A humorous introduction to philosophy

[Sewblon]

Just something that was bouncing around my head. I hope that someone gets something out of this.

There are three basic types of philosophy.

1. The first is Socratic philosophy, what Socrates did in Plato's dialogs. This is where you interrogate everyone you meet about things that no one has strong opinions about or has given much thought to except for you, thereby forcing them to think. The only downside to this method is it eventually makes everyone you meet feel dumb and hate you for it.

2. The second is Eastern philosophy, this is where you speak in contradictions to people who are prone to forming strong opinions without giving them much thought, so that they argue with each other about what you meant. This works as long as you don't meet anyone who is smart enough to tell that you are speaking nonsense.

3. The third is where you make a carefully worded defense of a controversial position, so that everyone who hears you will feel obligated to debunk you, thereby forcing them to think. I call this the Anselmian Method, after Anselm for his Ontological Argument. The main downside is that if someone successfully debunks you, they will get all the credit. The upside is that if you do it right, this won't happen until you are long dead and some other philosopher will eventually revise your claims with new defenses and begin the cycle anew.

 

[orangebandguy]

The third one I can sympathise with the most.

The ontological arguement is a load of crap, but it was the easiest to write about. I got an A in my philosophy exam for it.

 

[Sewblon]

The third one I can sympathise with the most.

The ontological arguement is a load of crap, but it was the easiest to write about. I got an A in my philosophy exam for it.

Do you mean Anselm's version, Plantinga's version, someone else's, or the argument in general? And good for you about the A.

 

[Baneat]

The third one I can sympathise with the most.

The ontological arguement is a load of crap, but it was the easiest to write about. I got an A in my philosophy exam for it.

Do you mean Anselm's version, Plantinga's version, someone else's, or the argument in general? And good for you about the A.

Ontological argument more or less follows rule two, no?

 

[the Dept of Science]

Eastern Philosophies are far more concerned with how to live your life than Western ones, to the extent that they do seem to blur the line between philosophy and religion.

Also, you forgot Continental Philosophy, which is "the arguments themselves aren't so important, just make sure that you make them with a compelling narrative*".

*also, you are but a mere speck in a vast, cruel and uncaring universe.

 

[Nimbus]

So philosophy is a collection of ways to trick people into thinking?

 

[orangebandguy]

The third one I can sympathise with the most.

The ontological arguement is a load of crap, but it was the easiest to write about. I got an A in my philosophy exam for it.

Do you mean Anselm's version, Plantinga's version, someone else's, or the argument in general? And good for you about the A.

Anselm, with a bit of Descartes thrown in for good measure.

 

[Sewblon]

So philosophy is a collection of ways to trick people into thinking?

Making people think is not necessarily the whole of philosophy, but it is the most important part, since there can be no joint inquiry unless everyone involved is thinking about the same thing and taking it seriously. So you need a few ways to reliably make that happen.

 

[Lyx]

I don't get much out of it. Some people call me "philosophic", but i actually dislike most philosophers. The described "methods" visualize quite well what i dislike about philosophy: I see no point in argueing for the sake of argueing. I investigate things when i notice that i miss something and would benefit from understanding it - else i dont. I discuss things, when i feel that both could efficiently raise their understanding of stuff in a useful way - else i don't. And so on, and so on. I explore to gain something, or because i'm curious - this has little in common with verbal sports games.

And i do consider philosophy a mental sports game. If i want something like that, i may as well play a game and call it like that, instead of pretending to do something else.

 

[Augustus Drakken]

Socratic philosophy was actually a reason me and my last girlfriend broke up.

 

[kikon9]

I like eastern philosophy the most, it's entertaining to see the morons I normally deal with try to deal with it.

 

[Sewblon]

Socratic philosophy was actually a reason me and my last girlfriend broke up.

Who was practicing Socratic philosophy on whom? If I may be so bold.

 

[Augustus Drakken]

Socratic philosophy was actually a reason me and my last girlfriend broke up.

Who was practicing Socratic philosophy on whom? If I may be so bold.

Me to Her.

 

[neoontime]

Guilty of the second, but only due to me hanging around so many stupids.