T_Clark

Nothing wrong with it, but if it can't be tested, it ain't science. It's something else.

You are taking my quote out of context.

Eugenics is not science. It's engineering, i.e. using science to implement actions.

I don't think that's true. There are a couple of candidates I can think of - the quantum multiverse comes to mind. The cosmic inflation multiverse mig...

Or hunting season, I imagine.

One of the things science is is a method for determining truth. One aspect of the scientific method is that explanations identified as possibly true, ...

From what I understand, intelligent design isn't considered a scientific theory because it can't be refuted.

I see the Taoist world view as a metaphysical understanding. As such, it has it's own absolute presuppositions. As I see it, one of the absolute presu...

There is a caricature of eastern philosophies that says they promote a fuzzy; unfocussed; don't worry, be happy attitude. I have no problem with what ...

I've started listening to choral music. There is something about human voices, especially lots of human voices, that is very comforting.

I've been thinking about desire too. Some thoughts: I can quibble about desire vs. discontent, but it's exactly that, a quibble. It's the underlying e...

Let’s just let this be a point of disagreement for us. There’s no reason we have to agree on what Lau Tzu is trying to say.

What's missing for me with "discontent" is the sense of striving, grasping that I feel with "desire." Discontent is the result of desire.

I'm getting really uncomfortable with this. I feel like I'm imposing my understanding on yours by force.

I'll say it again - you need to find your own understanding of the Tao Te Ching and not depend on what I say. Speaking of which: Boy. I really hate th...

Desire The meanings of words can be confusing in the Tao Te Ching. Sometimes they are used in ways that seem inconsistent or even contradictory. Even ...

Sounds like whichever character is talking in the quote has studied some Buddhism. I think of "detachment" as a Buddhist concept, although I think it ...

It is a luxury to have someone questioning the things I write. It makes me work harder to understand.

Although I see them as related, the Taoist and Buddhist understandings of desire are not exactly the same. I'll put something together.

Keeping in mind, of course, that you are disagreeing with Lao Tzu and not just me. Let me see if I can put together a post about desire. It may take m...

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Enjoy it. I do love New York City. You get the seven day work week, while all I have to do is imagine sitting in the park with coffee and philosophy o...

There have been quite a few threads on the forum recently that use the approach you describe to try to prove the existence of God. I'm not sure if, wh...

If you look at the rest of my post, you should be able to see that I didn't misunderstand you.

Sounds like you are in a New York state of mind.

Are you familiar with the four Noble Truths of Buddhism? Forgive my summary: All life is suffering Suffering is caused by desire, craving, attachment ...

Thank you.

Slow, stop, slow, stop, slow Stop, slow, stop, slow, stop, slow, stop Slow, stop, slow, stop, slow That's a haiku.

Maybe tell them about how ancient reptiles' jaw bones evolved into the inner ear bones in modern mammals. The study of evolution tells us that it happ...

That's only true in Montana, where they have cayuses.

I think this question shows a fundamental misconception of what philosophy is and what it's role is in human understanding of the world. First, let's ...

This is a clip I've used several times here on the forum. It's from "Billy Elliot," a great movie. Billy, a working class boy from a rough mining town...

"Flow" is not a term I would normally use in this context, but if by that you mean ...that sense of fluidity between your body and mind, where you are...

A great cowboy song, maybe the best, written by an effete New York playwright. Although, according to Wikipedia, the words were written by "Robert (Bo...

@"GLEN willows" Forgot to ask. Do you have a reference for a relatively brief discussion of the Churchlands' ideas that you like.

By the way, I'm always ambivalent about your posts. They are generally well-written, interesting, and well-thought out, and sometimes even right. On t...

I don't find this very convincing. Again, it comes back to the hierarchical knowledge. It is not reasonable to expect processes and phenomena at one l...

Ah, yes. I remember this from back in the 1960s. The Ponderosa, right?

I've tagged an article about the Churchlands in the Atlantic, but I haven't read it yet. I'll see if I have anything to add after I read it. I agree w...

I'm kind of lost. Is this intended as an argument against rational inference about mental phenomena or against any rational inference at all? Again, i...

I don't disagree with anything you've written. As I indicated, I am ambivalent about the issue.

I think you'll find a lot of people here who are sympathetic to the position you support. I certainly am. At the same time, I can understand why peopl...

Just wanted to say that this is a great conversation you two are having. I don't have anything substantive to add, but I've really enjoyed reading alo...

This from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences: Women received 61% of the humanities bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2015—four percentage points hi...

Maybe I overstated my case. When I think of separation of church and state, I usually think of protecting the political system against a theocracy suc...

I think you're right. The Tao Te Ching emphasizes living lives without desiring more than you have or need. That would include novelty, excitement, fa...

As I noted, I am personally ambivalent. It's no surprise the country is too.

That's what confused me. I don't think you'll find anywhere in the US where people are not allowed to show religious symbols on privately-owned proper...

You've listed a lot of the properties of light. It's an impressive list, but I don't see what it has to do with God. Sorry to be a nitpicker, but this...