Up@dawn 2.0

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Plato's Beard (16-2)

In class today we covered 'thousands' of people. In discussion, we mostly found pragmatism and the many truths mentality to be quite silly. There is generally one truth, and just because people could believe something is real and others do not, does not mean both are right. Most likely one of them is wrong and the other is right, but who are we to judge or care about the peace of mind of others.

Check out this really cool video explaining Neitzsche to children.


DQ) What are your thoughts on Chomsky and his stance on 'conspiracies'?
FQ) Which philosopher is credited as the beginning of pragmatism? (Peirce)

11 comments:

  1. I can't let this one go. There is not "one truth," though arguably there is one elusive reality giving rise to MANY provisional truths. The underlying reality of whether there is or isn't a God , for instance, is (to date) not conclusively resolved. Until it is, different people will continue to draw different conclusions. Since we don't know how to settle the question once for all, the pragmatic proposal is that we look to "fruits," consequences, and practical results in the lives of different individuals who hold those different beliefs. Granted, the view is controversial. But it's not simply "silly."

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  2. Austin Duke9:43 PM CST

    (16-1) I think this conversation requires a definition of truth and how truth is not the same as reality. And it seems to me that when it comes to God or any kind of god, there can only be one truth. Either a god exists or a god does not exist and if there is a god of some kind, one of the religions is right and all the others are wrong. Although it has not yet been proven which of these is correct, it doesn't alter the truth value.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0KQWTBljjg&hd=1

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    Replies
    1. Chelsea 16-112:15 PM CST

      I think that there are many sides to one thing and that is isn't just true or false. There are different aspects to consider even when analyzing one sentence.

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  3. Austin Duke9:45 PM CST

    By the way, that is a link to a Johnny Cash song called "What is Truth?"

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  4. Ha,I agree with James. Whether or not you have an opinion on a subject, they is still a yes or no answer to if God is real or not. It doesn't matter how you look at it. Perhaps, maybe talking about this subject is meaningless or at least it was to Alfred Ayer.

    FQ: Who discovered a verification principle? (Alfred Ayer)
    DQ: Is there really a point in talking about things that we cannot prove? Why spend so much time and effort to achieve nothing? Or is it because we do achieve something?

    link: talks about how science can answer questions on values and morals
    http://www.ted.com/talks/sam_harris_science_can_show_what_s_right.html

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  5. I have to say that I tend to agree with Mr. Oliver in that there are many supposed "truths" and we must decide the merit of each belief via our own reasoning.
    FQ: What was Bertrand Russell's method of explaining how what we say relates to what exists called? (Theory of Descriptions)
    DQ: Russell questioned the structure of our reasoning.believing too much contradiction was taking place. If our logic is flawed, how would we go about trying to fix it?
    Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNs2_JQvtJA

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  6. Pragmatism is useful for justifying one's actions, but I still believe it to be a silly and illogical cop-out. The very idea that, for example, Islam claims it is right and all others are wrong, but pragmatism says all people can be right. So pragmatists say 1) they are right and 2) Muslims are right in telling them they are wrong. I can't get my head around that.

    FQ: What theory did Ramsay come up with? (Success Semantics)
    DQ: Is a phrase meaningless if it is not verifiable or true by definition?
    Here is a good visual of A. J. Ayer's positivism.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=nzBoW7yQpr8

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  7. Michael (16-2)12:01 PM CST

    FQ: How old was Alfred Jules Ayer when he wrote Language, Truth, and Logic (LTL)?
    (24)
    DQ: Do you agree with Ayer's philosophy on perception
    http://youtu.be/DMlXmLbGKJY

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  8. Taylore (16-2)12:07 PM CST

    I agree with the idea of not being concerned about others peace of mind. It believing that your right brings them comfort then so be it. I feel that it's really not my problem!
    FQ: ______ is the special category of people who think that all talk of God existing or not existing is complete nonsense?
    DQ: Would you consider Ayers position on the conversation of God to be parallel to that of Nietzche?
    Link:Summary of Ayer
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSleS1g6dsE

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  9. Courtney 16-312:17 PM CST

    Professor Oliver's comment about multiple truths is really interesting. I think many people, including myself, need to work on seeing other possible truths daily.

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  10. Anonymous12:53 PM CST

    Anthony Helton 16-3
    There is no one truth but is there a dominant truth?

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