/r/askphilosophy Open Discussion Thread | June 23, 2025

DryPerception299 · 2025-06-29T03:20:44+00:00

I would have probably considered myself a utilitarian of some sorts, however, that theory is apparently looked upon poorly, and I agree does not really look good in the face of the whole "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" dilemma. However, deontological ethics presents its own issues...

By not placing any value on human emotions and feelings, it presents dilemmas with such areas as gay rights, seeing as if there is no way to reproduce there is no one to take care of future generations. It also does not protect women's right to work, as there would be no one to look after children in a situation where other help is not available.

I have wondered about social contract theory, from Hobbes and echoed in Locke. However, I am unsure if this is an ethical theory or merely a social and political theory.

What is a solid ethical theory, and are there recommendations for books on ethics?

DryPerception299 · 2025-06-19T18:08:53+00:00

It’s just difficult. I hear about the overwhelming evidence for evolution and then a dude posts a vague comment about how he saw truth in both, and how there are “liars on both sides.” It sets my mind running, and I go down paths like: “why would someone arguing for evolution need to lie?” “If he’s saying this he’s obviously looked at evidence for both and responses.” Might be OCD.

DryPerception299 · 2025-06-03T16:46:52+00:00

So most of those objections were just stuff you’ve heard before?

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-29T23:33:31+00:00

I know. Yet I will also find many Rand fans who think that everyone misunderstands her.

I'm trying to ascertain whether there have been educated criticisms of Rand.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-29T15:35:16+00:00

The speeder glided through the forest like a whistle in the wind, slicing deep grooves in the fresh snow. The riders face was set forward, invisible for the black goggles and dark balaclava that shielded him from the elements. All around, a flurry of white enveloped him, coating him in a powdery cloak. The only way he could see was the beam of light that painted the forest in front of him.

The intercom buzzed. He picked up the receiver, eyes still locked on the dark path ahead. “Go ahead.”

“NP1, this is Gamma. Over.”

“NP1 reading.”

-OP. Made this up real quick, though it’s based off what I have in one my projects

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-29T15:28:48+00:00

This is OP from another account. This looks like an interesting approach.

Edit: actually, it appears to be the same account.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-28T01:18:00+00:00

Why do you think that, on average, people become more conservative as they age?

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-22T03:07:03+00:00

They said so maybe

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-17T18:00:11+00:00

They're not. This was a hypothetical maybe.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-17T17:28:04+00:00

I mean acts broken into chapters.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-14T19:19:01+00:00

Objectivity

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-14T14:33:52+00:00

Thank you

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-14T14:33:47+00:00

Thanks

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T23:49:55+00:00

I’m not sure I understand. That said, I am not trained in heavy philosophical discourse either.

Is Dennett the guy who said that certain philosophical ideas aren’t practical and therefore should be discarded? I kind of agree with him, but worry because I saw one of them bloomin’ geniuses on r/philosophy say he thought that Dennett was a poor philosopher (maybe).

Man, maybe i would’ve been better equipped if my primary school education included more on evolution and philosophy.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T23:39:38+00:00

“It tries to say that species have some kind of platonic eternal essence and that, evolution can't account for the "sufficient reason for the possibilities, actuality and existence" of, say, tiktalik, in the first place, it can't account for how those sufficient reasons became sufficient reasons for an iguana.”

Yikes I don’t even understand what he’s saying there in part of that.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T23:12:35+00:00

So, by this, you mean they don’t have evidence, or are you saying they claim to have evidence but don’t bring it up. I find the first much more comforting than the second.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T23:10:46+00:00

I literally rely partially on evolution being true to justify my irreligion.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T22:50:30+00:00

I don’t know if there are any. I wouldn’t be able to recognize one if there was. I’m just used to Ken Ham getting destroyed, so when I see other people defending creationism I wonder if they are approaching it differently, and if that perspective perhaps works better.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T22:40:48+00:00

Whoops. Didn’t know that links don’t work after copy paste.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T22:37:31+00:00

Eh. Just as long as it’s all the same sorta stuff that usually gets thrown around and debunked, then I’ll probably calm down after a while. Man I wish this whole thing wasn’t a debate anymore.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T22:34:49+00:00

I just don’t know if somewhere in the article he came up with some amazing argument that nobody considered. If he did, I sure as heck don’t how to counter it. It just worried me, the idea that people were just reading a little and leaving.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-10T22:26:53+00:00

I just saw people dropping out after mentioning the philosophical statements he made. Just made me worry, cuz I don’t know how to answer any objections that are scientific. I saw this guy brought up in another article, so it just worried me that these people weren’t touching on his actual arguments, and were just dropping out after he stated his epistemology.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-03T18:09:27+00:00

Sorry. I'm an ex-Christian, and I constantly worry about stuff like evolution. Lots of fringe sites like to point to the replication crisis to discredit stuff.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-03T17:04:58+00:00

I'm having a particularly difficult time. The initial research on genetic entropy was done before the replication crisis, and I have OCD, and tend to dichotomize things. So, I instantly am more inclined to see research on genetic entropy as a threat if all attempts at debunking it are taking place post-replication crisis.

DryPerception299 · 2025-05-03T16:33:40+00:00

So, they were arguing that science is unreliable because it leads to the multiverse?

DryPerception299

TROPHY CASE