is that the Self (a person that persists through time) is an illusion—in reality identity is just a more or less arbitrary construct of pattern recognition coupled to consciousness. I have my bases covered for sources in the east, but I'm not sure who in the western tradition proposes or touches on this subject (other than a ship of Theseus/Heap argument). I'm looking for input on who was really concerned with this ontological problem and what works I should look to as sources.
Comment by thr0wnawaaaiiii at 31/01/2020 at 01:45 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Having a difficult time figuring what exactly I'm trying to google but essentially I would like to see some points regarding the basis of ethics in the continuation of the human race. Specifically I am contemplating the climate crisis. And instinctively, it's fucked and we need to fix it. But if I examine that, the solipsism is apparent and prolonging our time on the earth seems to be an obvious basis for the idea of morality. Any related readings would be much appreciated!
Comment by bobthebuilder983 at 01/02/2020 at 09:03 UTC*
1 upvotes, 2 direct replies
so I have had a question on the body. we understand how the mind gains information through its sense, we understand the make up of the body through anatomy. besides that do we have other explanation about the body? I have heard some people like using the concept of we are in a meat robot that we control. why do we negate the concept on one solid cohesive mass. when we look at someone we see them as a whole not as a sum of parts. why do we break ourselves down into section and keep them that way, instead of placing them back together? how is it that we are so good at deconstruction than reconstruction? there might be a field of thought that I am missing.
metaphor for this. we found a watch and removed the exterior to see the gears and springs and determined that this is what makes up a watch. then stating that the hands, face and casing are separate.
Comment by donnymurph at 01/02/2020 at 14:53 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Comment by Tok_Kwun_Ching at 01/02/2020 at 16:27 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I wonder what is the best argument for or against abortion?
Comment by [deleted] at 01/02/2020 at 18:52 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[removed]
Comment by [deleted] at 03/02/2020 at 13:12 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
New here, and I didn't want to read all the rules, but I know I'm too lazy to find something to fulfill rule 2, so here I am! Just wanted to discuss a thought. I don't know if I believe in free will. Part of me thinks we are automaton. Just giant computers with our dna as our coding. Another part of me, however, doesn't believe that exerting your will comes free. It always comes at a cost. Even if it's the energy to get off the couch and hit the fridge. And idk what to do with that. How do you deal with conflicting ideologies? I can never know which is true. How do I cope with that?
Comment by spicyindomie at 03/02/2020 at 14:36 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
how would you define “the state of being human” as opposed to human being or even the states of be being “beyond human” ?
Comment by th-reddit1 at 03/02/2020 at 18:10 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
A general question:
What are your views on deconstruction [as a philosophical development, its influence (in general and in the literary discipline), its (current) relevance, etc.].
Furthermore, what are your thoughts on Derrida's understanding and manipulation of Hegel's philosophy.
Thanks.
Comment by Sm0llguy at 01/02/2020 at 16:11 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Capitalism sucks yo
Climate change, increasing inequality, increasing poverty, the super exploitation of the global south and many other things. Feel free to add to the list
