Hypnotism

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

R books

Stranger: what did you learn?

You: I'm easily interested, so I actually am intrigued

You: Today, the question is

You: did I learn it or did I know it all along, and just explicitly say that I learned it

You: hmmmm....

You: OK

You: actually, I think I really learned this especially today

You: practice what you preach

You: in a sense

You: about reading

You: because I don't practice that as much as I preach it

Stranger: how do you mean?

You: I read little, yet flaunt about telling others how they should read

Stranger: ah

Stranger: why?

You: why what?

Stranger: why do you tell others how they should read? what does that accomplish?

You: I'll answer your first question. Your second seems too complicated to answer.

You: Reading is the start of anything

You: everything

You: a skill or wonder

You: all found though another person

You: doubly as quick as them speaking it to you

You: (we talk at an average rate of 120 words per min and read about double that)

You: not only learning a new skill

You: but the love of reading nonfiction as a past time

You: not to be some pretentious intellectual

You: but to know a thing or two about things most

You: people, by themselves (observation alone), would/can't aquire

INGENSTANS ~ nowhere

lorem ipsum is a filler text commonly used to demonstrate thegraphic elements of a document or visual presentation. Replacing meaningful content that could be distracting with placeholder text may allow viewers to focus on graphic aspects such as font,typography, and page layout.

The lorem ipsum text is typically a scrambled section of De finibus bonorum et malorum, a 1st-century BC Latin text by Cicero, with words altered, added, and removed to make it nonsensical, improper Latin.

aburrido - boring

pecuniary - of, relating to, or consisting of money

lo siento - I'm sorry

You: what tools do you use?

Stranger: Depends. Duolingo, memrise, actual textbooks

Stranger: And native speakers when I can

Stranger: What languages are you learning? It differs per language

You: Spanish

Stranger: mi espanol es bastante mal and I learned it in school... but memrise and duolingo are probably your best options in that they're free and pretty comprehensive

You: I just started duolingo

Stranger: te gusta?

Stranger: i started spanish today on duolingo actually

You: want to join me?

Stranger: i tested out of 49 levels but that goes to show that you can understand a language well while still speaking it poorly

Stranger: I'm a bit new to duolingo, so you'll have to explain how one goes about that...

You: I'm pretty much as far along as you

You: how many languages are you learning?

You: ya polyglot

Stranger: it's my passion, what can I say. I'm technically learning Japanese atm, but duolingo really only does European languages. I'm pretty proficient in Swedish already since that's my main second language and I basically wanted to see what it looked like on duolingo

Stranger: so what made you want to study spanish?

You: ha

You: this is a cool coincidence

You: so

You: I "publish" conversations I've had (that don't mention anything about the other) and

You: last week

You: I couldn't decide if I wanted to learn

You: Japanese or Spanish (mainly this summer)

You: http://aerochats.blogspot.com/2014/11/spanish-or-japanese-chat-snippet.html

Stranger: That is...quite the discrepancy

Stranger: Per the old taco shell commercial, "Why not both?"

You: eventually

You: but one before the other

Stranger: Very true. That was my rationale for not doing Japanese and Chinese at the same time

Stranger: Chinese seems so much simpler but ultimately I went with the easier pronunciation and more prolific pop culture

You: ah

Stranger: Eventually for me too

Stranger: I'm learning German really because I'm likely going to several countries in Europe next year and several of them are German speaking

You: wow

Stranger: Can't be a polyglot and not at least attempt to learn the language of your holiday countries

You: have a computer science (major) friend who's learning German

You: when I ask him to where he want to eat

You: he replies in German all the time

Stranger: Code switching is a hassle

Stranger: It happens all the time when I'm attempting Spanish and I come up with a Swedish word instead

Stranger: How many languages do you speak, btw?

You: took two years of Spanish in hs--which mostly forgot, sarcasm, c++, 25% of Java Script, and really not anything besides English

Stranger: Same. I haven't forgotten my Spanish because I live in a very very Hispanic area, I would actually say that I speak Swedish, and adequate Java.

Stranger: Funny that you do human and programming languages too

Stranger: Are you a CS major?

You: electrical

Stranger: aha

You: I don't know how old you are, but what's your major?

Stranger: Still in high school... It's going to be linguistics, probably. I've considered double majoring.

You: ya, I thought I wanted to maybe even triple--but it's not like that anymore

You: it's like running a race

You: at first you want to win

You: then, when you're running the marathon, you just care about finishing

Stranger: I'm feeling that now. I thought it would be a brilliant idea to do AP CS, AP Calc, and AP Physics atop other atrocities

You: out of three, I only got credit for AP Macroecon

Stranger: I'm taking that next semester. It actually does sound interesting, if only because I feel massively ignorant on pecuniary matters

Stranger: I think my schedule only allows for micro, though

You: oh

Stranger: Which is much more boring, likely

Stranger: Or aburrido, should we say

You: I liked it because of my teacher, and I have an interest in developmental econ (even though we skipped that chapter)

Stranger: I noticed that whilst perusing your blog

You: haven't taken micro, so I wouldn't know, but that CS friend is taking micro at the university level next semester

Stranger: I wish him/her the best

You: thanks, he'll get a fair prof

Stranger: ratemyprofessor to the rescue? heh

You: well, that's what we always use--but he got a direct optinion from me, since I'm taking that same prof for a finance class (have to have same matching course subject with the AP)

You: anyway, got to write a paper for that class now

You: nice talken with ya

You: do you have skype?

Stranger: I do not, lo siento

Stranger: have fun with that paper. I should probably be writing a program or something atm too

Stranger: the wonders of the internet

You: duolingo is probably good enough

Stranger: Hopefully. Challenge me if we ever find out how... it seems to be specific to the app or something

Stranger: Have a good evening!

Stranger has disconnected.

Ethics

You both like philosophy.

Stranger: so philosophy

You: yes

Stranger: im going to be upfront, im not formally educated in philosphy and i am unfamilar with much of the field

Stranger: with that being said

Stranger: what philosophical topic has caught your interest as of late?

You: do you like ethics, epistemology, metaphysics? (three main branches of philo)

You: poverty philosophy

Stranger: epistemology is interesting

Stranger: though i have my own ideas of what can be known and how

Stranger: and im afraid it may be over simplified

Stranger: ethics

Stranger: on the other hand

Stranger: well

Stranger: what is ethics?

Stranger: if ethics is synonymous with morality

Stranger: which i doubt it is

Stranger: then i would say there is no point to discussing morality/ethics because there is no absolute morality

Stranger: there is only a goal

Stranger: and methods used to reach that goal

Stranger: sorry for my word vomit

Stranger: but what do you think?

You: well, more of just trying to understand

You: of course there's a point to discuss

You: even when there's not an absolute answer

You: it's like the whole point of philosophy itself

Stranger: of course, but i dont think anything is inherently right or wrong, it is only successful or unsuccessful in achieving a goal

You: as a tangent, you may find something interesting here:

You: http://philosophy.stackexchange.com/users/4506/adam-uraynar?tab=favorites

Stranger: k searching it up now

You: killing someone is wrong

Stranger: why?

You: why do you get to choose if they die?

You: you don't

Stranger: but why is that inherently wrong?

Stranger: other than an emotional feeling

You: because it's not you who get's to do that, you do not have the right to

Stranger: who decided wether or not i have that right?

You: I could also bring up the categorical imperative here, but I won't

You: the society you choose to be a part of

Stranger: yes, it is wrong because someone says it is wrong

You: not neccissarily

Stranger: or at least that is how it appears on the surface

You: you're committing a fallacy here

You: slippery slope

Stranger: how so?

You: or...

You: trying to think of the word

Stranger: strawman?

You: no, but it's similar to slippery slope

Stranger: show me where you think im wrong

Stranger: im curious

You: it's kind of like exaggerating something to the point it's not

You: I'd have to look at a list of fallacies, but I don't care to make that much effort

Stranger: but what did i exaggerate?

You: kind of...

You: similarity

Stranger: all i said is that killing is not inherently wrong, it is only wrong according to society

You: well, it'd only be you without society

You: well, let me say this: mutual understanding (in place of "someone says it's wrong")

Stranger: so if the majority of a society says something is morally acceptable or not, does that make it so/

Stranger: ?

You: no

Stranger: so how do you arrive at the idea that killing is inherently wrong?

You: you're using power to end someone who for you to decide to end is not right

Stranger: why not?

Stranger: you are just restating the statement

You: forcing power over someone

Stranger: but why is that wrong?

You: they don't want it

Stranger: and why should i care what they want?

You: it's not a matter if you should care, but I guess I will have to argue that point

You: so, we're back to "mutual understanding"

You: can I get off that easily?

Stranger: well, but then that shows my original point

You: ya know, you don't shit on my car, I don't shit on yours

Stranger: that things are only right or wrong in relation to a goal

Stranger: but, they are not inherently wrong

You: what goal does killing someone have?

Stranger: no, not killing someone has a goal

Stranger: which is

Stranger: to have society which can function

Stranger: and you will benefit from

Stranger: you said it yourself

Stranger: the goal

Stranger: is mutual understanding

You: hey, I don't have a lot of time. want to dialogue about robin hood ethics?

Stranger: sure

Stranger: im not familiar

Stranger: but

Stranger: id be glad to talk about it

You: pretty much what it sounds like

Stranger: steal form rich give to poor kinda hitng?

You: yep

Stranger: see, but my view of ethics is shaped by our previous convorsation

Stranger: its very hard to explain

Stranger: but, what it comes down to is that I am selfish

Stranger: so are you

Stranger: you dont do anything that doesnt benefit you

Stranger: honestly i havent thought about ethics much past that because it all because trivial

Stranger: if it serves my interests

Stranger: then i will consider it ethical

Stranger: otherwise i will consider it otherwise

You: is this similar to some kind of philosophical thought or school?

Stranger: hmmm, im not sure

Stranger: im sure someone else put a name to it

Stranger: at some point in history

Stranger: but this is just my thoughts

You: I understand

You: pdx.edu/sysc/sites/www.pdx.edu.sysc/files/altruism_npc_0.pdf

Stranger: ahh yes

Stranger: i dont think alrtuism exists

You: exactly why there are levels of altruism

Stranger: ooh i see

You: with the first not being an actual form

Stranger: i just read that

You: of altruism

Stranger: so yeah, i think people do things that will benefit others more than it does themselves

Stranger: but they will ALWAYS only do things if the benefits to themself outweigh the cost to themself

You: I really want to read more into this, more about how we don't do it from self interest (because it seems that when we think about it, and philosophise, that's where we go wrong...or what I mean is, we don't all what's on the table)

Stranger: i think it is impossible to do things NOT out of self interest

Stranger: And i just had a thought

Stranger: perhaps

You: didn't you see the chart on page 2?

Stranger: the lack of pure altruism is related to how we define the self

Stranger: ill take a look

Stranger: one sec

Stranger: okay yeah i see it

You: but it seems to have a bias towards Buddhism ("Being Altruism")

Stranger: hmmmm

Stranger: Perhaps it is arrogant of me, but i really feel like the chart is an overcomplication of things

Stranger: for me

Stranger: the most important aspects are the binary ones

Stranger: the yes/no or black/white

Stranger: so when i think "is it possible to be altruistic?"

You: what?!

Stranger: i come to the conclusion that it is impossible to be truely altruistic

Stranger: then

You: it seems like you're saying it's best to do black and white thinking

Stranger: well, its actually kind of grey

Stranger: ahah

Stranger: but

You: I sort of get what you mean

Stranger: i mean to really dig deep into the structure of reality and the self, you have to think in terms of yes or no

Stranger: however

Stranger: there are many different colors of grey within those yes's and no's

Stranger: idk

Stranger: it is just something that i have noticed to be helpful when seeking knowledge

Stranger: and truth about anything

Stranger: because this way i can lay out a rudimentary structure

Stranger: and then once tht structure is laid, then i can worry about details

You: the truth is never pure and rarely simple --Wilde

Stranger: you know what i mean? like do the rough work first and then tune it into shape

Stranger: like if i were to sculpt a statue, i would first cut out the block that i want to work with

Stranger: so as to not overcomplicate things

Stranger: and then

Stranger: from that block

Stranger: i would chisel out the statue

You: yes, I suppose I understand better

Stranger: so the chart of altruism

Stranger: i see that as part of the rock that is outside the block that i am working with

Stranger: i can cut that out to really focus in on what matters

Stranger: anyway

Stranger: my brain hurts

Stranger: so ill let you talk to someone else now haha

Stranger: c ya later!

Christian who seeks truth - Crux of practicing philosophy

You: so why'd you put truth?

Stranger: Christian :)

You: what does that have to do with truth?

You: like the true word of God?

Stranger: I wouldn't be that stringent on that definition but the effective message yes

You: ah

Stranger: For example, the truth behind the physical realm we currently experience and perceive on a day-to-day basis

Stranger: I think the Bible has an accurate view on it

You: ok, I kind of try to avoid talking about religion

You: what are your other interests? most of mine are never matched

Stranger: fair enough, how about basic physics?

You: what about?

You: know anything interesting off the top of your head?

Stranger: how about the laws of physics?

Stranger: know anything about them?

You: 1st law, 2nd....they're vague

You: in my head

You: I mean Newton's

Stranger: how about the conservation of mass and energy?

Stranger: Einstein?

You: I know about them, but just the surface definition

You: I'm taking Physics I next semester (I'm kind of behind)

Stranger: No worries :)

You: electrical engineering major so I need to take all the physics up to modern

Stranger: nice, any goals behind that?

You: don't know what you mean

You: this made me laugh: http://joelvelasco.net/teaching/120/cartwright-How_the_Laws_of_Physics_Lie.pdf

Stranger: I meant dream/goal/vision-wiser

Stranger: wise*

You: ohhh

You: make a lot of money to give away, and develop the skill to know how to tinker with devices

Stranger: Why give it away?

You: I don't want to spend it on my self

You: Earning to Give

You: peter singer stuff

You: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earning_to_give

Stranger: Sorry, not directly familiar

Stranger: hmm

You: wikipedia explains

You: tithing basically

You: & peter singer is a poverty philosopher

Stranger: Ah, very noble

You: well, it hasn't happened yet

Stranger: True; I myself am building my own business with people who are teaching me to duplicate their own results in order to achieve dreams and ambitions of my own (most of which are ministry oriented)

You: duplicate what?

Stranger: Their income mostly

Stranger: but also their quality of life and relationships with family, spouse, and children

Stranger: The are currently earning between 60 and 120k / year part time and are effectively semi-retired

You: wow

Stranger: yea, it's pretty intense; their mentors are actually earning about triple and are currently retired and do a lot of charity work

Stranger: The one guy is an ex-NHL player and his wife was a nurse

You: what kind of charity work?

Stranger: The nurse is involved in work overseas trying stop the slave trade, specifically the sex-trade of young girls if I recall

Stranger: I'm not that up-to-date on them to be honest

Stranger: I'm not sure what the NHL-guy is doing; he may just be doing some training camp thing for kids and hockey

Stranger: I'm not a big hockey guy so I'm not really interested :P\

You: ok

Stranger: Anyway, my dream is to save the world (naive as that may sound)

Stranger: I've had a pretty rough past and managed to escape some crazy things (including death) so I just want to give back

You: have you read philosophy before?

Stranger: some, Aristotle, plato, etc.

Stranger: I started with psychology since that's where I wound up (mental hospital)

Stranger: then philosophy, then buddhist philosophy, and finally Christian apologetics vs Buddhist theology

You: do you think altruism is possible?

Stranger: well I think it is more than possible; but on it's own without a foundation in WHY to be altruistic, it is little more than a subjectively nice thing to do

You: www.pdx.edu/sysc/sites/www.pdx.edu.sysc/files/altruism_npc_0.pdf#page=2

You: the chart at the bottom of the page gives an idea

You: it's bias towards Buddhism though it seems ("Being")

Stranger: well, from my skimming, I can agree with the principle, but when you use a statement such as "universal ethics calls for ... altruism," what do you mean by that?

Stranger: Universal as in naturally occurring, or universal as in probable evolutionary path, or universal as in cemented law?

You: I guess, i haven't read it for a while

Stranger: I also have a slight qualm with evolutionary theory so, lol

Stranger: for example, when evolutionists bring up the fact that we have 98% DNA commonality with lower primates

Stranger: We also have 50% commonality in DNA with a banana; does that make me part fruit?

You: I'm not a biologist...but if a million monkeys banged a million monkeys eventually they would produce a Shakespeare

Stranger: Well, no offense, but that would just mean a probability of another million monkey's in my mind

You: just a joke I heard

Stranger: Hehe, nice

You: ya know, monkeys typewriting to infinity

Stranger: Oh yes, I remember that one

You: twas a tasteful spin

Stranger: But that doesn't mean it would have the expression of a human mind's creative force

Stranger: it would be as amazing as rewriting a phone book by accident

Stranger: and that's really my contention here

Stranger: are we just accidents waiting to be accidental whatever the heck we become

Stranger: or are we a guided, created thing, made for a purpose?