You both like writing.

You both like writing.

You: Hello, 23. Philosophy, rational argument, extreme poverty...cog. psych too

Stranger: heya

You: What do you like to do?

Stranger: I liked to read

Stranger: and write

Stranger: stories

Stranger: and you are a philosopher?

You: No, just enjoy reading and discussing

Stranger: noice

You: ethics/morality

Stranger: cool

Stranger: the unexamined life is not one worth living right?

You: correct

Stranger: so you want to talk about finding meaning in life or something? haha

You: If you want

Stranger: yeah

Stranger: so tell me

Stranger: as Socrates would ask

Stranger: what is the good life?

You: an ethical life

Stranger: and how do you live an ethical life?

You: first, you'd need to look into it ;)

Stranger: excuse me? haha

Stranger: and also if i may say

Stranger: and if you are a true philosopher id think youd be ok with this

Stranger: but i disagree with your answer

Stranger: to what a good life is

Stranger: i dont think that ethics (alone) is enough to live the good life

You: what else then?

Stranger: well

Stranger: to live the good life

Stranger: a person needs to discover what is truly meaningful to them

Stranger: they need to discover what activities are truly worthwile to them

Stranger: the answer is different for every person and only they can discover what that is

Stranger: I think that ethics plays a role in that

Stranger: but ethics, by itself, is not that answer

You: eh, I disagree

Stranger: but how can you?

Stranger: you cant determine what makes someone happy

Stranger: you can only decide what makes you happy

Stranger: its how you feel inside

You: I don't think we should focus on making ourselves so happy all the time

Stranger: and i think we should

Stranger: whats the purpose of life

Stranger: if we encouraged every individual

Stranger: not to enjoy it?

Stranger: im not asking people to be selfish

Stranger: we all have a responsibility to world around us as well

Stranger: but first and foremost we must learn to love and be happy with ourselves

You: "I don't know why we are here--but I'm pretty sure it's not to enjoy ourselves."

You: "We are here to help others...the reason the others are here--I have no idea."

Stranger: why are you sharing them with me

Stranger: what are you trying to do with these quotes?

You: forget about it. It was mainly for your entertainment. I'm glad I did not preface them with the authors & descriptions 

You: 7.1 To realize one's potential and ideals
7.2 To achieve biological perfection
7.3 To seek wisdom and knowledge
7.4 To do good, to do the right thing
7.5 Meanings relating to religion
7.6 To love, to feel, to enjoy the act of living
7.7 To have power, to be better
7.8 Life has no meaning

You: You believe it's primarily about 7.1 or 7.6

Stranger: what? what is this?

You: I believe it's primarily about a 7.4

You: Now, I will admit that I did have your position initially. Years ago

Stranger: well some people are determined to be right about everything

Stranger: but its what is correct that is imporant

Stranger: not who is correct

Stranger: do you agree?

You: I neither agree nor disagree.

You: Let's get back to the ontological argument

You: I need some time to ponder some points though...

Stranger: what points?

You: We disagree about the primary reason to what it means to live a good life, or generally, the meaning of human life.

Stranger: yes we do

You: Unless you've been reading something on this matter that you're not mentioning, I'm trying to figure out where we should go next (about it).

Stranger: uhh i have

Stranger: mans search for meaning

Stranger: victor frankl

You: Ya, I read it.

Stranger: great!

Stranger: what did you think?

Stranger: well... morality seems like something thats important to you

You: He has an interesting story.

Stranger: maybe in some sense... it helps to give you meaning

Stranger: i dont know that for sure

Stranger: I beleive that only you can answer that question

You: I suppose I don't believe our lives have an innate (a priori) purpose. Although, I do not believe that nihilism or absurdism is the good way to go about it.

You: And so, as an instrumentalist (sees morality merely as a social phenomenon)

You: And since we are living among other people

You: A logical conclusion (with a rational basis) is to live an ethical life.

Stranger: Well... how do you know that other people exist?

You: And sure, making yourself happy is mostly just a biased/impartial reasoning to our existance

You: Thinking that human life is meant to seek their own happiness however they like is an attached meaning. Wishful thinking, per se

Stranger: answer the question

Stranger: how do you know that other people exist?

You: Have you read Descartes?

Stranger: no

Stranger: does it have anything to do with answering my question?

You: yes, absolutely

Stranger: ok. then go on please

You: He would say no, broadly. And then we could get in the brain in the vat thought experiment--but I think that's a tangent.

You: Perhaps even a red herring.

Stranger: so he doesnt think we can definitley say that other people exist

Stranger: well what would be wrong with that?

You:https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/23757/how-can-we-prove-something-exists

You: Anyway, I already mentioned I don't see your point either way.

Stranger: my point is

Stranger: we can necesarily prove

Stranger: that anything other than ourselves exist

Stranger: or doesnt exist

You: Ya, I'm calling a red herring on this one. Our argument is more related to egoism/altruism than an idea from the 1600s.

Stranger: a red herring? no i dont think so

Stranger: because i dont see this point as a distraction

You: Again, what's your point?

Stranger: my point is

You: That would imply that ethics should be ignored all together.

You: Again, I'm not agreeing or disagreeing

Stranger: what matters most is how we truly feel inside

You: why?

Stranger: because every person that does or doesnt exist

Stranger: lives in a sense

Stranger: in their own universe

Stranger: and i cant put into words

Stranger: what it means to bring meaning to that individual universe

You: I'll accept that you cannot put into words. Although, we can't argue then. It'd be a standstill.

You: Like the question, "Does God exist?"

Stranger: hahaha thats a big question

You: I'm saying

You: If you can't put your fundamental base into words it cannot be refuted

Stranger: thats true

Stranger: so let me just say this

Stranger: for what i believe will help your sake (of course, maybe it wont, or you think it wont)

Stranger: when you wake up in the morning

Stranger: how do you feel about yourself and your life

Stranger: and who you are in this universe?

You: Agh, so you want to go back to the cogito ergo sum debate

You: Fine. I disagree.

Stranger: well i do think its the most important kind of debate

You: There may not be "proof" that other's exist...but...

Stranger: but if you could answer the question please

Stranger: how you feel about who you are in this universe

You: I just said I disagree. That means the question is irrelevant until proven correct.

You: IF proven correct

Stranger: a question cant be correct or incorrect

Stranger: its a question

You: Actually, I'm probably a determinist

Stranger: sure maybe you think its irrelevant

Stranger: that doesnt make it wrong to ask

You: So the question is nonsense (if I completely side for determinism)

Stranger: well... regardless what you think of the question

Stranger: I bet your capable of answering it

You: How do I feel about myself and my life?

Stranger: yes

You: Would depend on the context. How do I feel about what about myself and my life?

Stranger: well i just mean very generally

Stranger: like how do you feel about yourself

Stranger: and who you are

Stranger: and the things you do

You: I just said. I don't believe a person has a "self". I'm taking the deterministic perspective. (Although, I haven't decided on whether to truly accept the position.)

You: Anatta

Stranger: well what do you beleive a person does have?

You: To answer the question

You: Every moment I am born, decay and die.

You: A person has actions in the context of objectives. A person has feelings in regards to hormones and phases the body goes though. A person has beliefs based on experiences, their history and a multitude of other factors.

Stranger: ok well

Stranger: how do you feel about you

Stranger: exclude the self part

Stranger: who you are, the things you do

You: Depends on what they are. If I'm good at it, then generally content. If I don't know, then it varies widely.

Stranger: i mean how you are in culmination

Stranger: are you happy with who you are?

You: I'm not either.

Stranger: that i think is the problem

Stranger: you are the only thing that you know for certain exist

You: No

You: I just said

You: I will decide

You: and disagree on that point

Stranger: yes and i wanted to understand have have further confirmation why

You: (even though I like to stay on the fence for philosophy I haven't thoroughly researched)

Stranger: and you gave that to me

Stranger: and with that information

Stranger: i have concluded

Stranger: that reason you are the way you are

Stranger: is because you have not found meaning in your existence

You: I have found meaning

You: I am, and will cont. to lessen as much extreme poverty as I can

You: Just because I disagree with you, fundamentally and existentially

not enough info

http://logs.omegle.com/a87ab697d7c9a514

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.

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

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.

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.

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.