How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
- Rockturnal
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Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
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Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
- Altruist
- Posts: 14
- Joined: July 13th, 2012, 2:13 pm
Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
This is something worth rereading. This will for sure be in my bookmark list. Like the program Luminosity to help with my memory skills I'll read this once a day as well.
- BaruchSpinoza
- Posts: 158
- Joined: July 19th, 2012, 7:19 am
Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
The only thing I would add is, make an effort to define your terms.
Often philosophical discussion can descend into trivial word games in which combatants are in exact agreement with the state of the topic or the issue discussed and the only difference was the fact that they were simply using a particular word differently.
Or the argument turns out to be little more than a tautology once the the definitional cards are on the table.
For example the ideas behind reason, purpose or function can have multiple meanings. It can be useful to consult the canon. Aristotle is very good on this issue with his 4 causes, and talking about his ideas can be an end in themselves - sorry for the pun.
- TheAutocrat
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- Favorite Philosopher: Friedrich Nietzsche
- Location: Glasgow
Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
- A Helical Vim
- Posts: 97
- Joined: August 4th, 2012, 12:49 pm
- Favorite Philosopher: Machiavelli
Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
I wonder how long people actually take to create their posts. Do they rattle their ideas off very quickly with only the briefest of spell checks? Someone from the community please let me know!BaruchSpinoza wrote:Some good advice here.
The only thing I would add is, make an effort to define your terms.
Often philosophical discussion can descend into trivial word games in which combatants are in exact agreement with the state of the topic or the issue discussed and the only difference was the fact that they were simply using a particular word differently.
Or the argument turns out to be little more than a tautology once the the definitional cards are on the table.
For example the ideas behind reason, purpose or function can have multiple meanings. It can be useful to consult the canon. Aristotle is very good on this issue with his 4 causes, and talking about his ideas can be an end in themselves - sorry for the pun.
- 3uGH7D4MLj
- Posts: 934
- Joined: January 4th, 2013, 3:39 pm
Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
There is often a subtext to a post. No matter the subject, the subtext is "I'm smart, you're stupid." Sometimes the subtext is very subtle, but it still irritates. If we can scan our posts before posting and eliminate this subtext it will help a lot.
To the person who said that we should prepare and learn the terms and concepts, I would say ok, to a point. There are many of us who haven't read the books, don't know the philosophical definitions of the words, and aren't likely to learn them before posting here. Please bear with us and help us learn the lingo.
"What do you mean by that?" is a very useful question. It means that I'm reading closely and want to understand more. I think it's a great question and I don't mean it in any threatening way.
A discussion like this is a team sport and we're all on the same team. If we help each other to understand and grow, the discussions may get better. We can hope.
- Toadny
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Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
Speak for yourself.3uGH7D4MLj wrote:No matter the subject, the subtext is "I'm smart, you're stupid."
- 3uGH7D4MLj
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Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
Yeah, absolutely. good one.Toadny wrote:
Speak for yourself.
- Zer0
- New Trial Member
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- Joined: February 13th, 2013, 1:25 am
Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
You'll gain more with a 10 min philosophical conversation every other day w/ someone than spending that amount of time in one.
Changing Minds by I forget William Gardner perhaps is a good book.... main thing I took away was that changing minds is a slow process, and I find that to be true. Although we do at times feel like we have Eureka moments of insight really those moments are the result of thoughts that were building up and digesting in our mind for a while.
The natural response from any and everyone tends to be to disagree and get defensive playing either the devils advocate or being vehemently opposed if it is something we disagree w/. But regardless of how much people disagree they do take counter arguments presented to them into consideration it just takes time to contemplate w/ other ideas. The same is true of all of us we grow and gain from insights from each other but its not an immediate process.
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Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
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- Premium Member
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Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
I often take a long time to sort out my thoughts and getting them into language that makes sense helps me to have the ideas and even to recognise what I believe. I edit my posts because I think of something when I am doing something else. I am sometimes careless about typos and spelling .I wonder how long people actually take to create their posts. Do they rattle their ideas off very quickly with only the briefest of spell checks? Someone from the community please let me know!
- Rayliikanen
- Posts: 136
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- Location: British Columbia
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Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
- HIHIHIHIHI
- Posts: 192
- Joined: May 22nd, 2013, 2:42 pm
Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
Thanks for demonstrating why you need God in your life. That makes it much easier for me to understand the actual reason behind your theistic practices. I was correct to attack you personally with all due criticism. This was surely a personal confliction you have, and it only bleeds into your philosophy; philosophy is something I love dearly, thus creating a personal conflict in me, between us. Your need to take the spotlight in these discussions shows that you need to show something of yourself, but the details behind your need for attention elude me at the moment, but I'm sure if you stay, I'll soon figure that out as well.Rayliikanen wrote: I don't believe in self abuse, any more than I believe in abusing others.
If you think you know me, then you probably know me.
- Rayliikanen
- Posts: 136
- Joined: May 22nd, 2013, 10:31 pm
- Favorite Philosopher: Socrates
- Location: British Columbia
- Contact:
Re: How To Have Productive Philosophical Conversations
You're misinterpreting me. I do not need God in my life. I simply believe there is such a Being/Mind who is also the creator of this universe. This is not a need, it is a recognition. Atheists/agnostics are always pegging theists wrong with this opinion that theists need God in their lives. To pigeon hole/label theists in this way puts an end to arguments and nullifies philosophical discussion on such issues. Other people are not always that easy to figure out. People say things that they might change their minds about at a future time, or they might oppose one thing now and see the sense in it later. Human beings are complex. I don't presume to know you, or what's behind your philosophy, so why should you be so presumptuous as to think that you'll be able to figure me out? My wife hasn't even succeeded in doing that yet, but she knows me better than anyone else. I do not agree with many of the philosophers I read, but I attempt to study and read what they have to offer as both a mental challenge for me and to gain some insights that I never had before. I try and look at things from a positive perspective, and I suspect you do as well. You're wrong about me wanting to take the spotlight. This is a philosophy forum and I post things to it because philosophy is a world of ideas and I think this world is more entertaining and constructive than wasting time watching television. So I appreciate your love of philosophy. This is one thing we can both agree on I'm sure. I hope you continue with this pursuit of philosophy, but have you heard what Kierkegaard said: "If you label me you negate me." When people think they've figured other people out, have they truly figured them out? Or have they just succeeded in negating them?
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