Take advice from all people

Use this philosophy forum to discuss and debate general philosophy topics that don't fit into one of the other categories.

This forum is NOT for factual, informational or scientific questions about philosophy (e.g. "What year was Socrates born?"). Those kind of questions can be asked in the off-topic section.
Post Reply
gad-fly
Posts: 1133
Joined: October 23rd, 2019, 4:48 pm

Take advice from all people

Post by gad-fly »

Why do you take advice? Because you want to learn opinion different from what you have pre-conceived. It helps you to see from a different angle, from what is difficult for you to see when you are standing alone.

Why not just take advise from the wise? Because you may take someone as wise, but you can never be sure he is wise. Besides, even not a wise-guy, he may fool you for being so stupid. Even if not, you can never be sure his advice is always wise, even if he is genuine. You can, of course, become a fan of his, but then you would have to humble yourself unconditionally. You may be worshipping him.

Taking advice is different from following advice. This is apparent, since advices can be diverse and contrary. if so, why bother? Why not draw a lot? Because you have a brain. You can distinguish the difference, to make up your mind. First of all, keep an open mind. Nothing is more important. Next, take advice from all people. Third, let those advices compete and fight among themselves in your mind. Which advice wins, you are the winner in the end. You are wise.

I am not about to offend anyone, but I think the selective choice of taking advice only from the smart or wise is arrogant, stupid, wrong, and discriminating. Only a fool would choose to listen to what he chooses to be wise.

I can recall an old Chinese saying, which goes something like: The suggestion from three ignorant common folks is better than that from someone like Confucius. Don't agree? Let me listen from you, whoever you are.
EricPH
Posts: 449
Joined: October 22nd, 2021, 11:26 am

Re: Take advice from all people

Post by EricPH »

I learned everything I need to know about gambling from my uncle. He probably lost over a £million in his life time, he lost his business, a huge house and his wife, he died a pauper. He taught me it is dangerous to Win, it gives a false sense of hope.
I learned everything I need to know about alcohol from my dad, he died an alcoholic. He taught me the power of addiction.
I learned about the power to forgive, from a lady who made me incredibly angry for several months. I learned more about forgiveness, when on two occasions I met someone who was in the process of ending their life. Injustice and anger had led them to the point of despair.
My twelve year old grand daughter has given me sound advice.

It is far easier giving advice, because we don't have to act on it. All the advice is out there for most things. The problem is whether or how we choose to act on it.
The suggestion from three ignorant common folks is better than that from someone like Confucius.
If the suggestions from three ignorant people are still around in a thousand years, then I would agree with you. I believe some of the sayings of Confucius are profound and they have stood the test of time.
Moreno
Posts: 150
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm

Re: Take advice from all people

Post by Moreno »

gad-fly wrote: December 15th, 2022, 12:20 am I am not about to offend anyone, but I think the selective choice of taking advice only from the smart or wise is arrogant, stupid, wrong, and discriminating. Only a fool would choose to listen to what he chooses to be wise.
It's true that a fool may well pick idiots to be their experts.
But for others they notice, for example, that certain people can play golf well. So, they approach these people for tips and not the people who are terrible at it. That increases, I think, the chances that they will get good tips. Even over three random people.
If I know someone has training in fixing Mercedes, again, I will be more likely to choose them for advice over three random people.
If I see someone with qualities of character, personality that I would like, I will be much more likely to ask them about how their acquired these or how they manage to exhibit these, rather than asking ten random people who haven't struck me in any way at all.

There are no guarantees, but I think there are many excellent heuristics for choosing who to listen to and consider wise.
Just because some people have terrible heuristics, doesn't mean I should give up mine.
gad-fly
Posts: 1133
Joined: October 23rd, 2019, 4:48 pm

Re: Take advice from all people

Post by gad-fly »

The Chinese saying should be like: The prediction of three ignorant common folks is more valid than one from some Nostradamus. The saying is metaphorical, not to be taken literally. How can the saying hold? Because common folks have commonsense, which is usually valid.
Moreno
Posts: 150
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm

Re: Take advice from all people

Post by Moreno »

gad-fly wrote: December 15th, 2022, 12:20 am Why not just take advise from the wise? Because you may take someone as wise, but you can never be sure he is wise.
Andther way to come at this is to ask if you would go to a doctor if you found a lump in your armpit or would you ask three random people?
And I should make it clear...I treat doctors less like deities than most people. But generallly if I go against a doctor, someone else who I consider an expert has supported my difference with the doctor. And then, of course, we are experts in some ways, those paying attention, to our own bodies and the bodies of those we live with. I consider doctors and relevant professionals and myself to be vastly more expert regarding my health than three randoms strangers. On average, that is.
gad-fly
Posts: 1133
Joined: October 23rd, 2019, 4:48 pm

Re: Take advice from all people

Post by gad-fly »

Moreno wrote: December 15th, 2022, 1:15 pm
gad-fly wrote: December 15th, 2022, 12:20 am Why not just take advise from the wise? Because you may take someone as wise, but you can never be sure he is wise.
Andther way to come at this is to ask if you would go to a doctor if you found a lump in your armpit or would you ask three random people?
And I should make it clear...I treat doctors less like deities than most people. But generallly if I go against a doctor, someone else who I consider an expert has supported my difference with the doctor. And then, of course, we are experts in some ways, those paying attention, to our own bodies and the bodies of those we live with. I consider doctors and relevant professionals and myself to be vastly more expert regarding my health than three randoms strangers. On average, that is.
You have missed my point that "Taking advice is different from following advice . . ." On medical opinion, it goes without saying that you should value more that of doctor's, but you may also distrust doctor's recommendation, depending on the circumstances. Should you also take the advice of your neighbor who has undergone the same experience, and in the process wait a bit. What if your neighbor has died? No, he can no longer advise you, but his death should serve as an advice.

In this respect, you should take advice from failure as well from successful stories, from the smart, the stupid, the careless, the prudent, and what not. Want to be happy? Take advice both from the happy and the miserable.
Moreno
Posts: 150
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 7:23 pm

Re: Take advice from all people

Post by Moreno »

gad-fly wrote: December 15th, 2022, 2:38 pm You have missed my point that "Taking advice is different from following advice . . ." On medical opinion, it goes without saying that you should value more that of doctor's, but you may also distrust doctor's recommendation, depending on the circumstances.
Which, as I said, I do. I really do think I got your point, but disagree. What you just said would apply even more to three random people.
Should you also take the advice of your neighbor who has undergone the same experience, and in the process wait a bit. What if your neighbor has died? No, he can no longer advise you, but his death should serve as an advice.

In this respect, you should take advice from failure as well from successful stories, from the smart, the stupid, the careless, the prudent, and what not. Want to be happy? Take advice both from the happy and the miserable.
Sure, noting failures works fine, if one has time. If I am dealing with cancer I may not have the luxury of waiting to see if my neighbor passes the 5 year mark.

And note, even here, the neighbor who has cancer has certainly qualities that random people likely do not: he is willing to share his advice AND he has cancer. So, in this way he is not random and has some kind of expertise compared to someone with no expertise and who has never had cancer. So, his opinion would weigh more than some other amateur advice giver, though this does not mean remotely that I automatically follow the advice.

Nothing you've said here contradicts what I said. I simply said I value some people's advice more that others, given my own assessment of their training experience wisdom and more.

And again, yes some/many people may choose their experts unwisely, but that does not mean that I do. Some people know more about various facets of life and one can whittle down the sources of one's advice effectively.
User avatar
byetata276
New Trial Member
Posts: 1
Joined: December 28th, 2022, 2:09 am

Re: Take advice from all people

Post by byetata276 »

She's basically saying that at birth all she was, was potential. Now, as an adult, that potential has taken form into a person with beliefs and values, but in realising that end state the potential was lost. Now she can't be anything, she is what she is.
User avatar
Newme
Posts: 1401
Joined: December 13th, 2011, 1:21 am

Re: Take advice from all people

Post by Newme »

Makes sense to not be prejudice where truth is found.
“Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.” - Epicurus
Post Reply

Return to “General Philosophy”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021