'Skeptics': Those without Answers.
- Carbon
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I've been an extreme skeptic for the past three years of my life. I haven't accepted anything that anyone said to me. Most of the time I find some way to disagree with people even if I don't really care what they're saying. It's a problem that I'm trying to fix, actually. For me, it's way easier to be skeptical.nameless wrote:Easier to be skeptical? Hahahaha, try it sometime, get some stretch-marks on your brain and then tell us how easy critical thought is. Learn it and try it first, then tell us..
Peace
I'm sure, as this is a philosophy forum, the vast majority, if not all, of the users are well aware of what criticism is.
He said there is one true skeptic, and that the majority are not proper skeptics. He's not ranting, he's saying that only one person knows what they're doing. His complaint is that the others do not.nameless wrote:You rant about 'skeptics' (in general) and finally admitted that your data set is just one person, here. Perhaps you might do a little research into what, exactly is skepticism/zeteticism. Your emotional 'rant' showed that you really do not know.Abiathar wrote:Again, I do not mean everyone, I know a few true skeptics... well, one on these boards thus far.
The content of your post indicates further, that it is obviously easier not to engage in critical thought, due to the many cognitive flaws in the 'reasoning' displayed in your OP.
Then there is no truth.nameless wrote:One needn't 'contribute' anything but the razor. Slice away the lies and only truth can remain.
Truth can't be 'created', merely exposed. Capisce'?
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So, you are telling me that it is easier to be who you naturally are? Makes sense to me...Carbon wrote:I've been an extreme skeptic for the past three years of my life. I haven't accepted anything that anyone said to me. Most of the time I find some way to disagree with people even if I don't really care what they're saying. It's a problem that I'm trying to fix, actually. For me, it's way easier to be skeptical.nameless wrote:Easier to be skeptical? Hahahaha, try it sometime, get some stretch-marks on your brain and then tell us how easy critical thought is. Learn it and try it first, then tell us..
Peace
Perhaps, but that is not what i was saying. I'm not speaking of criticism, but critical thought. There can be quite a difference.I'm sure, as this is a philosophy forum, the vast majority, if not all, of the users are well aware of what criticism is.
Ahhh, these old eyes missed the "true" in his quote, the "true" one here. Thank you for kindly pointing that out to me.He said there is one true skeptic, and that the majority are not proper skeptics. He's not ranting, he's saying that only one person knows what they're doing. His complaint is that the others do not.
There is no Toledo!Then there is no truth.nameless wrote:One needn't 'contribute' anything but the razor. Slice away the lies and only truth can remain.
Truth can't be 'created', merely exposed. Capisce'?
(if there is no truth, there can be no lies and we all know that if there can be no truth, then the following sentence; "There is no truth" must therefore be a lie, yet there can be no lies without truth...)
"In Silentium, Verum" - Bood of Fudd
("In Silence, Truth")
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No i disagree. If all we had in terms of philosophy were David Humes (the empiricists and Skeptics) then there would be no theories to criticise in the first place. All we would have would be philosophy that persues the objective, like the Verification Principle of the Vienna Circle. (there's a good source of information on Verificationism on wikipedia, if you're interested)nameless wrote:One needn't 'contribute' anything but the razor. Slice away the lies and only truth can remain.La Nausée wrote:I'm new too, so i'm in the same boat. I think you're right in some ways Carbon, it is easier to a skeptic, becuase instead of being the one who creates a theory or philosophical idea, you can be the one to criticise them, without being open to much criticism yourself.
David Hume springs to mind. He pointed out the flaws in so many mainly theistic thinkers' philosophies, but never really contributed
Truth can't be 'created', merely exposed. Capisce'?
By creating a philosophy or idea, I mean people like Nietzsche, or Kierkegaard - People contribute in a 'positive' sense rather than a 'negative' sense (i.e. offering a critique on somebody's work, like Hume often did)
Do not misconstrue my statement, and think that I mean 'negative' contribution is bad. I mean that it isn't introducing a new theory, but more, pointing out the flaws in other theories.
Carbon's response to what nameless said is interesting. Because, if all people ever use in philosophy is the 'razor' as nameless puts it, then there would be no truth to expose - People would be focussing on the lies instead of the truth all the time. In my opinion, there isn't any such thing as truth in philosophy. I'm not sure if anyone is dogmatic enough to suggest that they have the answers that others don't - All we have is subjectivity.
- Carbon
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I am saying that it is harder to build a philosophy than it is to critique one. Given, proper criticism is more difficult than blindly hacking away at something. Nonetheless, creating a thought is more difficult than using the "razor". How can it be harder to critique? When you catch something you find illogical or uncertain, you make note of it. Doesn't everyone naturally do that? On the other hand, it takes a lot more effort to put a theory together. That takes initiative and creativity.nameless wrote:So, you are telling me that it is easier to be who you naturally are? Makes sense to me...
The only thing you have actually posted to refute what I'm saying is that people naturally accept what they are told, and that that is easier. But accepting a philosophy is not building one. From the beginning, as far as I can recall, I said that building a philosophy is more difficult than being skeptical about it.
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Perspective...
There has to be 'destruction' for there to be 'construction'.
There has to be construction for there to be destruction.
The arising of the one is the simultaneous arising of the other.
Critical thought is critical thought, whether formulating something or criticizing (logically and scientifically) something. Both are examined 'critically'.From the beginning, as far as I can recall, I said that building a philosophy is more difficult than being skeptical about it.
Later..
Peace
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can you give us an example of a critique of any philosophical theory, or philosopher that is longer or more detailed than the original work that was written? i.e. can you find a critique of Nietzschean philosophy that is more detailed than his entire works? (thus spoke zarathustra, the gay times, beyond good and evil etc ect.) this is a random example, but you get my drift...
im guessing that you will not, because as it has been said, the skills, time, creativity, and initiative required to construct a school of philosophical thought are far greater than those required to find fault with them.
- Abiathar
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Skeptics - those without answers
To question, to doubt, to tempt yourself, to creep into that dark, scary place within your mind where you have no idea where you are going or where you will be lead. This requires more energy, more love of truth, more faith. Like Indiana Jones in that cave stepping into the abyss, sensing that there was more there than he could see, that would eventually lead him to the other side.
To be a skeptic, means to break down your beliefs, to doubt them, to question them, to agonize over them. To be a skeptic is to stand between "Being there" and "having never arrived", between "Liberation and Slavery".
But is there any other way from here to there?
Good luck
- LogicReasonEvidence
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Re: 'Skeptics': Those without Answers.
A theory is true until disproven with empyrical data. If you fail to provide empyrical data, your skeptism is basically moot and simply for show.
Seriously? All theories true are they? So if I have a theory that the Loch Ness Monster is a dinosaur which still survives in the 21st century my theory is correct yes?
Come on! All claims lacking independently verifiable evidence are highly questionable & the more miraculous the claim the more unlikely it is. It's clearly the claimant's job to provide evidence for their claim not that of someone who says 'I don't believe you.' If you disagree is it therefore your job to somehow disprove my Loch Ness Monster claim & not mine? - Get real!
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
- Sy Borg
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Re: 'Skeptics': Those without Answers.
Muslims are usually skeptical about the claims of Christianity and Buddhism.
Buddhists are usually skeptical about the claims of Christianity and Islam.
Atheists are skeptical of claims made by all religions.
We are all skeptical of things that don't accord with our ideas about reality.
There is often a misunderstanding about what science is. It's just a method - observation and verification. We all engage in science - if we don't then we don't survive.
When it comes to questions of the absolute beginning of all things then there is no science, only philosophy. At that point we can say that some ideas are more consistent with how we have observed the universe to operate to date.
Those who are focused on the personal, on relationships, rules of engagement and society will see the world through a prism through which they will observe the world, with the chains of cause and effect occurring on a personal level.
Those who prefer to step back and watch how things work will observe different aspects of reality - the physical chains of cause and effect in the mechanics and dynamics of the universe's operation.
It brings us back to the objectivity / subjectivity divide which almost echoes the Newtonian / quantum divide in that objectivity rules the large while subjectivity rules the small.
-- Updated 21 Dec 2014, 03:30 to add the following --
Addendum - re: we all engage in science. Some go into far more detail than others and their views in areas related to their work and studies necessarily carry more weight.
-- Updated 21 Dec 2014, 03:32 to add the following --
"Those who are focused on the personal, on relationships, rules of engagement and society will see the world through a prism through which they will observe the world, with the chains of cause and effect occurring on a personal level" should read:Greta wrote:Christians are usually skeptical of the claims of Islam and Buddhism.
Muslims are usually skeptical about the claims of Christianity and Buddhism.
Buddhists are usually skeptical about the claims of Christianity and Islam.
Atheists are skeptical of claims made by all religions.
We are all skeptical of things that don't accord with our ideas about reality.
There is often a misunderstanding about what science is. It's just a method - observation and verification. We all engage in science - if we don't then we don't survive.
When it comes to questions of the absolute beginning of all things then there is no science, only philosophy. At that point we can say that some ideas are more consistent with how we have observed the universe to operate to date.
Those who are focused on the personal, on relationships, rules of engagement and society will see the world through a prism through which they will observe the world, with the chains of cause and effect occurring on a personal level.
Those who prefer to step back and watch how things work will observe different aspects of reality - the physical chains of cause and effect in the mechanics and dynamics of the universe's operation.
It brings us back to the objectivity / subjectivity divide which almost echoes the Newtonian / quantum divide in that objectivity rules the large while subjectivity rules the small.
-- Updated 21 Dec 2014, 03:30 to add the following --
Addendum - re: we all engage in science. Some go into far more detail than others and their views in areas related to their work and studies necessarily carry more weight.
""Those who are focused on the personal, on relationships, rules of engagement and society see the world through that prism, with the chains of cause and effect occurring on a personal level".
I have asked poor Spiral to clean up too many of my mistakes
- Misty
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Re: 'Skeptics': Those without Answers.
I would like the OP to name the chosen one on this forum that is the true skeptic. Of course this means he/she has read and understood every word of every topic to be fair to all who post here. I am skeptical of his/her qualification to make such a judgment.
-- Updated Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:11 am to add the following --
Innocent until proven guilty is skepticism. But this does no guarantee truth will prevail.
The eyes can only see what the mind has, is, or will be prepared to comprehend.
I am Lion, hear me ROAR! Meow.
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