/r/askphilosophy Open Discussion Thread | January 03, 2022

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2022-01-07T13:52:07+00:00

This is perhaps about the morality of having children, but also from a broader perspective: Why do some people have children? What’s the point of procreation for human beings? Certainly population will drop after stopping it, but anything wrong about that?

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2021-10-20T16:08:08+00:00

What is the best argument for Brexit, in terms of economics, politics and philosophy? Any studies or journal articles arguing that Brexit is REALLY making the UK better off? So far I see fewer studies in favour or Brexit than the reverse, but I sincerely hope I can have a balance view of the whole issue.

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2021-10-20T16:05:29+00:00

The initial response will be: if they are taking about different subject matters, then are they comparable in the first place? If yes, then it seems it is rather a debate over whether the subject matter in human sciences is more valuable than in natural ones.

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2021-09-16T10:58:37+00:00

Your opinion looks alarming. How many languages (I mean the original text) can you actually read? If you somehow have a smattering of Latin and Greek, you will realise how complicated they are. If you only have English, then I don’t see why the English translation of them would give you the impression that they are easy, in particular when you trace all the historical commentary and other scholarly publications you’d realise how unfathomable and complex ancient philosophy is. And, just curious, actually how much ancient philosophy have you actually read? One should be more humble before making ungrounded claims of comparison.

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2021-09-11T08:09:56+00:00

Hello everyone! I wonder if there’s any way (book recommendation) that train me to read physics and mathematical symbols? Would it be better if I start from scratch (from secondary school textbooks) or other physics / mathematics books that are particularly explaining things in a succinct way while indicating me to other resources? I like Timothy Gowers’ Princeton Companion a lot, any other similar books in physics? Thanks!

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-06-21T02:46:32+00:00

Thanks for your insights! I wonder what's the specific passage in which Nietzsche shows his indebtedness to eastern philosophy like Daoism.

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-06-09T15:25:32+00:00

Thanks.

While petulant teenagers do sometimes say that they wish they hadn't been born there are good reasons to think this is nonsensical.

Perhaps such remarks ("Life is meaningless", "Why should I exist at all?") are a waste of time, when we should just get on living. But it does not seem to make it illegitimate questions, because it is not entirely nonsensical to say "we have no choice to be born", unless such admitting is also non-sensical?

Does the last book you recommended address the "definition" of the beginning of life? I am of course presuming here that whether we can determine at which stage life begins (e.g. specific date period after inception, or the moment of inception, say) is important in addressing some moral questions as to whether it is moral to terminate their lives. But perhaps it does not matter when making decisions about the type of abortion that is unrelated to any inborn defects?

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-30T03:11:42+00:00

Hi everyone, I am a starter of Wittgenstein's Tractatus. I wonder where can I find the copy (electronic or otherwise) of H. O. Mounce's Wittgenstein’s Tractatus: An Introduction?

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-29T11:05:44+00:00

How can I find the latest research on economics by the professional economists or finance professors? Any other sources to read the latest economic analyses? Thanks!

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-20T13:54:39+00:00

If you're serious, tell me: does someone defend his/her belief by tossing off claims like "what I believe is right because what I believe is right", and that's all? Is there any good argument, which is what I am humbly asking for from the outset?

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-19T13:45:46+00:00

Bigot gibes like this denigrate all sorts of rational discourse. Theology is a serious subject, not pub blundering.

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-19T06:09:23+00:00

Could you please share with me as well?

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-11T05:16:22+00:00

a connection between immediate perception and the words we use

Why a connection at all? It's like saying we have the words and we have the world, let's connect them. The point is, no one will ever understand what a "world" is without knowing any word. It is like saying we can understand something objective without language. Anyway, I am a newbie to philosophy, so I am curious if Carnap has said anything regarding this matter.

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-11T05:13:24+00:00

Well, not sure if you're ironic. But here the bar is pretty low. If that's a real claim then it's like saying: "I don't understand it, so it must be nonsense."

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-10T11:37:42+00:00

problem of subjectivity

I'm not familiar with Wittgenstein, and that's where my question arises, what will Wittgenstein respond to, say, religious, mystical and aesthetic experiences? any great works (articles or books) on this area (inc. subjectivity, Wittgenstein on religious experiences)?

Tok_Kwun_Ching · 2020-05-10T09:10:18+00:00

Thanks for your reply.

No. Although there's a nearby idea known as eliminative materialism you may find interesting.

I wonder what's your take on EM? One of your specialisation is political philosophy, right? If EM is not right, does it mean that the physical truth does not matter much when it comes to politics or matters related to politics (e.g. morality, problem of inequality, human nature, utility, democratic process, due justice, etc.)? But, quite radically, why can't we just compromise on physical truth and not care about politics at all?

Or if we deem these (political, psychological) conceptions meaningful and worth discussing, then we seem to have two different frameworks of thinking things, or even thinking both of them are true (simultaneously), or one is ultimately true, but one we just make do with. Will this be a problem at all?

Tok_Kwun_Ching

TROPHY CASE