What are your philosophical leanings?

[isometry]

I mainly agree with the "virtue ethics" of Plato and Aristotle. I'd rather have an oligarchy of great people than a democracy. In this context "great" means excelling in academics and athletics, serving in the military, studying subjects like mathematics, physical science, and philosophy "that turn the soul upwards", and only after doing all that by age 50 or so would they be ready to rule. These philosopher-kings would live in government provided housing with minimal possessions (to prevent corruption, and besides they do not care for worldly goods themselves) and not raise children of their own (to prevent nepotism).

The system works, because according to Plato studying philosophy and science leads them to a world that is superior to the physical. In fact, studying and reasoning about the intellectual world is so much more pleasant than considering human affairs, these people are the one group of society most reluctant to seek political power. As Plato said:

Moreover, I said, you must not wonder that those who attain to this beatific vision are unwilling to descend to human affairs; for their souls are ever hastening into the upper world where they desire to dwell; which desire of theirs is very natural...

But eventually studying the form of goodness leads them to see that it's their duty to help with human affairs, and then they are ready to be leaders. Compared to this ideal form of government, Democracy is inferior, as Plato says it degenerates into plutocracy, rule by the rich. I'd like to see his reaction to our mass media democracy with unlimited campaign contributions.

 

[isometry]

Things are always more complicated that they appear. By extension, I'm never going to be able to truly understand anything.

That's true, but even though the journey is never ending there is a lot to be learned a long the way, so the fact that we'll never reach a definitive end is no reason not to move in the direction of increasing knowledge.

 

[LilithSlave]

Well I think the conflict could be reduced by simply deeming some desires not worthy of fulfilling. Looking at a paper I had to write for a philosophy class(your mention of Epicureanism made me decided to look at it again) I noticed this quote I took from Epicurus' Letter to Menoeceus:

?"One should keep in mind that among desires, some are natural and some are vain.

Yes, that's basically what I said, is it not?

Or are you just expounding on what I said?

 

[Olas]

Topic is too broad.
Which branch of philosophy?
Or else I can't answer.

 

[Kolby Jack]

I like to see things play out, and don't like to get involved. I've always been pretty lazy, so my personal philosophy (which is to do nothing except sit and watch) reflects my personality. I also try to play Devil's advocate as much as I can, because a) it helps me better see the other side of things and keeps me from blinding myself to the flaws or over-inflating the benefits of whatever it is I'm analyzing, and b) because when I do it with people, they tend to get upset, which is always fun to watch.

I also base my morality on empathy (vis a vis the golden rule), and never, EVER, put all my eggs in one basket. I refuse to completely believe there is no higher power in life as much as I refuse to believe there is. Proof of either is pretty damn hard to come by, thus I consider myself agnostic. I don't identify as a Republican or a Democrat because both sides have merit in different times and places (but I don't vote anyway because again, lazy). I think logically and don't spend extended amounts of time on emotions because how I feel about something is fleeting and warps my views the longer I dwell on it. I think happiness is a choice, not an emotion, and the reason people become unhappy is because they expect too much from life and dwell too long on mistakes. I don't take many things that seriously, least of all tastes in entertainment. I find Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia to be funny at times, and don't really care whether or not people assume I'm an idiot because of that. I don't really care what anyone thinks of me until those thoughts become an inconvenience to me. I don't think work is an obligation you HAVE to do before play, and while I do think hard-workers should be admired, I don't think people who chose not to work hard should be admonished (of course I accept that I'm probably biased in that area >.>).

I believe pretty staunchly in democracy, down to the point where even though it isn't the "cool" thing to do, if something is popular with a demographic I relate to, it probably means I'll like it. This also goes along with my "do nothing" policy: I don't get involved in ongoing socio-political issues because I believe if enough people want change, then they'll get change, and if they didn't get the change they wanted, things will keep changing until they do.

Last but not least, I try to be humble in all things. As seen from this quote:

"Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame."
- Uncle Iroh

So I try to avoid pride, at least in myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy when I accomplish something, but in the grand scheme of things my accomplishments usually mean very little. This is not low self-esteem, it's just perspective. I am proud of my friends and family though.

All in all, I can expect myself to be no better than myself, otherwise I wouldn't be myself. Or, as a great man once said:

Spoiler

And THAT's my philosophies in a nutshell. A very long, probably not read by most of you guys nutshell.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Things are always more complicated that they appear. By extension, I'm never going to be able to truly understand anything.

That's true, but even though the journey is never ending there is a lot to be learned a long the way, so the fact that we'll never reach a definitive end is no reason not to move in the direction of increasing knowledge.

Oh yes, I agree with that. But we should be wary of being too satisfied with what we think we know. It's tempting to believe we can make snap judgements about big issues and not be contradicted, but it doesn't tend to work out that way.

 

[Nouw]

I strive to be a Bodhisattva and hopefully one day I will become one.

 

[Kolby Jack]

Things are always more complicated that they appear. By extension, I'm never going to be able to truly understand anything.

Interesting. Personally I find that things are often FAR simpler than we make them out to be or than we like to believe.

 

[Smiley Face]

In terms of ethical philosophy, I'm not well versed enough in it to be able to categorize my own system - of the works I have read, I HATE Kant's system, but at the same time it has a HUGE wealth of good structural underlying - it's very close to being good, but when it comes together, it's just stupid, and not actually applicable. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics has a wealth of good points on virtue and happiness.

In terms of OTHER philosophical questions:

Personal Identity: I like Parfit's survivalist view of the self (Nozick has a lot going for him too).

Epistemology: Epistemology is largely based around attempted refutations or circumventions of Cartesian Doubt/The Skeptical Scenario (What if we're all in the Matrix?), and although some folks make good shots at it (Nozick, Lewis), none that I've seen so far manage it.

Metaphysics: If you haven't, do yourself a favour and read some of the metaphysics that go against common sense - Hume's Problem of Induction and McTaggart's Time is Not Real are fun places to start.

 

[Arakasi]

Determinism to explain the universe.
Indeterminism to live it.
Nilhism to view morality.
Choice to use it.

I like to use what I call the law of negative effects for my morality.
'One can do whatever one pleases, so long as it does not negitavely effect another's happiness, wellbeing or privacy.'
Of course, unless they negitavely affect you. Then it's on.

 

[Comma-Kazie]

Fuck Islam.

Beyond that, I'm a "live-and-let-live" kind of person.

 

[Nopodop]

I just try to be as amoral and as rational as possible.

 

[Wintermoot]

rational and moral I would also never attack and only defend (IE bordering on pacifism).
I never bothered to read up on philosophy but I think there exist no after life instead I belief in the infinite world theory. The moment you die be it by accident or your body crapping g out on you a second world is created where you live to support the possibilities of you surviving, for example there exists a world where JFK survived his assassination.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Epicurean, straight up.

Militant Buddhist.

I believe that true happiness comes from detachment from earthly desires and possessions, and I also believe that everybody else should benefit from this belief.

I mainly use it as an excuse to rob people.

Have I ever told I love you?

No?

Good, because I just made sure you're not being hypocritical. Thanks for the free swag, man. But, in keeping with my own guidance, I've only robbed you in moderation. What do you think--should a Buddhist have his dignity, or could I safely remove that without getting greedy? After all, the less you have, the less you're attached to.

Guess I just want to help a friend out.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

Agnostic.
Anti-Censorship.
Secularist.
Skeptic and realist.

Dovahkin