Shawn

Forgive my slowness. At least I finally got the point. We don't know that. That's a presumption. If that is how you feel about it, then so be it.

So, I see we boiled down the issue. Then isn't that a straw-man or a simple overgeneralization to state things that way?

So, life is the person or entity telling the person that they need to experience life "in reality"?

So, you're creating a straw-man out of the Buddhist in that they are leading their life the way they are due to adversity?

Well, that is a lie, based on your OP. Life consists fundamentally of adversity. And, you have demonstrated with the Buddhist analogy that you don't t...

So, does that make me an antinatalist? What if we lived in a world where every problem could be solved at the whim of science? Wouldn't such a life be...

Isn't that a tautology. If life consists in adversity, and no utopia can be achieved, then there really isn't any alternative for the unborn child. So...

Do you beg to differ? Ketamine is going to become the new "soma", mark my words. It really is crazy that we prescribe Ritalin or amphetamine salts to ...

We're you the first to commit this error with the Buddhist living happily, and some twisted entity telling them they ought to suffer more? Well, I can...

I think it's a good analogy; but, based on faulty assumptions, as I've already stated. In general, life is getting easier nowadays. We tend to have mo...

So, what's the point with it? That existence consists only of pain and suffering? That's not true, given your fictional Buddhist living peacefully. Pe...

I'm not asking anything. I'm merely asserting that it is wrong to say that the blissful and happy Buddhist is unjustified in their simple existence. D...

Yes. Yes, it is. You are imposing your of some fictitious entities (twisted and sadistic) will on someone that does the things they do for the very re...

Hmm, depends on what drug we're talking about and to what purpose. Those that create dependency and addiction are rightfully banned and shouldn't be t...

And here, I disagree. We don't live in fascist or authoritarian governments. The Buddhist is free to do what they choose is best for them. And, since ...

Quine would disagree, but the SEP entry on QML asserts that his criticism holds little weight nowadays.

So, bear with my confusion! If we are to quantify over possible worlds then, we can only "measure" (quantify) counterfactuals by an accessibility rela...

Then what do you think about quantification across possible worlds? Is it nonsensical to do so?

So, expanding on my topic about quantifying counterfactuals. I don't think they can be stated without adherence to a de dicto assertion of their exist...

I imagine Kripke would argue that the impossibility of de re counterfactuals only obtains for rigid designators. Of course, one might reasonably specu...

This might help: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/31d4/81ec126c3baef191ea0990832bf81727de87.pdf Abstract: The problem of counterfactual attitudes de r...

What does that mean?

I'm actually actively planning on growing pot in my mom's garage to pay off the mortgage bills and support my mom further. It is legal and not crimina...

Yes. I'm quite confused. I was under the impression that rigid designators can only be talked about what is said, not the thing itself. The same or si...

But, depression! Blah, blah, blah, I can't because, blah blah blah, depression.

I think I'll start a thread about the irreconcilable differences between Islam and democracy or whether democracy can exist with respect to Islam. I h...

*Wallowing.

I see. So, we are two parrots. :)

I will get a job.

I wanted to ask anyone interested in their thoughts about this assertion. Strictly speaking, counterfactuals can only be de dicto, and not de re. Is t...

Idk, these are just feelings that I have and have tried to rationalize into something seemingly coherent. Well, yes. I guess you can say that you are ...

Is this just psychobabble, or can these deepest needs ever be addressed?

Hmm. I think the natural response or the primary response to alienation is a feeling of bewilderment and feeling lost. I don't feel lost, or at least ...

That is my only hope. That people pick at my posts. :) That's true. But, if you want to take a Buddhist slant, all that's left is pure awareness, when...

Thanks Bitter Crank! I try and dig safely. One of my dreams was getting lost in a forest alongside a mountain. The shortest pathway through that mount...

Yet, compassion, altruism, and acts of kindness exist. How does that supplant your position on our genes? Then they ought to appreciate more! Apprecia...

I shall try. So, taking a methodological approach to the concerns of philosophy, which can only take place in the form of language and communication, ...

I'm essentially, trying to align my "values" with other's to dispel the alienation and find my place in the world. So, I shared my values, and even sh...

So, this is a great question. To me, philosophy is essential, as Plato described to shine the light into the cave and reach a higher understanding of ...

It's interesting that you narrowed down this discussion about "values". I think this is worth expanding on if you don't mind? What do you value? I val...

So, this is essentially Nietzschean perspective. To create your own values, yes? But, the alienation persists. What do you do about that? That's true....

But, the feeling is dysphoric. Marx talked about alienation from the means of production. What about simple alienation from humanity? That's actually ...

The struggle is real. I'm too much of a pussy to want to major in philosophy. Student debt scares the crap outta me. Anyway, post something philosophi...

We can do more philosophy. :)

:ok:

Yeah, it has become weaponized.

Then what has been the deciding factor in reducing absolute poverty? Economics? Thanks for providing those statistics. I guess, my point was that char...

Interesting, care to expand?

So, can willpower bring oneself out of depression? What's your take on that issue?

Never meant to intend that. I didn't assume you smoked pot. Sorry.