Social challenges of FDR

Conrad · Subject: Re: Social challenges of FDR Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:41 am

Toolbox wrote:

Stewart wrote:

I can't agree more with Danny about this. Autodidacticism is wonderful, and often an integral part of good philosophy. But it's mostly worthless if one doesn't ever validate their own ideas against the larger community of philosophy. And the reason has nothing to do with authority or elitism, but simply that, in spite of what the people on certain message boards will tell you, good philosophy is really hard to do.

One can throw around words like "rational" and "logical", and can learn all the latin words that describe logical fallacies, but actually analyzing propositions and language for their logical content is not something which comes naturally to most people. It requires a lot of practice, and particularly a lot of feedback. That feedback has to come from, as Danny indicated, people who are, themselves, good philosophers. If a bunch of people on YouTube tell you that your ideas are great, but every trained logician you encounter tells you that your philosophy is riddled with holes, then you have a serious problem.

you're a real big intellectual type aren't you? I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid.

hey Toolbox, welcome to LM

what happened from the moment you were 'young and stupid' to now?
;-)

Quote:

I mean those are some big words you're using there, autodidacticism... did you look that one up first?

it's just 'didacticism' with 'auto' in front of it. no biggie

you seem to think that philosophy cannot be valid unless other people agree with it, that's a cute notion, I'm sure your philosophy prof agrees with you.[/quote]
i don't think that's what he said or implied though. he talks about having your ideas rigorously analyzed by philosophers who, for all the other faults they may have, are pretty good at stuff like that

Quote:

your attempts at a critique are really quite amusing, nothing like a little pseudo-intellectualism to spice up a conversation... ooh I can just imagine your comeback now, something intellectual and insulting. Have fun.

well, I think the insults are coming from you, the intellectual stuff not so much at this point though. what arguments do you have against his position?

Dylboz · Number of posts: 2014 Registration date: 2007-09-20

Seems that the main tools this guy has in his box are a snarky strawman builder and an ad hominator.

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Toolbox · Number of posts: 16 Registration date: 2008-06-05

wow you guys are sharp and on the mark...

when I was in college I did a masters in philosophy, very exciting stuff. I got out of it though, and now I... do other stuff.

Danny Shahar · Number of posts: 948 Registration date: 2007-12-30

Toolbox, where were you doing your masters work? Why did you decide to stop? I'm curious because I'm hoping to start work on a PhD in philosophy next year and am always interested to hear from people who were in the same position as me and changed their minds. If you don't mind the interview, I'd love to pick your brain a bit!

Stewart · Subject: Re: Social challenges of FDR Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:39 pm

Jesus, I'm really getting roughed up around here lately... Smile

Hey Toolbox, sorry you think I'm such a dick. But relax, dude; if you get this upset whenever you think some stranger on the Internet is over-representing his intelligence, you're liable to give yourself a stroke.

ExyPhylo · Number of posts: 1180 Registration date: 2007-12-12

ok stuart...thanks to you! I ruptured a kidney on that one...lol

Danny Shahar · Number of posts: 948 Registration date: 2007-12-30

Hehe someone is wrong on the internet.

http://xkcd.com/386/

lordmetroid · Number of posts: 212 Registration date: 2007-08-18

Toolbox wrote:

I mean those are some big words you're using there, autodidacticism... did you look that one up first?

Even I, who comes from Sweden and English being my secondary language knows and have used autodidactism... So obviously it can't be that much of a word to fuss about.

NonEntity · Number of posts: 2598 Registration date: 2007-11-08

That's about preaching to your car to mend it's bad driving habits, ain't it? I tryd that, but it don't listen no how. It jest drives like it wanna. Scares me shitless!

- NonE

Anne la Jordanie · Number of posts: 90 Age: 20 Registration date: 2008-02-26

Danny, that is my FAVORITE xkcd comic! I sort of imagine Stef being like that at times- an idealist sure they know the truth attaching too much importance (in my personal value scale, anyways) to internet inaccuracies.

So, in this situation, what would Stef do? (And does it qualify as returning to the original topic of conversation if the answer involves social challenges?)

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