Summary by Matthew(Section 16-1)
Our group began with the definition of Philosophy by internet's definition of Philosophy which is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. Then we went into how philosophy is thinking and that we do it every day. There for we are all philosophers. I asked the group if there is a difference between the brain and the mind? We each thought that the mind is separate from the brain in that the brain is organic part of the physical body where as the mind has thought of as being an immaterial entity and not made of matter at all.
After the five minutes were up we started discussing how philosophy can never really be proven. Then Alex from another came over and discussed what his group thought philosophy was. He said that the group he was in though that the term philosophy was vague term. We started to contemplate if animals can look up at the stars and wonder where they came from. This lead us to see philosophy as being critical thinking of a subject. Also we saw that philosophy is a view of different views so everyone is right and wrong.This got us discussing what is right and what is wrong, and is there a difference between what is morally right and factionally right.
The group came up with the scenario of if you were conductor of a train and the breaks on the train stopped working but you still had control of the steering wheel; and in front of the train is five workers that will be killed but you could turn the train onto a separate rail and only kill one person. Which would you choose? We thought if you let the tracks act on its own with no interference by you then you have no intent on killing anyone.
We finished by discussing the television show Dexter and whether what he is doing is wrong or right. The main character of the show is serial killer who only murders other murderers/ serial killers. On one hand he taking out people who are a threat to society and individuals. On the other hand he is killing people which some people consider to be morally wrong. The group was great and had great topics to discuss as well as everyone participating and giving there opinion on the subject. So in conclusion philosophy is us, our ideas, perception, and morals of everything that we experience in our individual life.
Video response to the general theme of all the posts:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWHVbhUv-vc
Excellent points brought up! As far as the morals argument (Dexter, train worker), because philosophy doesn't deal heavily in facts, can both sides of the argument be true? Can it be moral, yet at the same time not moral for a serial murderer to kill criminals?
ReplyDeleteAs far as the brain/mind, I agree and would also like to bring up the question of the human soul. While the soul can't be quantified, can we determine it to be a part of human existence?
Even though I still don't see how Dexter was brought up, I enjoyed all of our jumping around. We were able to dive into so many points. My favorite was tying Philosophy into daily activities that we wouldn't tend to think of having any relation to the subject of Philosophy. I am excited for future discussions with our group, because I believe everyone brought up execellent points and had quite a bit to add.
ReplyDeleteTo me there is a distinct difference between morals and philosophy. Philosophy decides the situations you put yourself into and your morals are what you do in those situations. Like Linton said philosophy doesnt really deal in facts it deals more in hypothetical questions whose "answers" are found in morals.
ReplyDeletePhilosophy, after reading Aristotle's view on true happiness, is the most helpful way of realizing, or understanding, what makes us as individuals happy. Not just speaking for a moment's notice either. According to Aristotle, true happiness is consists more of the effects of the overall achievements or outcomes that result over a long term effort, at least that's what I got out of it. He also said luck has a lot to do with truely being happy, but I believe most people have the ability, or means, to create their own luck, or at least provide better opportunity for good luck, in hopes of having happiness.
ReplyDelete~Section 16 Group 3
I am in group 4 and missed this discussion but I am very big fan of Dexter and have decided that the show is about "doing the right thing" ... I don't know what that will make anyone think about me but there is it.
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