Begin the conversation by posing this question: "Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truth, facts, reality, and one another, and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partisanship, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief, etc.? If so, how? If not, why not?
Also ask: How would you answer William James's "really vital question for us all: What is this world going to be? What is life eventually to make of itself?"
If you consult sources additional to A Little History of Philosophy, Fantasyland, and How the World Thinks, embed hyperlinks to them in your post. Have fun with the blogging platform and include non-textual content and relevant videos etc.
Your goal should be to construct a plausible conversation in which each speaker gives the best possible defense of their own views, and in which they (and you) listen and respond respectfully to one another.
When posting a video, introduce it with at least a descriptive sentence or two telling us why it's relevant.
Word-count minimum: 500 words (not including the questions), plus links, graphics, video, etc.
Alternatively, you may propose a different topic (pending my approval) so long as your essay includes multiple citations from Warburton, Andersen, and Baggini, as well as your critical evaluation of their views as you understand them and a reasoned defense of your own.
Due Oct 14 for section #12, Oct 15 for #s 10 & 11.
If you are not yet an author on our site, send me an email (phil.oliver@mtsu.edu) requesting an author invitation. I'll send you one as soon as new author slots become available.
midterm blogpost link https://cophilosophy2.blogspot.com/2020/10/midterm.html
ReplyDeletemidterm blogpost test #1
ReplyDeleteNicolas Smith
DeletePhil Oliver
PHIL 1030-010
Midterm Blogpost
A discussion of opinions
(Somewhere in the farthest broadband of time rest a station. This is a station that maintains a shape somewhere between an obelisk and a dreidel. The outer plating seems metallic, but upon further inspection maintains the biological structure of an oak bark. As we venture inside, we find something resembling a 18th century jinn bar…or perhaps a control room from an era not yet discovered. inside the lounge sits a collection of history’s most provocative minds. Freud sits alongside Aristotle, sharing a vile of some unspecified vapor. Nietzsche plays solitary, while Socrates argues with the piano player, who seems to be simultaneously wearing all of David Bowies’ fashion pieces. At the entrance to this lounge sits a sign: “Rodden berries”
( At a table sits the esteemed philosophers: Nigel Warburton, Kurt Andersen, and Julian Baggini. They are soon greeted by the definition of a voyeur. They welcome him as if they were old colleagues, even though they have never shared each other’s company—conceptually or otherwise. )
The Voyeur: Gentlemen. We have been summoned to this thread of reality to answer a question: “Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truth—
Kurt Andersen: TRUTH? YOU DARE BRING UP THE—
DeleteNigel Warburton: “Silence is a true friend who never betrays”
(Silence rushes over the table.)
The Voyeur: *ahem* -- “…facts, reality, and one another, and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partnership, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief etc.? if so how? If not, why not?”
Kurt Andersen: Well, in what reality are we talking about? The true reality or the one we are currently perceiving around us?
Julian Baggini: Oh please! Are you done?
Kurt Andersen: Not remotely! —
The voyeur: (squeamishly) Please. Let us remain on task.
Nigel Warburton: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
Kurt Andersen: Where shall we begin?
Julian Baggini: In order for us to understand the question at hand, I believe we must understand the beginning of philosophy. Let us look at Thales of militias, or the many philosophies of Confucius, or perhaps even Buddha? I believe that I have written the best example of this. If we look at my book How the World Thinks (page xiii) “these early philosophies have a profound impact on the development of distinctive cultures across the world. Their values and tenets have shaped the different way people worship, live and think about the big questions that concern us all.”
DeleteKurt Andersen: *whispers* shameless plug.
Julian Baggini: So, to answer your question—the answer is yes. As we can see from these examples, philosophy teaches and guides civilizations to be better and more…Moral. We can see their influence take root across any/every civilization they have been exposed to them!
Kurt Andersen: But how does this explain the state that America is in? It’s a fantasyland!
The voyeur: What do you mean Fantasyland?
Kurt Andersen: Haven’t you been paying attention? Look around you? The country has been turned on its head by this “anything-goes relativism” (Fantasyland pg. 5)
Julian Baggini: Oh, here we go…
Kurt Andersen: If you read my book titled Fantasyland: “what’s problematic is going overboard, letting the subjective entirely override the objective, people thinking and acting as if opinions and feelings were just as true as facts. The American experiment, the original embodiment of the great Enlightenment idea of intellectual freedom, every individual free to believe anything she wishes, has metastasized out of control.” (5)
Delete--And I think we have to hold everyone in Jules’ book responsible for what has happened to my country. It is because of this blind faith to these ancient religions that has led to our collective lack of reality!
Julian Baggini: How dare you!
(Julian and Kurt begin to scream at each other inaudibly)
Nigel Warburton: “A man living without conflicts, as if he never lives at all.”
The voyeur: Gentlemen please… Can we remain on task...?
Julian Baggini: why don’t you ask Nigel if he has an opinion on the matter?
Kurt Andersen: Ah yes, Let’s see if you can get something out of the Confucius calendar! I mean what could he have to say. He doesn’t even have a forward in his book!
Nigel Warburton: Perhaps I just don’t enjoy the sound of my own voice as much as some people…
DeleteKurt Andersen: Now he speaks! Well, dazzle us with your words than!
Nigel Warburton: It is common knowledge that Socrates was the teacher to Plato who then taught Aristotle, yes?
Julian Baggini: Of course!
Nigel Warburton: Do Socrates and Aristotle agree on every issue?
Kurt and Julian: Of course not!
Nigel Warburton: How can they be from the same school of thought then?
Kurt Andersen: I don’t understand what you are saying.
Julian Baggini: What are you getting at?
Nigel Warburton: As you can see in my book: a little history of philosophy. I reference this fact. “Socrates’ immediate impact was on those around him. Plato carried on teaching in the spirit of
Socrates after his teacher’s death. By far his most impressive pupil was Aristotle, a very different sort of thinker from either of them.” (8)
ReplyDeleteKurt Andersen: English man!
Nigel Warburton: Look around us… the answer is US. We all are philosophers—we all come from Socrates (all the ancient philosophers and their ideals) that were distilled by Plato (the classical philosophers of the renaissance unto the industrial evolution) that birthed us—the Modern Philosophers! Even though we all disagree with our fore-fathers, they have taught us through their lessons to think for ourselves—to form our own opinions! So to answer your question: does philosophy change lives? absolutely it does! It changes and grows, but the art of thinking will always be there to guide us. In any shape or any form.
The voyeur: well gentlemen, on that note…it seems my work is done.
(the voyeur stands up and proceeds out of the lounge.)
(Fade to black)
The end
Nicolas Smith
DeleteCarter Stephens-Midterm blog post
ReplyDeletehttps://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2639900473736180503/1048809608983735948
Andreais Crockett’s Midterm Blog Assignment/15Oct2020:
ReplyDeleteIt’s a great and beautiful afternoon; 14 Oct 2020, on Middle Tennessee’s campus, and I’m at one of Philosophy department’s conference rooms. Along with authors, Nigel Warburton (A little History of Philosophy), Kurt Anderson (Fantasy Land), and Julian Baggini (How the world thinks). I want to begin by stating that the reason I was awarded the opportunity to speak to them was because of an essay I wrote for a scholarship that this department was offering.
Therefore, since I had this rare occasion to speak face-to-face with these great authors I chose to ask and discuss the following:
Me: "Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truth, facts, reality, and one another, and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partisanship, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief, etc.? If so, how? If not, why not”?
Nigel Warburton: I agree that philosophy can help a person transform into a better person and thinker. Mainly because, studying philosophy properly, will help a person become a critical thinker, thus, asking the hard questions, having the difficult arguments to make positive changes, and these people will over-all become better at problem solving. They will also understand free speaking/thinking ideals. However, if not studied correctly, then the individual will be worse-off because their views won’t be transformational, and they’ll continue to be a narrow-minded thinker. So, they’ll never learn to ask or answer the right questions, because their point of views will be extremely limited, and they’ll believe whatever is cultural and the norm in their society.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=nigel+warburton&&view=detail&mid=03B1ED2504B452A6AA0F03B1ED2504B452A6AA0F&&FORM=VDRVSR
(This is a video on some of Warburton’s views of why studying/using philosophy is important and valuable in everyday life; you can watch the first 5 minutes to get some of his points)
Kurt Anderson: I too concur with Nigel’s point of views pertaining to philosophy being learned by individuals to help them respect truth, facts, reality, etc. However, I feel that most American’s don’t use philosophizing techniques daily or if ever, because most people live in a fantasy or delusional lifestyle fueled by the entrepreneurial approach by religion, social media, tv, money etc. In my book fantasy land, on page 409 I stated “Apple, one of my own brand faiths, where the acid-tripping megalomaniac Steve Jobs radiated a “reality field” that made people believe whatever he wanted them to believe”. This is what happens when individuals go away from philosophizing because you’re not thinking on your own, and again, most Americans’ have lost touch of problem solving and critically thinking on their own. So, in short, once this fantasy goes so does the nation. Meaning, everybody will have to start thinking for themselves again, and this is where most of the people in this country will break away from all the delusional thinking that has had such a negative impact on this nation, it’s society, and unity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtfSZAEQ_MI
(This is a short video on Anderson talking about American tradition of delusional thinking)
Julian Baggini: I agree to some degree that philosophy will help a person ideals and big thinking is very important. This will help them solve some of the world issues, open cultural conversations and national identity issues; however, philosophy itself won’t make these changes. It’s a collective responsibility of the world critical thinkers to come together to resolve some of these world issues. That’s why in my book ‘How the World Thinks’ on page 101 I stated “Distinctions between way- and truth-seeking, between language as guide and reference, between art and science are not neat, and there are aspects of each in all cultures. ‘Any Philosophical tradition will in some measure seek both knowledge-that and knowledge-how,’ says Ram-Prasad, “but there are differences in emphasis.”
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=julian+baggini+philosophy+views+youtube+videos&docid=608004040346176843&mid=2EE2289379673C8BFBBE2EE2289379673C8BFBBE&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
(This is a video by Baggini on how philosophy helps society)
Me: To piggy-back off of all of your responses, I believe that philosophizing does help a person become a better thinker, and normally if a person thinks before speaking, then they’ve probably learn to listen to the person(s) that they’re engaging in conversation with. This is using effective communication skills. Thus, you’ll learn to respect the person(s) ideals and you’ll probably take something positive from that conversation or debate. It’s called growth and more individuals in America need to start doing some learning/growing, because if we can’t learn to change our ideals/views, then we’re going to get to a ‘point of no return’. Now is the time to start learning how to ask those hard or taboo questions. That’s the only way to educate and change our people for the best.
Lastly, I’m not majoring in Philosophy; however, it was an honor to get the opportunity to sit-down with you all to get your perspective and answers on the questions I asked. Thank you.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was so excited to hear that this week we were diving into one of the philosophers that I find most interesting! I could not disagree with Fredrick Neche anymore than I already do, but that does not mean that I find his thought process vastly interesting. Neche idea of the “unbreech” has always been a crazy but interesting idea to me. As a fan of Superman, I was super surprised to hear about the original idea. Instead of possessing superhuman powers—the unbreech has superhuman will (if not superhuman arrogance). In class the point was brought up that neichze said that our world was not ready for the next stage of man’s ethic, he brought up the idea that one day our world now ready for the unbreech. and this raised the question in my mind—is our world now ready for the unbreech? Is the world ready for a group of universally superior people who lead the rest of us into the next stage of humanity? I would have to argue that no, we are not ready for these beings because… I don’t know if they will ever truly exist. Nietzsche wrote of these great beings with an iron grip and selfish goals, and while I do think that people like that exist, I don’t think they will ever be held to the high regard that Fredrick thought possible. I do not believe that tyranny by any human group will ever truly last forever, no matter how great they may be.
ReplyDeleteNot being a philosopher, I did not understand the amount of pressure it would place upon me to chat with some esteemed philosophers. One’s who’ve written books and spoke and studied this topic extensively through the course of their lives. I believed the ability to be out and about on a beautiful day in the fresh air would open up the mind and, as well, prevent a number of everyday distractions from occurring. No we did not go to a starbucks, yet the greenway trail early on a tuesday. It was planned to be beautiful and as it is not too early, the distraction of early morning runners and middle aged ladies power walking was kept to a minimum. We could sit and chat or walk about and enjoy the sights to refresh our minds and discuss philosophy's theoretical application to current events in the world.
ReplyDeleteMe: Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truth, facts, reality, and one another and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partisanship, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief, etc.? If so, how? If not, why not?
Baggini: Philosophy may help people live in harmony with one another if not misunderstood for uniformity. Through my travels in China, in the birthplace of Confucius, a man named Li pointed out that ideas of ‘an underlying fixed cosmic order’ or a ‘fixed transcendent, static foundation’ have been dominant in western thinking. Eastern and western thinking and tradition grew from different sides of a spectrum, hence the difference.
Warburton: The great Pyrrho once said, “No one knows anything - and even that’s not certain.”(15) He believed that the best option was to keep an open mind.life and the universe could be doubted according to sceptics and in doing so people’s open mind would make them more open to what can be and is truth, the differences between them, and the understanding that those differences do not make them bad on the bias of something so arbitrary: as is some of the issue in today’s world.
Me: So are you saying you believe scepticism would be one way to help broaden the scope of today’s world to think differently and open our eyes to all around us? Could we use it as a way to change what we have been fed through the years by the generations before us and potentially change the world for the better?
Warburton: I may not be saying everyone should be a sceptic, but it would not be a bad train of thought to consider. While Pyrrho believed that being a sceptic did not account to a long life without friends who were less sceptic he did become quite popular in his ridiculous ideologies. He believed that “We can’t completely trust the senses.” (16) Just because it walks like a duck and talks like a duck does not mean it is. Doubt everything and question everything. If you don’t commit, you will never be disappointed.
Andersen: I like your train of thought Nigel. In the opening of my book Fantasyland there is one quote I believe flows with this topic quite nicely. It says, “You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.” This quote by Daniel Patrick Moynihan really embodies issues in the world today. Everyone is going crazy about politics or the BLM movement. Anyone on social media believes that if you have offended them that you are wrong and that is most certainly not the case. This quote here feels like it fits quite well.
ReplyDeleteMe: Even though we are here to talk about philosophy, it is interesting to attribute it to current events. A lot went on while these ideas were first being experimented with and documented, but how they potentially fit with the times and current issues plaguing us today is quite interesting.
Baggini: I do truly believe that philosophy can help and be useful in society. I recently spoke about this, in particular about Brexit and democracy itself. You can watch it on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJTpmYsWQSo.
Andersen: No matter how any of us thinks, or the different schools of thought we may be from we can all agree philosophy has come a long way. We all believe it can be, in some way or another, effectively used to orchestrate potential change in the world. The ripples will always start small, but can reverberate through time as has the teachings of Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates.
Warburton: We disagree accordingly, but the world is in a state of disarray. Listen and learn, as we have, and things could look up.
Me: Well gentlemen, it has come to that witching hour. I believe what we have discussed here today will, beyond a doubt, change how I think of the world, and how I hope to teach people to learn and open their own minds to what they believe and not what the television has told them to think. I bid the adieu!
Midterm Blogpost
ReplyDeleteSection 011
I recently had the opportunity to take part in a discussion with Nigel Warburton, Kurt Andersen, Julian Baggini. The majority of our conversation centered around the question/questions "Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truth, facts, reality, and one another, and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partisanship, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief, etc.? If so, how? If not, why not?". To help the conversation run more smoothly we decided that it would be best if each of us waited our turn to speak instead of trying to talk over one another. Let's take a look at what everyone had to say.
Nigel Warburton: I think that there is of course the possibility that philosophy can help people to interact in a more civilized manner and to actually think rather than just to accept what they are told. The problem would come in when people let their personal biases affect how they view the world around them "If you are wearing rose-tinted spectacles they will colour every aspect of your visual experience. You may forget that you are wearing them, but they will still affect what you see." (LH 110). The problem with forgetting, or refusing to acknowledge, that you're wearing those tinted spectacles is that you will look at people who are different than you and their differences will stand out even even more. If you aren't careful all you'll be able to see are the differences and not the similarities between us. This is where philosophy could help, learning to listen and think in an objective manner helps you to reject those falsehoods, superstitions, and hostilities towards those who are different.
Julian Baggini: I would have to agree that the encouragement and growth of philosophy can help to influence the public in a positive way although I'm not quite as optimistic about it working as Mr. Warburton seems to be. "It is those who are partial in their dealings with others who are the real cause of all the great harms in the world" (HTW 323). You see, The problem that society faces is not the lack of access to truths, or facts, or reality, instead it is the overabundance of choices that we can make that will either benefit us or not. If a person chooses to embrace a utilitarian view then they would look past the prejudices that are easily formed against people who are part of a different religion, and instead see them for what they are, just another human being aiming to get by.
Kurt Anderson: I'm afraid I have to disagree with them. While I think that in theory yes philosophy would help to teach people to respect the truth, and each other, I seriously doubt that it ever actually Will make a difference. Philosophy is not a new subject, nor are the philosophers that go around teaching it. "Whoa, yes, I thought: exactly. America had changed in this particular, peculiar way, I realized. Until the 200s, truthiness and reality-based community wouldn't have made much sense as jokes." (FL 4) to be blunt the country has been on a decline the last few years (decades). What will prevent people from bettering themselves and those around them by taking advantage of the philosophical resources that are out there is a misguided sense of what is and what could be.
DeleteMe: Well gentlemen I must say I fall somewhere in the midst of all of your positions. The optimistic part of me believes that if people would open their eyes they might actually see what lies before them and be inspired to fix some of the mess that they've helped to create. Philosophy allows us to take a step back from the "practical world" and look at things on a more conceptual level and then we may be able to start putting those concepts into practice to improve the world around us. On the other hand my cynical/realistic side knows that people are creatures of habit. So long as something is not directly affecting us we will likely not try to change it. While there are some who would be willing to make an effort and learn to respect the truth, each other, reality, and the facts I worry that there are more that have no desire to make a change. If we were to make it the norm to reject the falsehoods, and superstitions that have become a part of everyday life and to get away from the hostilities we have toward one another for trivial reasons like race, religion, sex, and nationalities then there just might be a chance for a marked improvement in society. Truthfully that's where I'm hoping that we'll be heading during my lifetime and with a little luck we may even be able to make it there.
Cory Roberts
ReplyDeletePHIL 1030-010
Phil Oliver
Midterm post
Discussing Philosophy with modern Philosophers
Off the grid in a space that is unknown. There is a room with a coffee brown table in the middle, all across the room are historically renowned philosophers. However, who we are keeping our eyes on are the three sitting along the table and the young man discussing with them. These men are Nigel Warburton, Kurt Anderson and Julian Baggini. They are accompanied by young scholar, Cory Roberts, who has entered the room in order to analyze, instigate, and learn from holding a conversation with these men. They all greet each other and shake hands before sitting. Then the conversation begins…
Cory: Hello, Good Afternoon to all of you, I have appeared to you all in order to gain your thoughts and answers on the question, “Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truths, facts, reality, and one another, and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partnership, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief, etc.? If you do think so then explain how? If you disagree, explain why not?”
Kurt Anderson: Well in the world we live in, we have fiction mimicking truth and truth mimicking fiction. We have a dangerous overlap, a blur. So it may help one respect the truth but it depends on the truth you perceive.
Julian Baggini: Wow what a plug wh-
Kurt Anderson: As i was saying before being RUDELY interrupted, might I add that if you’re fanatical enough about enacting and enforcing your fiction, it becomes indistinguishable from nonfiction.
Nigel Warburton: Also, As soon as you start to doubt your own existence, the act of doubting proves that you exist as a thinking thing.
Cory: I could agree but-
Julian Baggini: But nothing kid, that is a great point you made Kurt, it’s valid and to answer the question I would like to say that we must first acknowledge the early stages of philosophy and ancient philosophers who laid out the foundation of what we have today. As i explained in my book How the World Thinks, “All across the West no philosophical education is complete without the study of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes and Kant.”(page 92) I also discussed that non-Western traditions are also very open to western philosophy and have been influenced by it. I went over how many early philosophies have had an impact on many cultures across the world over time.
Cory: And you feel like this means?..
DeleteJulian Baggini: Well this means that my answer is yes. We have seen that philosophy has taught and helped make a path for many countries and cultures. The influence is vast and spread across many civilizations
Kurt Anderson: Well if these ancient teachers have laid a foundation for civilizations now, then there are many things that went wrong by holding on to old ideals.
Julian Baggini: Why would you say that?
Kurt Anderson: Well how could I not, look at the state of current America, holding onto such ideas and even religious ones has caused tragedy at times. “In other words, America was founded by a nutty religious cult.” Many have a mindset and a perception that causes them to feel like whatever they feel is true, is true because that’s what they think and nothing otherwise. Anything goes. Many of those you spoke about in your book, like the ideals of Buddha, or Confucius, etc, have led to what has gone on in my country, the blind are leading the blind.
Julian Baggini: You are bold to speak such disrespect towards my writing, the audacity of you, such nonsense. What an idi-
Cory: GENTLEMEN, let’s stay on track here, Mr. Warburton, is there anything you would like to say?
Nigel Warburton: I was wondering when I would have a chance to chime in.
Kurt Anderson: Well by all means, enlighten us.
Nigel Warburton: Of course, as I wrote my book, A little history of Philosophy, I went over how the voice of Socrates lived on in the dialogues of his student Plato. Also, I stated as we know that Aristotle was the student of Plato. Though these men may have had differences here and there as great philosophers. Their thoughts gave a way to us, the modern philosophers.
Julian Baggini: Okay, what’s the point you're getting at?
Nigel Anderson: “Geniuses don’t usually emerge from nowhere. Most of them have had an inspirational teacher.”(page 10) So of course philosophy impacts and changes lives. It shapes growth and allows us to have thoughts that shape a path and guide one-another.
Kurt Anderson and Julian Baggini: We see what you mean.
Cory Roberts: Very well said Nigel, I appreciate you all for answering and allowing my work to be finished, Have a nice day.
The END.
James Robinson
ReplyDeleteSection 10
Mid-term question
14 October 2020
A cool October breeze rolls by outside the doors of the James E. Walker Library. The temperature is perfect. A few leaves blow by as I stroll in to work on my philosophy midterm. As When I make it to the Buchanan reading room, I see them Julian Baggini, Kurt Anderson and Nigel Warburton. I hesitate to step inside, but am greeted with three smiles. I introduce myself “ Hello gentlemen I'm James, nice to meet you.”
I start by asking “Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truth, facts, reality, and one another, and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partisanship, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief, etc? Nigel Warburton responds first, saying “philosophy can only help these people if they engage with it, a bystander to philosophy does not get nearly as much from it as someone who freely and openly engages in it.” For example Hannah Arendt he said “She was interested in coming face to face with a product of the Nazi totalitarian state, to understand this man, get a sense of what he was like; and how he could have done such terrible things.”(LH 127) “So you’re saying her involvement in philosophy helped her and the people she influenced grow?” “Exactly” he responded. Baggini spoke up next saying “Some idea of oneness or unity is found in many great philosophical traditions. the major schools of Indian philosophy, assert a basic oneness of all being. That our individual selves are part of the universal self, the ‘One’:” (HWT 117) “So yes, philosophy can help with polarization and divisiveness. However it must happen through peaceful conversation and mutual action.” Kurt Anderson responded last with “philosophy means nothing without rational thought. Philosophy must take everything into account not just one world view or belief.” Like I said in my book. The American experiment, the original embodiment of the great Enlightenment idea of intellectual freedom, every individual free to believe anything she wishes, has metastasized out of control.(FL8)
“Well said everyone, this brings me to my next question.” “What is this world going to be? What is life eventually to make of itself?" Anderson decides to answer this first by saying “Whatever we all agree it to be. Life will continue to make life.” “like forks in the road, politics lead us to what the world is going to be “This book has traced the route that our country has taken to arrive at this latest version of itself. Now we can see how each fork in the road tended us toward the next, and the next, and then the next. (FL 344)”
Baggini was next to respond saying “As cultures grow closer the decisions they make will shape how the world is. It is up to our decisions to decide what life will make of itself. Each culture can learn something from the other” mentioning his book he says “The deep connection between individuals and groups in East Asia has a consequence that many Westerners find puzzling: the way families and communities share responsibility for wrongdoings and failures of their members. This is not simply a feeling of shame, for which the person bringing the shame is blamed. Rather, a deeper sense of really sharing responsibility.”(HWT 145)
Warbuton responds last with “ The world will be filled with philosophers all sharing and sharpening their ideas. In their own way everyone is a philosopher. Even with their differences at the end of the day they could respect other opinions.” Berkeley is an example of a philosopher who was prepared to follow an argument wherever it went, even when it seemed to lead to conclusions that defied common sense. Voltaire, in contrast, had little time for this kind of thinker, or, indeed, for most philosophers.”
I reviewed my notes one last time before leaving them. I thank them for their time and ride off into the October sunset.
I thought I would include a video on what stuck most with me Pascals wager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F_LUFIeUk0
when I went to submit my midterm I realized there is a character limit the extra 11 minutes were from tweaking it to size
ReplyDelete