Are Members of a Corrupt State Ignorant or Guilty?

[Lifegazer]

I want to discuss corrupt philosophy, and how it can actually influence the members of a specific state to effect actions of bias within that state which will destroy any philosophy which challenges the status-quo.
Are the members of that state ignorant or guilty? What do you think?

 

[FZ+]

Neither.
For there is no such thing as absolute right or wrong in philosophy, and bias is unavoidable. There is no such thing as corrupt philosophy, or uncorrupt philosophy for that matter. The nature of any society is to preserve itself. It is part of it's definition. Society only represents it's individual's overall belief, and you cannot accuse the state of what is a contention of individuals. To say ignorance or guilt is to know that one side is correct. This does not exist in philosophy.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by FZ+
Neither.

They must be one or the other. A person is either to be held accountable for his philosophy, or he shall be granted impunity via ignorance.

For there is no such thing as absolute right or wrong in philosophy,

That's absolutely wrong. Or... it's absolutely right. Gettit?

There is no such thing as corrupt philosophy

There's nothing corrupt within Hitler's mind then?
And what about the philosophy of the church towards science in mediaeval times? Do you not see that as a corrupt philosophy which sought to stamp-out the Gallileos of that time? Was the church guilty, or ignorant?

The nature of any society is to preserve itself.

What if that 'society' is just seeking to preserve its philosophy (as opposed to a survival issue)? Don't we then have to ask "To what ends?"?

 

[FZ+]

They must be one or the other. A person is either to be held accountable for his philosophy, or he shall be granted impunity via ignorance.

Then to me, I can say you are guilty of ignorance. Guilt or wrongness are value statements, at least in the majority of philosophy, and vary depending on the observer. From the state, they did nothing wrong. They are not guilty or ignorant. See?

That's absolutely wrong. Or... it's absolutely right. Gettit?

Nope. In this context it may be right. To me it maybe right. But there is no awesome aura of rightness to it. It is not crowned somewhere as the divine truth. It is not absolutely right, or wrong. See?

There's nothing corrupt within Hitler's mind then?

Nothing at all. This is a pointless emotional statement. To him, the minds of others was no doubt "corrupt", and need purification with his philosophy. Those jews... they just want to keep the status quo and deny the absolute truth... right?

And what about the philosophy of the church towards science in mediaeval times? Do you not see that as a corrupt philosophy which sought to stamp-out the Gallileos of that time? Was the church guilty, or ignorant?

Neither. To us they may be guilty or ignorance, but to them it was Galileo that was ignorant or guilty. They have the absolutely right truth of the bible, the divine philosophy of god to protect agains the pagans who wanted the status quo, and those guilty galileos who wanted to restore it...
Hmm... rhymes.

What if that 'society' is just seeking to preserve its philosophy (as opposed to a survival issue)? Don't we then have to ask "To what ends?"?

Missed point. We are society. We make up society. It is we that are persuaded, or not. The ideas and values of a society are a representation of what they are. It does not change unless there is reason to change what they are. There is no universal meterstick of rightness for philosophy, only contextual appropiateness.

 

[Les Sleeth]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
I want to discuss corrupt philosophy, and how it can actually influence the members of a specific state to effect actions of bias within that state which will destroy any philosophy which challenges the status-quo.
Are the members of that state ignorant or guilty? What do you think?

I'll take a shot at this. I do agree there can be corrupt philosophy depending on how one defines philosophy. If you agree that philosophy is an attempt to mentally represent how reality does or can work, then certainly one can misrepresent reality for the purposes of furthering one's own cause. You used the word "corrupt" so I am assuming you mean purposeful manipulation as opposed to a sincere effort to reason oneself or others to understanding and clarity (misguided or not).

It seems like you are saying more too, which is that those in power have a vested interest in justifiying their philosophy. History agrees with you on this. And I think members of the power group can be both guilty and ignorant. While one can't generalize to all people, I do think it is rare to find an unbiased person who's achieved power within a particular philosophy.

Here's the irony. All the non-power people who are whining and complaining now . . . guess what? They will most likely behave EXACTLY the same way if they ever manage to get into power.

 

[wuliheron]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
I want to discuss corrupt philosophy, and how it can actually influence the members of a specific state to effect actions of bias within that state which will destroy any philosophy which challenges the status-quo.
Are the members of that state ignorant or guilty? What do you think?

FZ pretty much hit the nail on the head. The mongols of Ghengus Kan's time are an extreme example of this as are many of the native american tribes in Canada. They were as fierce a people as you'll find anywhere and as ruthless as they come. The mongol tradition was to have the children fight over the table scraps, they thought it made them tougher.

Such brutal philosophies are still common and arise out of necessity and survival of the fittest. Notably, the richer the natural resources the more common they become as societies fight over them.

 

[BoulderHead]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
I want to discuss corrupt philosophy, and how it can actually influence the members of a specific state to effect actions of bias within that state which will destroy any philosophy which challenges the status-quo.
Are the members of that state ignorant or guilty? What do you think?

Is it important to have a belief in 'corrupt' philosophy in order to have a measure of reasurance that there may be a perfect one in existence?

 

[jammieg]

Are you talking about Iraq?
We ought to be able to at least agree that a corrupt philosophy does more harm than good and has little or no respect for life, the worst philosophies can justify murder for "the greater good", but each person is responsible for their own actions, but most of the people in Iraq are innocent there are just a few bad apples.

 

[wuliheron]

Originally posted by jammieg
Are you talking about Iraq?
We ought to be able to at least agree that a corrupt philosophy does more harm than good and has little or no respect for life, the worst philosophies can justify murder for "the greater good", but each person is responsible for their own actions, but most of the people in Iraq are innocent there are just a few bad apples.

Sorry, but it isn't clear at all if there are "just a few bad apples" in Iraq. When the US troops first over ran Bagdad and the civilians began tearing down Sadam's statue a reporter on the spot discovered that all these civilians that had been among the first to come outside belonged to one of the majority religious sects Sadam had oppressed. One of them asked the reporter if it was their turn to rule the country now.

You have to remember that just like Hitler, Sadam was elected into office and the religious and ethnic bigotry that both took advantage of go back thousands of years. This is still the big question remaining for Iraq and what will happen to the minorities caught in the middle is anybody's guess. Already some Iraqis are protesting the continued presence of the US and I have to wonder if some of this is simply a desire on their parts to kill their neighbors unimpeded by the presence of the US military.

Good guys? Bad guys? More likely just a confusing mess.

There is an old saying, "Only desperate people go to war." It's pretty true imo, and I would add that often they are desperate to no longer be the underdog or to avoid becoming the underdog.

 

[heusdens]

Originally posted by wuliheron
Sorry, but it isn't clear at all if there are "just a few bad apples" in Iraq. When the US troops first over ran Bagdad and the civilians began tearing down Sadam's statue a reporter on the spot discovered that all these civilians that had been among the first to come outside belonged to one of the majority religious sects Sadam had oppressed. One of them asked the reporter if it was their turn to rule the country now.

You have to remember that just like Hitler, Sadam was elected into office and the religious and ethnic bigotry that both took advantage of go back thousands of years. This is still the big question remaining for Iraq and what will happen to the minorities caught in the middle is anybody's guess. Already some Iraqis are protesting the continued presence of the US and I have to wonder if some of this is simply a desire on their parts to kill their neighbors unimpeded by the presence of the US military.

Good guys? Bad guys? More likely just a confusing mess.

There is an old saying, "Only desperate people go to war." It's pretty true imo, and I would add that often they are desperate to no longer be the underdog or to avoid becoming the underdog.

Don't forget the very obvious reason to go to Iraq!

It's what UNDER the ground what makes Iraq imporant. Not the "weapons of mass destruction" which were just a fixations of their minds, which they put upon all the other minds in the world, to "justify" that war. And of course Saddam is evil, and killed a lot of people, but that makes not only him guilty but also the states and governments that helped Iraq and supported the regime.

 

[Lifegazer]

Basically, I'm talking about the fear of being usurped by another
philosophy; or rather, by another establishment with another agenda.
In days gone-by, other philosophies (the people behind those philosophies) were actually killed or thrown into jail for the rest of their lives.
Hence, it can be shown that many philosophies have indeed been corrupt, for the establishment at the heart of any governing philosophy will do anything within their power to quash any challenge to their status-quo.
... Thank God we live in the 21st century hey, and that these things still don't happen. Well; at least we don't go killed these days for challenging the status-quo.
Or would we? How far do you think the present establishments would go, to retain their status-quo? Are we prepared to do what the church did to Galileo? Or will the people who challenge the established opinion of any philosophy, just have to suffer being evicted from intelligence-societies, and the like?
Thank God that this is the philosophy room, and that we can debate such matters freely. Thank God we live in the free-world.
Or do we? Are we ignorant, or corrupt? If neither, then why don't we know the absolute truth?
I will indeed state that philosophy is currently corrupt, because from my experience of speaking to many people about such matters, I have learned that a challenging-philosophy to established/fashionable views, by anyone, is treated like a leper. You'll flirt around the edges of it, but you will not allow yourselves to get close to it. It's a dead challenge, as soon as it is posted.
I find that a corruption, born of a bias, runs rampant amongst people who like to philosophise. People are constantly on the defensive about each others own philosophies, as a response to any specific challenge. They're not really listening to the challenge. They just want to explain why their own philosophy is correct, and why therefore, the challenge cannot be right.
And that is the root of the problem with 'corrupt philosophies'. Established opinion is ruthlessly defensive. It appears to me that all philosophies are corrupt in this manner. And I just know that you think this way about me too. But I like to think of my own philosophy as 'offensive' (as opposed to defensive). I'm one of the guys who is making the challenge.

 

[FZ+]

By that argument, philosophy, born of internal thoughts, is inherently corrupt. Merely by the fact that you wish to defend your idea, that you are willing to spend hundreds of posts debating it, shows your bias and conviction. Nobody wants to be wrong, and this must corrupt existence. While you may use the question of Galileo, I may point out the hundreds of other philosophers that were rejected. Some claimed that the devil was god. Some claimed that motion cannot exist. Some claimed that 1 + 1 = 3. We judge them as insane, but each felt that they were right. To themselves, their opinions were always true.

A debate requires two sides. What did you expect, philosophies just to give up? Natural selection works in philosophy too, and the weak do not survive. It is expected that any theory would try to protect itself. That's how it works. That is the only framework in which philosophy survives, and thrives.

We do not know the absolute truth, because no such truth practically exists. We see with our eyes, or imperfect senses. By implication, every philosophy is imperfect, and untrue. So, in way, we must all be corrupt, and ignorant. Because no other way exists. Do you comprehend how you yourself can be corrupt and ignorant? No one can claim superiority in this way. If you think of the world as corrupt and ignorant, are you not making a statement out of corruption and ignorance? That is the basis of philosophy.

There is no difference between offense, and defence. The challengers also feel they are challenged by people who reject them. There is no claim against establishment. They simply challenge that you are wrong.

 

[wuliheron]

Originally posted by Lifegazer

Basically, I'm talking about the fear of being usurped by another
philosophy; or rather, by another establishment with another agenda.

...I find that a corruption, born of a bias, runs rampant amongst people who like to philosophise. People are constantly on the defensive about each others own philosophies, as a response to any specific challenge. They're not really listening to the challenge. They just want to explain why their own philosophy is correct, and why therefore, the challenge cannot be right.
And that is the root of the problem with 'corrupt philosophies'. Established opinion is ruthlessly defensive. It appears to me that all philosophies are corrupt in this manner. And I just know that you think this way about me too. But I like to think of my own philosophy as 'offensive' (as opposed to defensive). I'm one of the guys who is making the challenge.

What you are talking about is what I call fundamentalist philosophies. These are based on absolutism of one sort or another. As such, they are prone to aggression and intollerance. In general then, their power comes from their political application and the demonstrable tendency of people to adopt such absolute affacts and thoughts.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by FZ+
By that argument, philosophy, born of internal thoughts, inherently corrupt.

The offending philosophy to any establishment is not defensively corrupt. It's not even possible. Can we imagine, for example, a scenario whereby Galileo overcame his established peers, merely by locking them in jail? The offending philosophy is not corrupt - because it cannot be corrupt - because it does not have the power to be corrupt. Sure, the offending-philosopher can just tell lies, continually, thus corrupting himself in that way. But when that philosopher is being genuine, and he lacks the power to physically silence the establishment, then that philosopher's views are definitely not 'corrupt' in the moralistic-manner which I imply.
Not all philosophy is corrupt. And neither is it impossible for someone to give a response to a challenging argument, without being defensively ruthless. I especially commend Fliption for this trait. His open-ness (even though he has no bias towards me or my philosophy) is evidence for me making this statement. I've experienced it. I know that my arguments can be discussed without a trace of bias.
And so what you also say about "What do you expect?", means that I say that 'corrupt philosophy' can only be conquered when all people try to debate such matters in a truly open fashion.
As long as we remain defensive in regards to a philosophy which cannot logically sustain itself, then we also remain closed to a philosophy that can - if any such philosophy exists. But how would we know? We're too busy defending something, that cannot exist upon foundations made of pure-logic. That's the same for any philosophy. It's corrupt unless that philosophy is genuinely open to reform. The philosophers who created our current vision of things had to be open to reform. If they were not, then those philsophers are corrupt too.
I say that ridding philosophy of its corruptiveness is a good thing. Who would argue with that statement, save the corrupt themselves?

 

[FZ+]

The offending philosophy to any establishment is not defensively corrupt. It's not even possible. Can we imagine, for example, a scenario whereby Galileo overcame his established peers, merely by locking them in jail? The offending philosophy is not corrupt - because it cannot be corrupt - because it does not have the power to be corrupt. Sure, the offending-philosopher can just tell lies, continually, thus corrupting himself in that way. But when that philosopher is being genuine, and he lacks the power to physically silence the establishment, then that philosopher's views are definitely not 'corrupt' in the moralistic-manner which I imply.

Then neither are the defending philosophy. If Galileo had won, he would likely have done the same. If he did not, he could not have won. Everybody is genuine to oneself. Even the establishment lacks the power to physically silence the offender. Galileo could have hired an army too. This sort of moralistic manner simply does not apply. In "Proof of...", did you not ruthlessly defend yourself from raving materialist offenders? The best, nay the only defence is a good offence. Everybody is corrupted by his own views. Indeed, I can judge you are corrupted right now in defending yourself from my challenge, and that you would silence me if you can...

Not all philosophy is corrupt. And neither is it impossible for someone to give a response to a challenging argument, without being defensively ruthless. I especially commend Fliption for this trait. His open-ness (even though he has no bias towards me or my philosophy) is evidence for me making this statement. I've experienced it. I know that my arguments can be discussed without a trace of bias.

Openness itself is a corrupted bias. Why must philosophy be open? Why must neutrality be enforced? Staying to the moderate is in itself an expression of extremist. And, in any case, the sense of the moderate is one that is governed by the one who judges. One who is open minded to one person may be biased and skewed to another. Do not pretend that you can be unbiased when judging someone else of their bias. If I was to challenge Flipton on his philosophy (sorry Flipton) of openness, I expect him also to be defensively ruthless.

And so what you also say about "What do you expect?", means that I say that 'corrupt philosophy' can only be conquered when all people try to debate such matters in a truly open fashion.

I'll make a proposal. Truly open philosophy does not work. It brings no conclusions, only possibilities that are equal. An open philosophy cannot challenge, it cannot conclude, it cannot prove, it cannot defend. It can only be irrelevant. In the creation of reason itself, we make assumptions on the world around us, and limit this openness. The reality of the world is a balance between an overopen existence, and a closed, insubstantial one.

As long as we remain defensive in regards to a philosophy which cannot logically sustain itself, then we also remain closed to a philosophy that can - if any such philosophy exists. But how would we know? We're too busy defending something, that cannot exist upon foundations made of pure-logic. That's the same for any philosophy. It's corrupt unless that philosophy is genuinely open to reform. The philosophers who created our current vision of things had to be open to reform. If they were not, then those philsophers are corrupt too.

But there is no such thing as pure logic. Pure logic is an entity that does not exist. All we have are imperfections, and the grinding race of philosophical survival. Progress is an entity that comes from restriction and direction, not from allowance. Without argument these philosophers cannot have changed. Without corruption and passion, there can be no argument. No philosophy can sustain itself without assumptions, or inductive logic. It is the rock of establishment that produces the challenge and the real willingness to change. And open door is and open door to chaos, undirected change. An end to the evolution of philosophy that really made our current vision of things. The fact is, only the strong survive in philosophy. It is important to keep it that way.

I say that ridding philosophy of its corruptiveness is a good thing. Who would argue with that statement, save the corrupt themselves?

And who CAN argue for that statement, save the corrupt themselves? Philosophy is dependent on what you term corruption.

 

[RuroumiKenshin]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
I want to discuss corrupt philosophy, and how it can actually influence the members of a specific state to effect actions of bias within that state which will destroy any philosophy which challenges the status-quo.
Are the members of that state ignorant or guilty? What do you think?

I think it sounds hypocritical. Is that guilty or not guilty?

 

[heusdens]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
I want to discuss corrupt philosophy, and how it can actually influence the members of a specific state to effect actions of bias within that state which will destroy any philosophy which challenges the status-quo.
Are the members of that state ignorant or guilty? What do you think?

What do you mean with "corrupt philosophy"? Give some examples of corrupt philosophy..

 

[quantumdude]

You know what he means, and you know who the big, bad persecutors are.

 

[heusdens]

Originally posted by Tom
You know what he means, and you know who the big, bad persecutors are.

I get "some" idea, but let him explain what he means with "corrupt" philosophy.

I have definitely an other idea of what "corrupt philosophy" is. Religion is the foremost corrupt one.

 

[drag]

Greetings !

First, if I may, I'd like to make a suggestion
that names of countries and any specific and
clear references be kept out of this discussion.
This will allow the discussion(as I see it) to :
- Stay productive.
- Recieve real opinions on the subject rather
than biased differing political views.
- Stay in THIS forum.

Thank you all.

Back to LG's original post :
First of all, I believe your mention of the
status-quo is that of a particular situation.
A philosophy like the one you describe can
dictate many differnt things.

Second, like it was mentioned here before -
good and bad are relative terms easier to
define in most extreme situations and difficult
to define in most non-extreme situations.
(Even then it is ALWAYS a relative matter. BUT,
I'm referring to the current widely spread
and accepted ideas - the sanctity of human life
and personal high degree of freedom. In my personal
opinion these views themselves are not entirely
correct for today's real world and some other ideas
should be added - but that's not the issue here.)

Third, the situation that's being discribed ussualy
occurs in extreme circumpstance. This means that
according to what I said above it should ussualy
be easier to decide if it's good or bad - right
or wrong.

Accordingly, one can ussualy judge such a situation.
For example, if people are attacked by aliens they'll
all want to fight back - that's ussualy right. If one
group of people decides it wants to kill another -
that's ussualy wrong. The knowledge of the full
circumpstance is the MOST important part in any
such descision.

About guilt and ignorance - guilt is attributed
to those that were wrong. Or as Chancellor Gowron
rephrazed that - "History is written by the victors !"

Ignorance is not a type of verdict, it is basic
human nature. Humans in general are relativly
stupid and not hard to manipulate. It all depends
on what you present to them, how you present it
and how it all compares to their previous
knowledge and life experience.

"If I have seen farther than other men, it is
because I stood on the shoulders of giants."
Sir Isaac Newton

Live long and prosper.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by FZ+
Then neither are the defending philosophy. If Galileo had won, he would likely have done the same. If he did not, he could not have won.

Like I said, an offending philosophy yields no power, other than in the strength of its own argument. An individual challenge to establishment-values has practically zero power to influence the outcome of that challenge by physical means. All the power resides with the establishment.

Everybody is genuine to oneself.

That's an interesting comment. But I have found that there are two kinds of believers: those that admit that their beliefs are held by faith; and those that insist that their philosophy is correct, even though there is no rational proof for that philosophy. So, not everyone is being genuine to himself. He's being genuine to a static philosophy.

Even the establishment lacks the power to physically silence the offender.

What do you call a locked thread? Even little things such as this are part of a greater picture. The challenger is silenced eventually, if he goes too far.

Galileo could have hired an army too.

But then he would have power and would be yielding it. Hence his argument is offensively (as opposed to defensively) corrupt. Such situations usually lead to wars. Is war the only way to win an argument?

This sort of moralistic manner simply does not apply.

*laff*. Philosophy is the search for the loftiest truths. Not a practise (ideally) where individuals who challenge the status-quo are treated with disdain. You're talking about politics here. Politicians are expected to ignore a challenge and talk about what they want you to hear, in relation to their own ideals. But if this is how philosophy is being practised, then it's definitely corrupt!

 

[heusdens]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
What do you call a locked thread? Even little things such as this are part of a greater picture. The challenger is silenced eventually, if he goes too far.

Anyone on this forum can testify that you were not silenced expressing your rigid ideas, it's just that when having discussed it over and over, and sufficient proof was made against the very fundaments of your philosophy, which has shown to be nothing more then an absurdity, the fact is that you would still not listen to any reasonable argument.

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by heusdens
Anyone on this forum can testify that you were not silenced expressing your rigid ideas, it's just that when having discussed it over and over, and sufficient proof was made against the very fundaments of your philosophy, which has shown to be nothing more then an absurdity, the fact is that you would still not listen to any reasonable argument.

I might not survive this particular game. But I'll make sure that every one here knows exactly what they themselves are party to. You're murdering this philosophy-forum. Not by your presence; but by your attitude. You are 'defensively corrupt' in the surest-sense of the term. You are a good politician. But you're not a good philosopher.
But guess what? If this was my forums, I would not seek to have you silenced. I would want the readers to decide if your philosophy was valid. I would demean the value of my own philosophy, by silencing all others. Hand on heart: I would not do to you what you have done to me.

 

[BoulderHead]

I have found that there are two kinds of believers: those that admit that their beliefs are held by faith; and those that insist that their philosophy is correct, even though there is no rational proof for that philosophy.

Then I guess there must actually be three kinds in order to account for those who insist not only their philosophy is correct, but also that there is rational proof of same…

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
You're murdering this philosophy-forum. Not by your presence; but by your attitude. You are 'defensively corrupt' in the surest-sense of the term. You are a good politician. But you're not a good philosopher.

That's the way we all feel about you.

But guess what? If this was my forums,

But guess what? It's not your forum.
And guess what else? You can get your own forum.

It's that second fact that makes me laugh out loud at your "Galileo" speech. To listen to you, you would think that we banned you from using the whole internet. Last I checked, anyone could still get webspace, regardless of their religious views.

I would not seek to have you silenced. I would want the readers to decide if your philosophy was valid.

And you haven't been silenced. If we had wanted to do that, your thread would have been deleted. We listened to you...and listened...and listened...and listened, and we told you why we disagree. It's not our fault that you don't understand logic.

Do yourself a favor: pick up what's left of your dignity and stop this silliness.

 

[heusdens]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
I might not survive this particular game. But I'll make sure that every one here knows exactly what they themselves are party to. You're murdering this philosophy-forum. Not by your presence; but by your attitude. You are 'defensively corrupt' in the surest-sense of the term. You are a good politician. But you're not a good philosopher.
But guess what? If this was my forums, I would not seek to have you silenced. I would want the readers to decide if your philosophy was valid. I would demean the value of my own philosophy, by silencing all others. Hand on heart: I would not do to you what you have done to me.

Even when your whole philosophy was an absurdity and a corrupt vision on reality (which implies us to believe that no such reality exists in the first place), I never accused you of anything, but went deep down into the challenge that you put me and others on here.

That your thread was locked, is not my fault, you can only blame that on the person who did that, or on yourself, who wrote the thread.

You can only accuse me of discussing the absurdity of your philosophical claims, and providing a good set of arguments against it. Or is discussing your philosophy a crime in itself?

THOSE WO DO NOT ACCEPT THE WORDS OF LIFEGAZER, ARE DOOMED FOR ALL OF ETERNITY...

Yeah!

 

[Lifegazer]

Originally posted by BoulderHead
Then I guess there must actually be three kinds in order to account for those who insist not only their philosophy is correct, but also that there is rational proof of same…

'Belief' and 'reason'. They aren't brothers. And if they are, then one is Cain and one is Abel. 'Belief' kills 'reason'. That's so important that I'm going to say it again: belief kills reason.

 

[heusdens]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
'Belief' and 'reason'. They aren't brothers. And if they are, then one is Cain and one is Abel. 'Belief' kills 'reason'. That's so important that I'm going to say it again: belief kills reason.

Yeah. Now we just have to define which is which.

 

[BoulderHead]

Belief in the infallibility of one's ability to reason kills reason too.

 

[wuliheron]

I'd rather be a man of paradox than a man of prejudice.

Jean-Jacques ROUSSEAU, Émile ou De l'éducation, livre II

 

[FZ+]

Originally posted by Lifegazer
Like I said, an offending philosophy yields no power, other than in the strength of its own argument. An individual challenge to establishment-values has practically zero power to influence the outcome of that challenge by physical means. All the power resides with the establishment.

That's an interesting comment. But I have found that there are two kinds of believers: those that admit that their beliefs are held by faith; and those that insist that their philosophy is correct, even though there is no rational proof for that philosophy. So, not everyone is being genuine to himself. He's being genuine to a static philosophy.

What do you call a locked thread? Even little things such as this are part of a greater picture. The challenger is silenced eventually, if he goes too far.

But then he would have power and would be yielding it. Hence his argument is offensively (as opposed to defensively) corrupt. Such situations usually lead to wars. Is war the only way to win an argument?

*laff*. Philosophy is the search for the loftiest truths. Not a practise (ideally) where individuals who challenge the status-quo are treated with disdain. You're talking about politics here. Politicians are expected to ignore a challenge and talk about what they want you to hear, in relation to their own ideals. But if this is how philosophy is being practised, then it's definitely corrupt!

Oh... awfully defensive aren't we? One might even say... corruptly so...
I guess the word of Lifegazer has again defined who has the power, and who has not. I guess the word of Lifegazer did not realize that a philosophy of debelief in God, or rather more correctly a belief in the lack of proof for God is not in fact, the establishment, but a challenge with which we gain nothing. The fact is, it seems abundantly clear that you have defended your our beliefs with all ruthless force. Indeed, the starting of this thread is representative of that. We have even allowed you to sprout this paranoic belief of yours.

I don't suppose you noticed WHY your post was locked. It was because we weren't getting anywhere. It was because of failure of you to acknowledge any uncertainty, and you stubbornness to keep to your own faith. In some ways, that is a virtue, but that in no ways allow a discussion. In many ways, that discussion was descending into a farce, with you using the accusation of materialism as an argument. Might I remind you that it was unlocked in the hope that you can inject some sort of rationality into it, but the failure was what caused the locking. No, you self belief and stubbornness in defending your own idea, and force that onto other people is what caused it to be locked. And it is why you do not realize your error, because you are too busy accusing someone else.

Do you not realize how your own belief are skewing your view? Do you not realize the bare faced arrogance in saying that the reason other do not agree is fear? Do you not realize that the world is not, in fact, centred around you, and that anybody else can have the same irrational opinion that you are making these arguments out of a desperation to justify irrational faith with reason, and that your opposition to materialism is always born of irrational bias. Nobody has ever attacked spiritualism. Nobody has ever prevented you from giving your opinion, or dismissed them without consideration. These enemies of yours are made entirely of your imagination. We have always tolerated you. It is you who has created this "picture" of pieces of your own bias.

You have made a war of words the only way to win an argument. It is you who has closed down the options, who has rejected the idea that you may be wrong. It is you who has power whether to argue rationally or irrationally. It is you who has chosen. When you propose an argument, it is the arguer who has the power. Did Galileo not eventually win? Then trust in your argument, not make such accusations of those you argue against. You are trying to make this a war of personalities, not philosophies.

And the loftiest truth is one that is unacheivable. You have said so yourself, when arguing about the subjective nature of experience, remember? The search is important, and there is no good or evil theory. The faith of philosophy is that philosophies win the day. But you have ignored challenge. You have but pose behind substance. You have ignored the fact that we all seek the truth, and that there is nothing to gain from it. The existence of power, the existence of motivation, the existence of dominant theories, a test for new theories is one that is inevitable. Philosophy, if judged in that way, in inherently corrupt.

Enough of this. The challenger is unimportant, only the philosophy itself. You should not be making such petty complaints, but instead working on a new, more successful philosophy.

 

[Kerrie]

this thread is seeming to get ugly...