Wednesday, June 14, 2017

linguistics

Stranger: differences between an epizeuxis and a diacope?
Stranger: It is not a complicated question. The mind of an academic very quickly over analyzes the question.
You: What's the difference then?
Stranger: Epizeuxis means 'to fasten together', while a diacope's origins are 'cut in two'. Does it make sense yet?
You: Slightly, but not wholly
Stranger: "To be, or not to be." Is a diacope.
Stranger: "Hark, Hark! The lark.." Is an Epizeuxis.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

materialism

Stranger: Well, how do you feel about materialism?
You: I'm probably a materialist
You: Although, I recall a simple exercise done in a gen-philo course which seemed to justify immaterialism
You: What are your thoughts?
Stranger: let's hear it
Stranger: I think materialism is very convincing, though in the end it might be an abstraction
You: I'd have to search for the notebook, but it involved the alphabet
Stranger: ah ok
Stranger: I've been getting more into the work of Deleuze and Guattari
Stranger: They set out a very convincing materialist metaphysics

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Tea

Stranger: Cinnamomum verum, milk, Drops of Honey etc. the usual. People always put in too much - it's crucial to let it brew for 8-10 minutes.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

ethics 101


http://logs.omegle.com/2c56c8c64f9af7f3



I'm not completely won over by the justification of utilitarianism by the trolley thought experiment. Of course, 90% of people would choose to turn the wheel as the former conductor (for the first scenario). Then 90% of people would hop from utilitarianism (the greatest good for the largest amount of people) for deontology (universal moral laws). For the second scenario, 90% of people intuitively—yet morally inconsistent—think that sacrificing one to save more is wrong. After that fact, they realize that they should actually push the fat man (for the second scenario) to be consistent.
            In retrospect, this is what I think: deontology may be the better system. What if intentionally going out of your way to “save lives” you don’t. What if something else goes wrong with the train? I don’t know, what if something far worse happens? I suppose I’m poking at not absolutely knowing outcomes. And that, it may be better to stay “pure” and true to categorical imparities in the long-run. Therefore, maybe deontology is best for everything.

Friday, March 17, 2017

Vegetarianism

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
You both like Intelligence, and Intelligent.
You: Hi
Stranger: Hey
You: So phone tapping &Trump
You: I believe it's just a way to sidestep coverage of the new healthcare litigation
You: Anyway, what do you want to talk about?
Stranger: I don’t really have a preference. Whatever you want to talk about
You: I'll list some things. You choose from that:
You: preference utilitarianism
You: vegetarianism
You: theoretically being a professional criminal
You: discussing a random interesting article or pdf
You: Stages of Ego Development
You: poverty philosophy; what should be done for those in absolute poverty
You: spaced repetition for essays and speeches
You: formal meditation
You: life experiences
You: lifestyle fitness
You: creating a bot on Omegle
You: ethics, morality
You: altruism
You: .
Stranger: Wow, that’s... something
You: lol
Stranger: Well, I must say the only thing I know what is a 100% is being a vegetarian
You: I'm not. Although, I have been considering it.
Stranger: I’m not a vegetarian anymore, but used to be. Have been vegan for over 2 years now
You: Why?
Stranger: Why what?
You: It seems like such an effort and additional time to be vegan
Stranger: I don’t think it’s difficult in any way. Did right in the beginning, because I didn’t know anything about it before I started. I think I only ate one meal a day for the first 3 months, and it was only fruit and vegetables.. But I never think about it anymore
You: But when you go out with friends
You: There is such a limited selection
Stranger: I never go out with friends. But when I did, I usually didn’t eat anything
You: Ah
You: I'm picturing you as a stick
Stranger: Why?
You: So why did you choose this lifestyle?
You: What's wrong with eating meat?
Stranger: I’ve had many eating disorders throughout my life, and just generally never had a very good relationship with food. When I was about 13 I decided to try being a vegetarian, and I discovered that I felt better about food when I didn’t have to eat meat. And after a few years of eating that way, I felt like I didn’t want to eat any animal products what so ever.. It’s not necessary to eat meat, and it’s not healthy. So, why not just cut it out. I never liked it, so it was easy
You: Ah, dietary restrictions
You: I wonder how many do it because of that versus ethical reasoning...
Stranger: I did it for many reasons. Ethical reasons as well
You: I mean the resounding reason
Stranger: I don’t know.. The people I know, only did it because of the animals
You: That's why I would do it. But I just don't haven't seen substantiated knowledge to do so
Stranger: Back when I first stopped eating meat, it was because I didn’t want to eat the flesh of another being. And when I went vegan, I was disgusted with dairy and eggs - it’s just not right to be so cruel towards other living being. So, it was as much for ethical reasons as anything else
You: I don't see how it's cruel to eat muscle
Stranger: You don’t think it’s cruel to kill someone innocent?
You: Is it cruel for a gazel to eat a grasshopper?
You: Or a desert snake to eat a field mouse?
Stranger: No, because that’s what they do. Humans have so many other options. For the animals, it’s natural, and it’s something they need to do. It’s not that way for people. Humans can’t just take a cow with their bare hands and start eating it without anything to kill it, or cut into it
You: What about deficiencies in certain vitamins, which lead to disorders. Or how non-vegetarian food, across the board, has far less protein
You: Then athletes would need to change their job. Sure, there's many other jobs.
Stranger: You can get all vitamins and proteins from vegans products. I’m certainly not missing anything
You: I nurse told me one time; a mother brought her kids into the hospital for something. Her kids were not getting enough protein or something. They weren't eating any meat. They were poor. That's what I'm saying.
You: Let's just examine my case then.
You: I am a college student.
You: I spend next to no time preparing meals. Most are from the dining facilities.
Stranger: Okay? then don’t go vegan, if it’s impossible for you
You: I just don't understand how the animals are suffering.
Stranger: Well then I don’t think you have done a lot of research. That, or you are slightly cold hearted
You: Or a little bit of both
Stranger: Very possible
You: I mean, slitting a cow's throat--how is it suffering? That's a pretty quick death.
Stranger: But they shouldn’t have to die. That’s the point. What if it was a dog? A really cute dog. I’m pretty sure 90% of the world would freak out completely if as many dogs got killed the way cows get, every day.
Stranger: If I slit the throat of your family and friends, is that alright? I mean, they don’t suffer. So it should be okay
You: Humans are not meant to be eaten though. I like that you're trying to cite speciesism though.
Stranger: I don’t think dogs or cows are meant to be eaten either. Not by humans at least. And that’s now what I’m trying to do - I don’t think animals are the same as humans. I just don’t think it’s okay to kills something, if it’s not necessary
You: I think I get where you're coming from. You've short circuited the suffering argument.
You: Well, it is slightly necessary. But I'll digress on that point.
You: What about insects then?
Stranger: For some people it might be. But a lot more people could go vegan, if they wanted to. What about insects?
You: Well, cows are omnivores. They eat mostly grass (naturally), but they also eat cute little grasshoppers
You: Humans are omnivores. Why is it wrong for us to eat beef?
You: rhetorical
You: Hugh, just the act of killing though...
Stranger: I don’t think you can compare a grasshopper and a cow. And I wouldn’t exactly say that grasshoppers are cute. A grasshopper is tiny, and it takes nothing to kill it. It doesn’t feel anything compared to a cow
You: What? Of course it does
Stranger: And again, that’s natural for a cow. it just eats it. You don’t just eat a cow
You: It doesn't matter the size
You: We domesticated the cows though
You: They are a domesticated animal, just like some cultures eat dog
You: or guinea pigs
You: I'm watching
You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HAMk_ZYO7g
Stranger: Doesn’t mean you can just kills them if you want to. But listen, I don’t care what you do. I never talk about veganism, and I never try convince someone else to go vegan. Being vegan is my choice, and I’m very happy with it. I have never been healthier than I am now. It’s working great for me. Other people might feel different. End of story
Stranger: try to**
You: Like I said. I'm considering being a vegetarian.
Stranger: That’s great. I hope you try it out and it ends up being a successful experience.
You: I would do it for ethical reasons. But that's what I'm trying to decide
Stranger: I suck at making decisions, so I can’t exactly relate
You: You've helped already
You: the short-circuit
You: killing being wrong
Stranger: Well, great
You: lab-grown meat will be big
Stranger: I would never put that in my mouth either.. but of course it’s a thing
You: Well ya. You've desensitized yourself to meat. I have experienced part of this with icecream. I think it's a little gross.
Stranger: I used to love ice cream.. But vegan ice-cream is so much better, I think
You: =)
You: I mean all ice cream
You: The thought of it.
You: I know it's fine when actually tasting it.
Stranger: What is it that you don’t like about it?
You: It's similar to your psychology of meat. Sure, there are things you can point out about it that you don't like, explicit things. These are after the fact things. I mean, just the thought of it
You: It's something I cannot really explain
Stranger: Yeah, alright
You: So I still don't know if it's wrong to kill
Stranger: I really don’t get how you can even write that sentence down, and mean it. It’s killing.
You: For now, I'll justify it by how I eat from a buffet. Ordering a duck would be different, but eating from something that is already there, no matter the demand. It's not overtly "bad"
You: Killing deer is necessary.
You: Last year, the deer population rose unhealthily high.
You: I think the DNR paid people to hunt.
Stranger: ..... I don’t think I can talk about this anymore
You: Another topic, or do you want to go?
Stranger: I’m not going anywhere
You: How about picking something from the list above?
Stranger: It all sounds very interesting. Not sure I know enough about it all to actually talk about it. But I’m not sure
You: I don't know everything either.
You: How old are you?
Stranger: I’m 17
You: What do you aspire to?
Stranger: That’s a good question. I get asked it an awful lot lately, and I never know what to say
You: What do you want?
Stranger: To be comfortable with my life. I know it’s probably not possible to be happy and comfortable all the time, which I’m fine with. But to have something to live for. A nice every day life
You: That's pretty normal
Stranger: Yes, it probably is
You: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loevinger's_stages_of_ego_development
Stranger: ‘Loevinger believes infants in their earliest state cannot have an ego because their thinking is autistic or delusional.’ So autistic people can’t have an ego either. See that is interesting
You: Hugh, I didn't learn that.
Stranger: Seems to be what she thinks. Otherwise it’s a terrible choice of words, if she thinks something different
You: I'll think about that the next autistic person I meet
Stranger: And then what?
You: Think of them like The Accountant
Stranger: Come again?
You: It's a new movie
Stranger: I don’t think it would be the best idea to do that
You: Do what?
Stranger: Link autistic people to a movie character
You: Well ya, but we all have stereotypes whether we admit it or not
You: You're pretty bright for a 17 year old
You: I'm 22
Stranger: But there is still no reason to think that actual autistic people are anything like a fictional character. Also because it’s a gigantic spectrum. I’ve met autistic people who are really extreme, and can’t function like a ‘normal’ human being in any way, and ones who are like most other people, and only have a few traits - usually not as social, and might not like as much noise, need more space and things like that
You: Right. I suppose she's talking about the extreme end of the autistic spectrum
You: I learned it was a spectrum disorder just this past summer
Stranger: I think she is, yes. I know a bunch of autistic girls, and one of them actually don’t seem to have an ego. Can’t really talk to her, but I can’t imagine she has
Stranger: That came out weird... I hope you get my point
You: I got the gist
You: Well, I have to get back to something objectively productive. Although,
You: I'm leaning more towards vegetarianism (after talking with you)...and now I have to look up protein supplements, and such...
Stranger: Alright. Well, it was very nice talking to you. And interesting
You: I'm happy
You: au revoir
You have disconnected.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

wisdom

[home refinisher wants to armchair philosophize wisdom] 

I was looking at another thing to discuss about wisdom, but it's pretty epistemologically dense
http://myweb.facstaff.wwu.edu/whitcod/Wisdom%20final.pdf
Instead, I'll find something with less pages too....

Epiphany! Some deeper philosophy (like the last link) is like electrical engineers are to electrical technicians/repair
As an electrical engineer, they know the deer science and workings of electronics
whereas technicians know rules of thumbs and such mainly for fixing electronics
I don't know exactly how my little simile here matches up though...
electrical engineer : technician
as
philosopher/y : ??
What do you think? Does "??" = psychology

I mean, this one is much more applicable to our everyday lives:
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.560.4149&rep=rep1&type=pdf
(psychology, not philosophy 
What else could "??" equal?