Philosophers think they know it all - they are never wrong.

Fido wrote:

Quote:

Perhaps you do unconsciously what I do consciously, and reject the notion of useless knowledge...

I think I get what you mean by "useless knowledge". Something like "knowledge you find useless" isn't it? But what I do not get is what it means to reject the notion of useless knowledge. Does that mean that you do not believe there is such a thing as useless knowledge? But I thought you did think so. Maybe you don't mean that you reject the notion of useless knowledge, but that you reject useless knowledge, but not the notion. But then I am puzzled by what you may mean even by that. What does it mean to reject useless knowledge? Does that mean any more than only that you do not like useless knowledge? What else could that mean?

Please do explain.

Some times a piece of information, a fact, can be like a stepping stone when joined with other seemingly useless facts to help a person ford a flood of ignorance... Some minds plod, making certain of each step before moving on... If for example, one examines the past which will always be more in darkness than in light, one may never fairly say they know, but still at times ones mind can have great leaps of insight if only the safety net of certainty is left behind... The more one knows of all subjects, the more insight is possible in a single subject...

Fido wrote:

Some times a piece of information, a fact, can be like a stepping stone when joined with other seemingly useless facts to help a person ford a flood of ignorance... Some minds plod, making certain of each step before moving on... If for example, one examines the past which will always be more in darkness than in light, one may never fairly say they know, but still at times ones mind can have great leaps of insight if only the safety net of certainty is left behind... The more one knows of all subjects, the more insight is possible in a single subject...

So, what does it mean to reject useless knowledge? What , exactly, do you do in order to reject useless knowledge? Suggestion: when you spot a piece of useless knowledge, just shake your heed vigorously. How about that?

kennethamy wrote:

Fido wrote:

Some times a piece of information, a fact, can be like a stepping stone when joined with other seemingly useless facts to help a person ford a flood of ignorance... Some minds plod, making certain of each step before moving on... If for example, one examines the past which will always be more in darkness than in light, one may never fairly say they know, but still at times ones mind can have great leaps of insight if only the safety net of certainty is left behind... The more one knows of all subjects, the more insight is possible in a single subject...

So, what does it mean to reject useless knowledge? What , exactly, do you do in order to reject useless knowledge? Suggestion: when you spot a piece of useless knowledge, just shake your heed vigorously. How about that?

Clearly some people think there is such a thing as useless knowledge or they would learn it... Do you know how to rebuild a transmission??? All I can tell you is that I have done it, and though transmissions have moved on from that point, perhaps I could too, with the right manual...To reject any knowledge as useless means some one thinks they know the future, and what the future will demand... Some people never learn to change a flat tire, and in some places it is possible to never have one because the train, taxi or bus is the onlyreasonable transportation... But some people who drive never learn to check the oil or change a tire... What are they thinking...


There were times during my short spell at university when if I planned to take a course, I would ask around to find some one to recommend it... I found more than a few people who said: I forget it as soon as I walk out the door... What did their education they paid so dearly for amount to??? I hate to admit it but thirty years gone and I have still my college text books and some times refer to them... Maybe i will never learn it, and never forget it... I guess I have a terrible short term memory and a good long term memory, but I am a terrible student as a result...

I know at my age that I will never make any money with what I know, and may never use most of the knowledge I have even to make a point... No one can say what knowledge they may some day need... If they do think that, then it is out of ignorance which breeds certainty that makes them say so... But, people do act like the know what they need... I don't.. I learn all I can, and never pass up an opportunity to learn more...

Right, so what does it mean to reject useless knowledge. How do you go about doing that?

kennethamy wrote:

Right, so what does it mean to reject useless knowledge. How do you go about doing that?

Maybe you are watching television and a program about quantum mechanics starts. Maybe you decide you dont need that knowledge and change the channel.

Could be rejecting the notion that there is any sort of knowledge that is useless...

Fido wrote:

Could be rejecting the notion that there is any sort of knowledge that is useless...

That would mean, of course, that all knowledge is useful knowledge. But that is (to use one of your favorite words) obviously false.

kennethamy wrote:

Fido wrote:

Could be rejecting the notion that there is any sort of knowledge that is useless...

That would mean, of course, that all knowledge is useful knowledge. But that is (to use one of your favorite words) obviously false.

Even seemingly useless knowledge, and how can one know what is useless before needing it, will exercise the mind, demand attention, and focus concentration... Children learn what is easily learned... Auto didacts birth themselves into a new reality, head first.. Most of us are somewhere between the two...

Ken neth ami, U R WRONG in one of your premises. Does thât mean U R not a Philosopher ? I all depends on major & minor I suppose. Can you stick to your own logic ways please ? Usefulness is not the most important in Live. Obvious to many, many on A2K.

Fido wrote:

kennethamy wrote:

Fido wrote:

Could be rejecting the notion that there is any sort of knowledge that is useless...

That would mean, of course, that all knowledge is useful knowledge. But that is (to use one of your favorite words) obviously false.

Even seemingly useless knowledge, and how can one know what is useless before needing it, will exercise the mind, demand attention, and focus concentration... Children learn what is easily learned... Auto didacts birth themselves into a new reality, head first.. Most of us are somewhere between the two...

That I know there is a speck of dust on the carpet I am standing on is an excellent candidate for useless knowledge. That it might be useful in other circumstances is, of course, no reason to think that it is useful in the present circumstances.

Pepijn Sweep wrote:

Knowledge is the American Express Card of life...

In that case what I would like to know is whether it also gives reward points that I can use for my next flight. And how do I calculate them?

Fido wrote:

Pepijn Sweep wrote:

Knowledge is the American Express Card of life...

In that case what I would like to know is whether it also gives reward points that I can use for my next flight. And how do I calculate them?

I am not impressed. I do not use AMEX. My first was DC, second GOLD, etcetra

Well, it doesn't matter if you have time to argue about it or not, because I know it all, and you're absolutely, positively, without doubt, wrong.

I do find it strange however that you create a thread (which, you know, is designed to instigate discussion) and then spit out some self-important nonsense about how you have to live your life and "ain't got no time to argue about it"!

That would mean, of course, that all knowledge is useful knowledge. But that is (to use one of your favorite words) obviously false.

What is too easily learned is soon forgotten... It is like the gulf of Mexico... The oil company paid little for the lease, almost nothing for the labor and materials, and nothing for the water upon which so many lives depend... If they had paid more, they would have had more respect...

Well, it doesn't matter if you have time to argue about it or not, because I know it all, and you're absolutely, positively, without doubt, wrong.

I do find it strange however that you create a thread (which, you know, is designed to instigate discussion) and then spit out some self-important nonsense about how you have to live your life and "ain't got no time to argue about it"!

In that case what I would like to know is whether it also gives reward points that I can use for my next flight. And how do I calculate them?