A collaborative search for wisdom, at Middle Tennessee State University and beyond...
"The pluralistic form takes for me a stronger hold on reality than any other philosophy I know of, being essentially a social philosophy, a philosophy of 'co'"-William James
During Thursday's class we did not have any philosophical discussions. We did, however, learn more about Karl Marx and Marxism during the one of the class presentations.
Dustin Chitwood FQ: What year did Pascal invent a mechanical calculating machine?-1642 DQ: What is your view on the mind/body problem, and are you a dualist or physicalist? Link: http://www.informationphilosopher.com/problems/mind_body/ This link highlights points about the mind/body problem and the two viewpoints about the problem.
FQ: Pascal had these skills/traits/professions in addition to being a philosopher: scientist, inventor, & _______________.
DQ: Has anybody ever tried to proselytize you with a type of Pascal’s wager?
Pascal’s wager applied to climate change economically http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-30/climate-change-plan-poses-pascal-s-wager-as-both-sides-oversell.html
For my commentary, I’ll answer my own DQ. Yes, I’ve had someone try to convert me to a religion (Christianity) by using some form of Pascal’s wager. Once upon a time, in the year twenty ot’ seven, my unit’s First Sergeant and I were discussing religion in almost a drive-by fashion. This was normal, I’m an admitted atheist, he was a man of deep faith, though it never came across in the performance of his duties. He would always tease me about converting; I would make jokes like “there is as much chance of me converting to Islam as there is Christianity.” Then one day, he dropped the tone of banter we had and looked at me to say “if you’re wrong, you’re going to be very wrong on this. Do you think it’s worth the chance?”
I was a bit stunned. Here was an actual pitch for converting me to Christianity, with the implied notion that if there is a heaven and hell as Christianity defines it, I should take the safe bet like Pascal offered (though I didn’t know Pascal yet). And it came from a guy who had a significant level of influence over my job since he was the senior non-commissioned officer in the unit.
I wasn’t offended, because I felt he was being genuine in his belief, and said what he did out of a sincere place of what I would call good. He honestly wanted to “save my soul” as his religion preached he should do. He wasn’t condescending, or forceful about it, but he was genuine. It was the only time he made such a direct pitch, but it gave me a new perspective since instead of an abstract theory (strangers trying to convert non-believers) I now had first-hand experience with someone I interacted with almost daily in my work. To put it another way: this wasn’t a Jehovah’s Witness at my door before suppertime.
I never considered, even for a moment, changing my beliefs, but I did gain a new respect and understanding for his as it dawned on me.
Dustin Chitwood
ReplyDeleteFQ:
What year did Pascal invent a mechanical calculating machine?-1642
DQ:
What is your view on the mind/body problem, and are you a dualist or physicalist?
Link:
http://www.informationphilosopher.com/problems/mind_body/
This link highlights points about the mind/body problem and the two viewpoints about the problem.
FQ:
ReplyDeleteWhat is Pascal's best known book?
DQ:
Are you a physicalist or a dualist? Why?
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DOp_SIqbc4
FQ: Pascal had these skills/traits/professions in addition to being a philosopher: scientist, inventor, & _______________.
ReplyDeleteDQ: Has anybody ever tried to proselytize you with a type of Pascal’s wager?
Pascal’s wager applied to climate change economically
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-30/climate-change-plan-poses-pascal-s-wager-as-both-sides-oversell.html
For my commentary, I’ll answer my own DQ. Yes, I’ve had someone try to convert me to a religion (Christianity) by using some form of Pascal’s wager. Once upon a time, in the year twenty ot’ seven, my unit’s First Sergeant and I were discussing religion in almost a drive-by fashion. This was normal, I’m an admitted atheist, he was a man of deep faith, though it never came across in the performance of his duties. He would always tease me about converting; I would make jokes like “there is as much chance of me converting to Islam as there is Christianity.” Then one day, he dropped the tone of banter we had and looked at me to say “if you’re wrong, you’re going to be very wrong on this. Do you think it’s worth the chance?”
I was a bit stunned. Here was an actual pitch for converting me to Christianity, with the implied notion that if there is a heaven and hell as Christianity defines it, I should take the safe bet like Pascal offered (though I didn’t know Pascal yet). And it came from a guy who had a significant level of influence over my job since he was the senior non-commissioned officer in the unit.
I wasn’t offended, because I felt he was being genuine in his belief, and said what he did out of a sincere place of what I would call good. He honestly wanted to “save my soul” as his religion preached he should do. He wasn’t condescending, or forceful about it, but he was genuine. It was the only time he made such a direct pitch, but it gave me a new perspective since instead of an abstract theory (strangers trying to convert non-believers) I now had first-hand experience with someone I interacted with almost daily in my work. To put it another way: this wasn’t a Jehovah’s Witness at my door before suppertime.
I never considered, even for a moment, changing my beliefs, but I did gain a new respect and understanding for his as it dawned on me.
-Billy
Pascal converted to Jansenism after he began writing about religion. What was he before he converted?
ReplyDeleteDo you think it's okay to sit on the fence about belief in God? Do you think you should have a firm belief one way or the other?
http://www.iep.utm.edu/pasc-wag/