LuckyR

One question for clarification. If a masochist enjoys "pain" is that above or below zero?

Just to be clear a difference can be "significant" yet significantly smaller than a different comparison. And what we're discussing is an excellent ex...

Yes, the physical strength difference between the average man compared to the average woman is very small compared to the difference between the stron...

I apologize for being difficult to understand. I don't dispute that there are real, biological differences between the average level of the sexes on m...

The OP is an excellent example of the exaggeration of small but real differences between groups and the underappreciation of the large differences WIT...

Uummm... no. It doesn't mean that. As you've described it, the dog would be given no positive experiences from their handler. They would receive episo...

Exactly. Those are not unusual responses, hence why folks argue about the T Problem. Which is essentially my point.

Part of the problem in your posting is your use of numerals. Numerals have intrinsic negativity and positivity in relation to an objective constant at...

Is that so? If it's so obvious, why is it called the Trolley PROBLEM? Why is it even a thing?

Sure pain is a negative, but it isn't the only or worst negative. So scenarios can be created where pain is relatively positive, compared to a worse n...

The main reason why folks have argued both sides of the Trolley Problem since it was invented, is precisely why it's ultimately unimportant bordering ...

Ha ha. I don't disagree. Your quote seems like a perfect situation to use "my truth" (instead of the truth).

I agree that it implies the opposite of the OP's interpretation. In fact while it happens to use the label "truth", it really means "my interpretation...

Exactly. The third person observer can observe the physical agents, but only the agent can appreciate a metaphysical entity.

But begs an explanation of the origin story of the divine hand.

Uummm... not as similar as you're making it out to be. To my understanding, the skill of mixing paint colors to come up with the exact hue is nothing ...

The OP is trying to say, intelligence and life originally was started by a pre-existing intelligent life. Internally illogical.

At first glance, since the vast majority of folks are not Professional criminals, it might seem like a win, since: "it won't impact me". But 24/7 mean...

Yes, they're called digital paintings specifically to distinguish them from... paintings. Sort of like vegetarian meat.

Well, your conclusions are, as you mention, simple. Overly simplistic in my experience. One thing is true, which is healthcare in the US costs a lot. ...

US healthcare cost is a poor example to illustrate any simple concept since the reasons for it's outlier status are multiple and complicated.

Your description is accurate, but as it pertains to the OP's question, I see it more a difference of degree/intensity rather than a fundamental differ...

Digital painting is a verb. The product of this action isn't a painting.

Being composed of paint is an objective measure. Being classified as "art" is subjective. Or to put it another way, art (like beauty) is in the eye of...

It depends on the perspective. From that of the supplicant, they are entirely different as prayer is a communication with another while meditation is ...

The Golden rule was supplanted by the Platinum rule awhile back for just this sort of "reasoning", namely, do unto other as they would have would have...

I agree with your overall sentiment, but differ on some of your example interpretations. First, pensions were a fine concept but those huge reserves m...

Firstly, I apologize about the way my tone struck you. I can see (after a re-read) that A) you're using "benefit" differently than I was expecting and...

To be more specific, the notion that democracy ignores the external influence of power, is an illusion. But did anyone actually believe this naive con...

If by "codified", you mean "passed laws", I'd ask what your alternative would be? Laws based on what a small minority of the community thought was cor...

For consumers who don't write programs, what's the difference, functionally, between local and cloud computing, aside from privacy? If privacy is the ...

I guess I'm just not familiar with the scenario you're describing. Whereby person A commits suicide because person B "expects" person A should do so. ...

Oh yes. To be clear, in my experience the Post Truth era applies mainly to the populace and the media just provides what sells.

Yes, it was common before "professional" journalism standards (the Society of Professional Journalists released their first code of ethics in 1973). A...

You're correct that media has always slanted their stories towards their bias. But that was commonly through omission. Now in the Post Truth era, out ...

A wonderful, yet archaic opinion. Alas, here in the Post Truth era the purpose of "media" is to conduct "research" to find "data" that supports the pr...

Another "expert" on the inner working of the minds of atheists, who has no practical experience in the subject matter. Consider the source.

Oh I'm not referring to the concept of infinity, that you correctly note is important. Rather what the OP specifically referenced, which is the infini...

Not really, but ignoring the infinite level of irrelevance of the topic is a pretty important omission.

The OP is correct, yet incomplete. Yes there are infinite infinities, but those infinities are infinitely irrelevant.

In my opinion it should be (and commonly is) illegal. But to broaden the point, we agree it is unethical to shorten someone else's (one's child's) lif...

Interesting review. Two things. First, what is your opinion? Is it ethical for a parent to hasten the death of their minor child? Personally it violat...

Alas, "cuz I said so", isn't good Philosophy. OTOH... it is illegal and thus unethical for a parent to withhold lifesaving medical treatment from thei...

Uummm... okay, except that isn't the common definition of life. In fact my review of the 20 definitions in Websters, doesn't find that particular nuan...

I don't see our two postings as opposing one another. Rather that they represent steps 1 and 2 in the (individual) preamble in the spectrum from spiri...

Agree.

Oh, I think we understand each other, I'm not looking to "win", just make the point that while we're in agreement that in the vast majority of cases s...

The originators of spirituality were ordinary folks seeking answers to unanswerable (with the level of knowledge at the time) questions. But my origin...

That's the issue with non face to face communication, better if unspoken insinuations are spelled out.

I don't entirely disagree with the idea that there are numerous goals of something as large and complex as a religion, and in fact I alluded to this i...