i believe that without philosophy society would go nowhere. philosophy isnt confined just to "what is real", like many unknowing people think. it expands into math, science, religion, etc,. it starts with "why" and "how", as one explores these questions they develope their own explanations, and when they find a logical explanation they share it, not because they have too, it's because they weren't satisfied with the answers they had before.

im not going to say it's our duty to teach our philosophies, but if we dont, then we cant complain.

Personal philosophy? We all have one, of course. Would mine be superior to yours ?Who knows, even if you could travel to the future and find out one way or another the information may be useless upon your return. Live and let live. Que sera, sera. The Golden Rule. They all mean the same thing basically; and for the most part we all believe in them already. So why go beating up others' psyches to force something on them when you can just be a good person and leave their minds and hearts in the same shape you found them in?

Philosophy? Better way of life? Sharing?

You poor demented lost souls.

You all go to the store. You all buy things.

So teach others how to buy things!!

Teach them how to be good little consumers like YOU!

Oh... er: that's not your 'philosophy'...er.... that's just WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY. Oh... so that does not apply to your PHILOSOPHY.

Share?

Share what? How to walk down an aisle and pick out crap you want?

Oh... that's not your 'philosophy'... that's just your LIFESTYLE!!

Oh... so your PERSONAL!!! (get this) PHILOSOPHY!!!

Has NOTHING!! to do with what you do every day and your lifestyle.

What exactly IS this 'personal' philosophy of yours, eh?

It is something you CHOOSE to have.

It is a CHOICE.

It is a CONSUMER CHOICE...

BUT!

Since evreyone believes that they ALSO! have the GOD GIVEN RIGHT! to CHOOSE whatever they want: Why then... you IMBECILES...

It turns out that every 'PERSONAL' philosophy... happens to be DIFFERENT from every OTHER 'personal' philosophy.

And what is the result of this?

You poor illogical demented souls: are incapable of agreeing about ANYTHING with each other. You idiots are INCAPABLE of SHARING anything with each other.

Because... it's all PERSONAL???

So each PERSONALITY? has their own PERSONAL? philosophy?

And if everyone on the planet were to adopt YOUR! 'personal' philosophy? They would be much better off?

Because YOUR 'personal' philosophy don't-you-know...

(And now this gets REALLY stupid)

Is supposed to be BETTER!!!

Than all of the OTHER billions of 'personal' philosophies!!!!

God what a bunch of immature children you are.

OH!! And by the way... you little shrinking violets...

NONE of you have gotten up the COURAGE to actually REVEAL!!

What your &%$^#* 'personal' philosophies ARE!!!

What are you all waiting for, EH?

Someone to come and bow down before you and BEG you to reveal your 'personal' SECRET wisdom? Which you have garnered over the ages, and through much trial and tribulation?

I happen to 'choose' not to have a @#$%^& 'personal' philosophy...

So I guess I do not qualify to tell any of YOU my 'philosophy'...

You see: MY 'philosophy' I apply to EVERYONE. Not just ME.

It is a UNIVERSAL 'philosophy'. it is not a 'philosophy' I CHOOSE to have.

It is the only LOGICAL one there is...

But far be it for ME to disturb any of your *&*%#^& 'PERSONAL' philosophies...

You might not want to CHOOSE the one I have...

And since all of you are good little consumers: I am sure all of you can go to the store and CHOOSE what you want, and be HAPPY!

Get it?

Choose what you want! BE HAPPY! Consuming is CHOICE! CHOOSE! CHOOSING IS HAPPINESS! CHOOSE YOUR PERSONAL *(&#*&#$%@(
PHILOSOPHY!!!

But do not open your silly little smug insufferably arrogant mouths and try to tell ANOTHER consumer what they can or cannot CHOOSE...

Understand?

It is well that none of you open your mouths about your 'personal' tastes in philosophy. Because none of your 'personal' tastes are worth a shit to any other consumer. They buy what they like. You buy what you like.

So just leave it there, and have done with this shit about 'personal' philosophy.

I got into something like this recently where it started out as a personal conversation and, had it not been abruptly distracted, could have escalated into a full scale argument I'm sure. It began as a friendly conversation I was having with someone on just personal info which led into religion and spirituality. My beliefs in this area and hers differed, and I did speak my mind about the way I feel things are, and she hers. The difficulty came when it was pointed out several times that I agreeing with what she was saying and that I was told that I wasn't listening or agreeing on the way that things are "supposed to be". I was willing to agree to disagree, but apparently she felt it her duty to point out that my difference of opinion was considered by her to be an error in judgment/facts. As antiquated as I felt her thinking might be (and I also could have very well brought forth the argument of whether she had come to the conclusions on her own or if it was something that was ingrained or force-fed what she'd never took the time to look at), I decided to be respectful of what she believed and that she was intelligent enough of a person to consider what I had put forth as my personal truth. We must have done something right because we are still friendly with one another and I don't feel the energy between us has changed much.

So I say it can be a good thing though needs to be handled carefully. I think it's best when you present your view and let the other party take in the information, and do with it what they will (accept/reject/partially consume/integrate/whatever). If you decide to debate it, do it respectfully.

Respectfully?

You mean you found you could NOT hold a conversation that has any relevance to your life with another consumer: unless you SHUT UP and do NOT speak about it again.

That is not neing respectful: that is both of you deciding to be mutual HYPOCRITES... and being sure that NEITHER of you ever tell the other consumer what they ACTUALLY THINK AND FEEL AND BELIEVE.

THAT is the state you are in. THAT is your mealy-mouthed respectful hypocrisy you live every day of your life.

'oh... let's just not talk about it'....

GOD you make me sick.

But you learned ONE thing my friend... NEVER try to force another consumer to follow YOUR philosophy. NEVER tell other consumers what your personal beliefs are.

ONLY TALK ABOUT MEANINGLESS TRIVIA

Not about anything that is relevant or meaningful.

THAT is your stinking consumer lifestyle.

THAT is why all consumers cannot stand each other except on the MOST superficial level possible.

THAT is what you DO NOT WANT TO FACE.

You do not want to face the fact that your consumer lifestyle and what you do every day does not make you happy.

Instead: it makes you UNHAPPY. It makes you ALIENATED. it makes you LONELY. And it turns you into a card-carrying consumer hypocrite.

arguing forever doesn't help anyone, unless both parties like arguing, like you and i do, turak.

What is it with you? Why are you following me around like a dog? Youare not part of this discussion: so kindly keep your useless comments to yourself.

why keep my useless comments to myself, when you feel you can pollute my philosophy board with them.

*coughs* It's my philosophy board.

quiet, you

HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!

This asinine idiot thinks he OWNS this forum!!!

Tell us more, asshole!

HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!

What a maroon: HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!

See, with apostate and a few others in here, i enjoy having a discurssion on things. Sure they get a little heated but i come out learning something. To me, that's the best reason to go to a forum like this or to have a discussion with someone.

My roomate freshman year was a devout catholic republican and a political science major, so fairly informed and well read in politics and actually took the time to know the ins and outs of her religion too.

Having an arguement with her was like having a great conversation. The range of topics was huge and we usually were of opposite views, yet i learned. Didnt agree with everything, nor did we even have to agree to disagree on everything.

That's one of the reasons i returned to this board, and why i like playing on the debate part of the forums.

Turak, i've really tried to take in what you have to say for the simple reason there's got to be something behind it that makes you believe in it and thus something i can learn.

As a scientist, i get that you cannot always take things for granted as set in stone fact (one of the reasons i adimatly say in here that science has 'facts' but really they're just the closest we've got for now). Just like you cant advance further with celestial movement if we took it for granted that the planets moved in a circle. Just like our nanotechnology wouldnt be where it is today if we still believed in the plumb pudding model of an atom or bohr's model.

However, if we never took newton's laws for what they were we would not be able to predict kinematic motion as well as we do. Einstein showed the flaws in his stuff but you've got to base things somewhere to advance.

You have to assume the sun will rise tomorrow to make plans, you have to assume the water will come on when you turn the spicket or your computer will turn on when you press the switch. Assumption is how we can manage to live daily.

You know what though, sometimes the computer doesnt turn on. Then you reevaluate and figure out why things arent the way you expect them to be.

I do wish though, that you contributed real content to this forum. The ad hominem attacks are past getting old now and for someone as experienced in life as you claim to be, it's really immature.

Oh TELL US!

What have you 'learned' from an asshole who believes he OWNS! thjis forum and only tolerates YOU as long as you kiss his ass?

Dis I gotta HEAR!!

if you mean me, he does not kiss my ass. rarely do we agree perfectly but he at least defends his arguments in such a way that i can understand him. i try my best to do the same for him. you defend nothing and hence neither of us respect you.

Oh?

You DEFEND something?

What is it exactly that you er... DEFEND... eh?

Or to put it MUCH more clearly:

What exactly do YOU stand for, eh? Anything?

I doubt turak is here seeking respect.

An ad hominem attack only works if the victim falls prey to it.

So far noone has taken his spoof seriously

His attacks are probably calculated to disrupt any serious discussion and as such should be summarily ignored

He has constantly (except in his own thread) made many vapid and quite vacuous statements without providing any proof nor any facts to support his bloated straw man arguments.

Though I find myself curiously awaiting his next empty insult if only to giggle a bit inanely

I highly doubt that anyone has taken any serious offense to his rants

offense? i live for this shit.

you have failed to tell me what you STAND FOR

you have f