Vikorr, it sounds like what you want is an ideology, a dogma that smacks of certitude--a securely closed rather than an insecurly open mind.
How do you arrive at that conclusion JL?
That's what your thesis says to me.
I'm rather fascinated by how you can 'see' a thesis in such little information, my having only said a tiny part of what I believe.
Does curiosity then seek certitude? Curiosity can only exist in uncertainty, can it not?
Does seeking a practical application mean the philosophy I look for has to be set in stone? Or perhaps that I can act on the most useful information I have, knowing that it might be imperfect or even wrong?
Does having an 'issue' with things that lack practical use mean I seek ideology? Or rather that I find things with no practical use, useless? (which is what such is by defnition)
I am still rather interested in hearing your explaination as to how you arrived at your conclusion, if you are at all able to explain such (your statement/conclusion does have an explanation), for I don't see how you arrived at it.
Vikorr, my impression derives from your emphasis on being "sure" of how to act because of conceptual clarity, i.e, having a secure map for action.
I read that from the following:
"Put another way, I have a beef with philosophy when it makes people indecisive/inactive, but enjoy it when it can be put to use in peoples lives (to be acted on).
"Being indecisive/inactive is not the same as being 'calmer' (which is a good thing), but rather that it should work both ways - to bring calmness, and also bring clarity/passion/meaning to action."
If I misinterpreted you, I apologize.
Ah I understand now - you associated 'certainty', and 'being sure' with what I said. It wasn't meant that way. Thanks for the explanation.
Thank YOU. Your civility is refreshing.
not having read the treatises on this thread, i can just speak for myself: anything that makes me forget time and space and elevate me into the space of thought is attractive to me. it's like a parallel reality, the one where the physical don't matter.
i'd even correct francis bacon and say if you're willing to begin with uncertainties, you'll surely end up with more uncertainties and that is good. death is certainty,nthing attractive there.
Thanks for the thoughts, dagmaraka.
For me, the act of asking questions is alone worthwhile even if we never attain certainty. Skill in critical analysis is developed by considering the same unanswerable questions which people have asked for centuries.
My problem with the FEELING of certainty is that I do know how certain I can be that my feeling is well founded. Nevertheless, it does feel good not to feel doubt in some instances.
Frankly, I FEEL that death is the solution to all problems.
sure is, if a particularly glum one... especially for those of us for whom there's no afterlife.
That Manny was such a fuddy duddy.
Dagmaraka, remember: for me it is not a "glum" solution because not only is there no afterlife (or before birth) there is no "me" to be in a state of oblivion. There is just the Universe (?), just as before I was born--and now.
Just had an odd thought - What is a 'problem'?
Wow!, now THAT'S a problem!
A problem is basically a job undone.
