Jack Cummins

Part of the issue may be about whether religious thinking is about finding 'healing' or meaning', or objective truth. Also, there is the question as t...

I am sure that many people have different angles on what is 'psychological'. In many ways, my own is shaped by the psychodynamic thinkers, including F...

The psychological point of view is worth taking into consideration, because it comes into play in explanations. However, philosophy does seek to go be...

I can see that my question raises questions about the role, purpose and limitations of religious and philosophical perspectives. You raise the issue o...

It could be a problem if philosophy appeals to authority as a basis of argument rather than rational arguments. That would be like the trust and 'blin...

Yes, the question philosophy assigns to itself in making sense of ideas is important. It could be asked to what extent are philosophers to be regarded...

I think that your ideas on trying to define 'God' are important because the idea is so ambiguous and used in such different ways. The analysis of lang...

Thank you for your reply and I will try to follow through Schopenhauer's ideas about religion.

2 Your discussion of the terms religion and philosophy are extremely useful, because I opened up a debate which involves distinguishing the terms. It ...

Sorry, if I misinterpreted you, and I have just got out of bed. Perhaps, I will drink some more coffee and look and the replies later...

I agree with you that the writers of religious texts are 'storytellers' primarily. It is about mythic aspects of existence, but with some philosophy m...

I am glad that you can relate to the idea of there being a void opened up by loss of the idea of transcendence. I think that Nietzsche's writing descr...

It was one of your posts to me a few months ago which lead me to realise how I am inclined to treat philosophical matters as if it were 'religious', i...

I think that I look at this site too much and see what's popular here. I do find that I learn a lot from reading lots of thread discussions though. I ...

I am in favour of reading philosophy in a scholarly or academic way too. I just sometimes wonder if I am being pretentious in doing so, but I definite...

I am not suggesting that rationality and science are totalitarian at all. The point which I am making is that in understanding the nature of beliefs i...

I am in favour of going beyond personal biases but recognising them initially may be a starting point for this. Critical thinking is important, but th...

I agree that rationality has its limitations. The problem which I see is that human beings are comprised of various functions, including rationality, ...

I am not sure what my 'boo boo' was. Have a look at the reply which I sent to Proof and see if it makes sense rationally.

I don't think my point about standing back from beliefs was particularly inconsistent, because what I was meaning is that each person has a set of bel...

Living with doubt may involve some mental anguish. However, in some ways it may be the most honest and authentic way. To try to force thinking beyond ...

When I said 'stand back from beliefs, I did not mean that examining them is to be avoided, but the opposite, that they need to be examined and reflect...

You speak of the way in which beliefs 'may be avowals (ie. subjective appeals, or emotional declarations of trust)' and this may be where philosophy i...

On what basis do you think history has ended? Do you think that it is a post-apocalyptic era which humanity has entered? Definitely interaction has ch...

I find that I agree with most of what you say. The area where it gets more complicated is with issues such as belief in God and life after death. It m...

Perhaps the reason people have false beliefs is related to a wish to fantasise and fabricate 'the truth' because reality can be so grim and painful. T...

Distinguishing between beliefs which are based on mental states and those which are propositions is important indeed. Sometimes, this distinction is n...

I think that you make some important points in your post, especially, that of being able to 'learn from history instead of trying to end it. The aspec...

Yes, I have come across Nietzsche's idea of 'the last man' briefly. My understanding is that it is equated with nihilism, and many may be falling into...

I don't think that we can in any way rely on computers for the rebuilding of civilisation if the current one collapses. It would be an aspect of the p...

There may be no clear answers as to whether someone who is anxious, depressed or suicidal will be aided positively by studying psychology or philosoph...

I have just looked at the two articles which you included in your link. They are very interesting, so I thank you for sharing them. The idea of a worl...

Thanks for the discussion on the ideas of Fukuyami as I was having a little difficulty connecting the idea of the end of history with politics. What y...

I looked at your link and I can see what you mean, but I wasn't thinking about it consciously. Also, it is interesting to think of the garden of Eden ...

I have to admit that I rarely ever smell the roses and often don't pay much attention to gardens at all. However, it is probably good to appreciate na...

I found a lot of ambiguity in his use of many terms in, 'The Illusion of the End'. In some ways it makes it hard to interpret his ideas clearly, but i...

There was some kind of thought about humanity moving into space at one point, but I am unclear if this is still on the agenda. Baudrillard does speak ...

I am definitely making a connection between Baudrillard's idea of the 'end' of history and the civilisation that has developed in many nations. How ca...

There is a big difference in the idea of the end of the world and the idea of the end of history. However, it is possible to see a fair amount of ambi...

Baudrillard was speaking of 'history' in a Hegelian sense. This can get lost in the interpretation of his writings, and the way in which he speaks of ...

It is useful that you have mentioned Fukuyama's writing about the the idea of 'the last man'. I have not read his writing, but Baudrillard's idea grew...

I think that it would cause all sorts of emergencies because everyone is so dependent on it increasingly. Being unable to use this site would probably...

I think that your reply captures the way in which sentience is an essential part of belief. It is not as if knowledge is some abstract aspect 'out the...

I think that your point about destroying life is important and I could be tempted to start a thread about destruction, but won't do so for now, as the...

Discussing philosophy online and in real life Going to coffee shops to meet friends and to read and write Listening to music, ranging from goth, metal...

I agree with you against 'blindly insisting others to follow'. I could gladly criticise Google as I am sure that 's/he' could not be distraught throug...

It's a little confusing, because it all ties up with your reply to someone else. Perhaps all this shows how convoluted philosophical arguments can bec...

I can't make any sense of your reply to Athena. I have no idea of where you quote about Google comes from. it certainly doesn't come from her post, an...

Sometimes it seems as if the notion of individual perspectives and views is becoming lost. Of course, it is important to get accurate knowledge but, e...

I am sorry if you think that I read your reply wrongly and I am certainly in favour of valid reasoning and logic. I believe that individuals are socia...