"I think, therefore I exist" -- Rene Descartes

Philosophy, An introduction to the Art of Wondering - Sixth Edition -- pages 36/37 | 1994 | James L. Christian

[Luis Gonzalez]

Then of course, there is the Chinese version.

Cogito ergo dim sum.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Here's a thread that will not be fouled by our resident Constitutional Gilligan!

"I thinks, therefore I is...I thinks."---H.A.

[eastsider]

Cogito ergo dim sum.

Have you ever had Chinese/German cuisine? An hour later, and you're hungry for power.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"An hour later, and you're hungry for power."

ROTFLMAO!!!

[thinktwice]

Can one determine here on earth whether what one does with the gift(s) one is given deserves eternal reward or punishment?

What's it going to be, using your abilities or not using them?

Proper use of one's abilities is a path to success in this life and maybe the next, whereas wasting one's abilities is a sure path to failure in this life and maybe the next.

[eastsider]

Proper use ...

That's what I'm getting at. What criterion determines whether we're using any of our gifts properly?

[thinktwice]

What criterion determines whether we're using any of our gifts properly?

Proper use of abilities, in my mind, is rational use -- a life of reason, so to speak.

[eastsider]

The problem I have with wisdom as the ultimate virtue is that it leaves open the possibility that irrational humans (Democrats?) have no purpose.

[thinktwice]

the possibility that irrational humans (Democrats?) have no purpose.

Humans, by definition, are rational beings; meaning that irrational behavior is non-human behavior. Regarding Democrat irrationality, most choose that path as a result of indoctrination ... from public schools, for instance.

[eastsider]

Humans, by definition, are rational beings; meaning that irrational behavior is non-human behavior.

Artistotle's definition of man as a rational animal is a definition of man's nature; however, the agent of behavior is a person, not his nature. A person's choice to act irrationally by, say, killing himself, would not make him a non-human person, or, by extension, make his suicide non-human behavior.

[thinktwice]

Artistotle's definition of man as a rational animal is a definition of man's nature; however, the agent of behavior is a person, not his nature. A person's choice to act irrationally by, say, killing himself, would not make him a non-human person, or, by extension, make his suicide non-human behavior.

Ambiguity provides excellent disguise when rationalizing irrational behavior.

[weikel]

She only says that some people are horoic beings a lot have the nature of the looter.

[thinktwice]

She only says that some people are horoic beings a lot have the nature of the looter.

In Ayn Rand's philosophy -- Objectivism -- today's democrats are the looters and people like Ronald Reagan are heroic.

[weikel]

Basically yeah.

[discostu]

The quote provided said she saw man as basically heroic. I can only go with what's in front of me.

[Tench_Coxe]

This has been disproved in the last thirty years by the continued existence of the Democrats.

[thinktwice]

The quote provided said she saw man as basically heroic. I can only go with what's in front of me.

Does that mean to say that you see man as basically depraved?

[eastsider]

Ambiguity?

[Julliardsux]

I am, therefore I'll think - Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

[discostu]

I see man as basically lazy and similar to water in our desire to take the path of least resistance. Not energetic enough for either heroics or depravity on a truly mzjor scale.