Stephen Hawking: God did not create the universe

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Skyceman

Can the toy out think the toy maker?

Well, we can make a computer that can beat us at chess.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

And that I would definitely get my ass kicked in scrabble.

For some reason every time I look at your name I think of Fraggles. Don't know why... Yup I'm an idiot

[Cain]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

And that I would definitely get my ass kicked in scrabble.

They'd never get to use their silly big words in scrabble, no worries man!

(or is it just me who gets stymied and limited to 4 letter words max?)

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Cain

They'd never get to use their silly big words in scrabble, no worries man!

(or is it just me who gets stymied and limited to 4 letter words max?)

Tree
Free
Glee
Flee

Uhhhh...

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by peter12

Those who live philosophically are probably living best though. Hard to judge though.

That's a pretty pretentious statement Peter, even if you did just toss the disclaimer on the end though. Just out of curiosity, why do you think that?

[flylock shox]

Yeah, I'd tend to the view that those who spend most of their time thinking about how to live tend to spend the least amount of time actually living.

But they can write a helluva good paper about it that no one will ever read.

Now... off to the pub.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

That's a pretty pretentious statement Peter, even if you did just toss the disclaimer on the end though. Just out of curiosity, why do you think that?

Because he lives philosophically. Duh.



FF

[Coys1882]

######in' magnets - how do they work?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

That's a pretty pretentious statement Peter, even if you did just toss the disclaimer on the end though. Just out of curiosity, why do you think that?

I never said that I lived philosophically, I just said that I thought it was the best way to live or maybe it's not.

Philosophy is the contemplation of the eternal. It certainly does not mean sitting around and writing academic papers. It's about drinking in and enjoying knowledge like one drinks and enjoys wine.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by peter12

I never said that I lived philosophically, I just said that I thought it was the best way to live or maybe it's not.

Now that is philosophy in a nutshell.

Well done sir!

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by peter12

I never said that I lived philosophically, I just said that I thought it was the best way to live or maybe it's not.

Ok but why? That doesn't answer the question.

I think you need to appreciate that not everyone is on the same intellectual level that you are on. Not everyone goes to bed at night reading non-fiction and trying to enhance their knowledge of the world or trying to achieve a goal of some sort. There are people just plain happy doing many simple things in life.

Not everyone has that drive for learning that you do and can simply be happy doing what they are doing right now. I just don't think it's right for you to imply differently.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Now that is philosophy in a nutshell.

Well done sir!

Well, I add the qualifier because, frankly, I'm not sure at all. Basically, if it is the best way to live, then people should live it well and try to teach others. That's what most philosophers have tried to do anyway. Once again, I am not giving myself the pretension of being a philosopher.

Shirley.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Ok but why? That doesn't answer the question.

I think you need to appreciate that not everyone is on the same intellectual level that you are on. Not everyone goes to bed at night reading non-fiction and trying to enhance their knowledge of the world or trying to achieve a goal of some sort. There are people just plain happy doing many simple things in life.

Not everyone has that drive for learning that you do and can simply be happy doing what they are doing right now. I just don't think it's right for you to imply differently.

Yeah, I totally agree. That's why I said I'm not at all sure. In fact, you are most likely correct in asserting that the vast, vast amount of people going about their everyday lives are living far better than the majority of people who have a pretension of living philosophically. I'm talking about ideals here.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by peter12

Yeah, I totally agree. That's why I said I'm not at all sure. In fact, you are most likely correct in asserting that the vast, vast amount of people going about their everyday lives are living far better than the majority of people who have a pretension of living philosophically. I'm talking about ideals here.

YOUR ideals.

I was told that the best way to live is without expectation; that way no one and nothing can disappoint you. Seems to me that to live without disappointment would be the best way to live. But those are MY ideals. In my ideal world, I'm never disappointed.

[CaramonLS]

Then can you define what you mean in terms of ideals? Because I don't think I'm quite understanding what you're saying.

[peter12]

NM

Shirley

[peter12]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Then can you define what you mean in terms of ideals? Because I don't think I'm quite understanding what you're saying.

Well, I think there are two ways that we can conquer death. That is, two ways to live a great life.

One is the immortality of public life. That is using our words, actions etc... to build and do things that last beyond our time.

The other is the eternal contemplation of universal things. This is philosophy. To some, this involves a removal from all things eternal, essentially self-imposed death, and a reverie in the private life of the mind. Of course, in doing this, one opens up to an entire wealth of knowledge and learning that is not available to those struck with the necessities of real life

I don't see any way to bring these two ideas to term.

Also, I am talking about ideals in the sense that most people don't end up doing either of these things and there is nothing wrong with that.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by peter12

Well, I think there are two ways that we can conquer death. That is, two ways to live a great life.

One is the immortality of public life. That is using our words, actions etc... to build and do things that last beyond our time.

The other is the eternal contemplation of universal things. This is philosophy. To some, this involves a removal from all things eternal, essentially self-imposed death, and a reverie in the private life of the mind. Of course, in doing this, one opens up to an entire wealth of knowledge and learning that is not available to those struck with the necessities of real life

I don't see any way to bring these two ideas to term.

Also, I am talking about ideals in the sense that most people don't end up doing either of these things and there is nothing wrong with that.

But aren't someone's ideals entirely subjective in nature? Thus making it difficult to assess or prioritize?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

But aren't someone's ideals entirely subjective in nature? Thus making it difficult to assess or prioritize?

I don't think so. Even common-sense tells us that someone tyrannized by his passions is worse off than someone who is not.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by peter12

I don't think so. Even common-sense tells us that someone tyrannized by his passions is worse off than someone who is not.

So then you assert there are common passions or ideals that people strive for? If so, what are they?