News:

Welcome to our site!

Main Menu

American Stupidity

Started by Baruch, September 15, 2017, 06:30:47 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Baruch

http://time.com/4937675/how-to-fix-american-stupidity/

Many of you would agree with this article by a philosopher.  Yet ... most of you claim that philosophy is BS.  Why is that?
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

pr126


aitm

That falls very much into my response on your other post. Once someone has convinced themself and they make it a point so that everyone knows their point. They simply cannot admit they are wrong. Too painful, too emotional.
A humans desire to live is exceeded only by their willingness to die for another. Even god cannot equal this magnificent sacrifice. No god has the right to judge them.-first tenant of the Panotheust

Mike Cl

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Mike Cl

I love this quote from the article:
Let me be clear: By “stupidity” I do not mean a lack of knowledge, education, skill or savvy. Stupidity is not the same as ignorance or incompetence or folly (although it often leads to foolish behavior). I do not mean it as some immature, all-purpose playground insult. Stupidity is a kind of intellectual stubbornness. A stupid person has access to all the information necessary to make an appropriate judgment, to come up with a set of reasonable and justified beliefs and yet fails to do so. The evidence is staring them right in the face but it makes no difference whatsoever. They believe what they want to believe. Not only do they have no good reasons for thinking that what they believe is true â€" there are often good reasons for thinking that what they believe is false. They are not acting in a rational manner.

I have thought this for a long time now.  I used to think that the vast majority of this country was simply ignorant.  And ignorance can be fixed by simply supplying facts.  But I have come to realize that the majority of this country are stupid.  Those of my family understand what I mean when I say something like--The SFA's are at it again!  SFA=Stupid Fucking American.  They are growing; witness Trump and the fundamentalist religious (of any and all religions).  Stupid--can't be fixed. 
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Gilgamesh

The majority of humans are stupid.

Psychology evolved to favor socialisation before the concept of objective truth. Therefore most people will adopt convictions that allow them to sit in good standing among their peers, even in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Mike Cl

Quote from: Gilgamesh on September 15, 2017, 08:44:15 PM
The majority of humans are stupid.

Psychology evolved to favor socialisation before the concept of objective truth. Therefore most people will adopt convictions that allow them to sit in good standing among their peers, even in the face of overwhelming evidence.
And what is 'objective truth'????
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Gilgamesh

It is a description that portrays objective reality as it is.

Point is, socialisation was more advantageous to our survival than were truths.

Mike Cl

Quote from: Gilgamesh on September 15, 2017, 09:52:04 PM
It is a description that portrays objective reality as it is.

Point is, socialisation was more advantageous to our survival than were truths.
I would suggest that socialization is partly finding 'truths' for that particular society.  There are no objective nor universal 'truths'.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Baruch

Quote from: Mike Cl on September 15, 2017, 08:54:51 PM
And what is 'objective truth'????

When Sagan agrees with Tyson ;-)  Two braniacs can't both be wrong ;-))
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

Baruch

Quote from: Gilgamesh on September 15, 2017, 09:52:04 PM
It is a description that portrays objective reality as it is.

Point is, socialisation was more advantageous to our survival than were truths.

Since objective reality is merely the opinion of elite braniacs ... how is that better than the opinion of the majority?  Elitism much.
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

Baruch

Quote from: Mike Cl on September 15, 2017, 11:21:53 PM
I would suggest that socialization is partly finding 'truths' for that particular society.  There are no objective nor universal 'truths'.

Hmm ... apply this to your own statement ...
"There are no objective nor universal 'truths'." ... so this statement isn't true, and is therefore false.  Which means that there are objective or universal 'truths'.  Right?
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

Mike Cl

Quote from: Baruch on September 16, 2017, 12:04:33 AM
Hmm ... apply this to your own statement ...
"There are no objective nor universal 'truths'." ... so this statement isn't true, and is therefore false.  Which means that there are objective or universal 'truths'.  Right?
When you learn how to read, Baruch, you will find out that that is not what I said.  The truths in quotes hearkened back to what had been said in the statement I was referring to.
And you know damn well what my point was.  At times, you are simply tedious.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Gawdzilla Sama

Quote from: Baruch on September 15, 2017, 06:30:47 AM
http://time.com/4937675/how-to-fix-american-stupidity/

Many of you would agree with this article by a philosopher.  Yet ... most of you claim that philosophy is BS.  Why is that?
Well, using you as an example...
We 'new atheists' have a reputation for being militant, but make no mistake  we didn't start this war. If you want to place blame put it on the the religious zealots who have been poisoning the minds of the  young for a long long time."
PZ Myers

Baruch

Quote from: Mike Cl on September 16, 2017, 09:00:49 AM
When you learn how to read, Baruch, you will find out that that is not what I said.  The truths in quotes hearkened back to what had been said in the statement I was referring to.
And you know damn well what my point was.  At times, you are simply tedious.

Yes, truth ... per society.  So it was true, in Nazi Germany that Jews were enemies.  It was true in Jim Crow South that Blacks were lazy?  Really.
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.