Philosophical Thread

[Oasis]

All good and fun.

Socrates is someone who really interests me.  He's a mystery to me.  I think his simplicity is something to value.

Socrates was probably the most logical human being ever. If you haven't, read Plato's The Symposium and The Apology of Socrates. Both are loving fantastic, but the latter is infinitely better.

Also found the Voltaire quote that I used for my senior quote:

"A witty saying proves nothing."

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[Zanaran2]

this would have been an interesting thread if it haven't devolved into people arguing about mirrors

[Oasis]

this would have been an interesting thread if it haven't devolved into people arguing about mirrors

Did it lock? Can you contribute to SWAT's question?

[TheKhoz]

So we're learning about Socrates in school right now and I'm just about done with his stuff. :D

Socrates was probably the most logical human being ever.

Yeah, that might be true, but that is what got him killed. Well, that and his own arrogance. He basically let himself be a martyr for the cause of "reason". It's not like he needed to die, nobody even wanted him to die. But they asked him to give up his beliefs and he said forget that. :D

Well, this is a fairly abridged duplication of events but you get the point.

edit: Democritus is where it's at

[ShadowsfeaR]

I find myself aligned with Aristotle's view of The Great Souled Man, and try to work towards behaviors I find lacking. A few favorite lines from a song that touches on this is "'Tis merely vulgar to triumph over the insignificant", which describes the "vulgarity" of trying to succeed in arguments and debates of trivial matters and such. I've been getting better at not trying to jump into petty arguments, especially random ones I find on YouTube and such. Another quote is "The mind is a lonely place to be when one's soul is quaint, honestly" which I find to be rather true. I try to keep my mind preoccupied with provocative and thought stimulating ideas and information.

[allyorbase]

I'm hungry

[Kishgal]

the answer to everything is infinity

actually it is 42

[SWAT One]

Socrates was probably the most logical human being ever. If you haven't, read Plato's The Symposium and The Apology of Socrates. Both are loving fantastic, but the latter is infinitely better.

I read the Apology of Socrates.  There are are no words to explain that.  Just a perfect example of what happens when power is affronted with reason.

Additionally, have you listened to interviews or debates with Noam Chomsky?

[jtizzle]

mfw no nietzsche

[McJobless]

mfw no nietzsche

Nietzsche, even though he was a loving genius, also happened to have the worst circumstances growing up and ended up succumbing to one or another mental issues (I think he had Alzhiemer's, but I can't remember). I'm a skeptic of his works.

Anybody else find Plato's 'The Cave' life-changing when they first read it/were taught it?

[TheKhoz]

Anybody else find Plato's 'The Cave' life-changing when they first read it/were taught it?

See, it's rather interesting that you say that, for I feel like the allegory of the cave hasn't really stood up to the test of time. The way I understand it, this allegory was all a way of explaining Plato's concept of the Forms. As such, it's sorta just elitist. The idea that the philosophers see the real world while everyone else is shrouded in ignorance is pretty much just about boosting Plato's ego. Well, I guess he learned from the best.

Anyway, maybe they taught it to me wrong, I dunno. I'm not trying to piss anyone off by saying Plato and Socrates were arrogant and egocentric, I just think it's kind of interesting that that's how history depicts them.

[ShadowsfeaR]

I think it has to do with culture and how its relevance evolves over time. Especially with social classes.

[McJobless]

I don't think it's egotistical to presume that those who try to actually try and question the world that they see, and try to learn about what the 'real' world is are better than those who simply go with the flow and follow orders.

[SWAT One]

I don't think it's egotistical to presume that those who try to actually try and question the world that they see, and try to learn about what the 'real' world is are better than those who simply go with the flow and follow orders.

Same.  Because in doing so, one is required to humble themself and challenge one's own views.

Plato, however, said that philosophers are worthy or entitled to more and better things because they think differently, even to the point of creating a philosopher-king-ruled state.  I call that notion elitist, but not the former.