May 10 2013: Orlando, I agree with Fritzie, but would add a definition of philosophy that could aid you for the remainder of your life: Philosophy is a process of man to reconcile material and non-material realities. Humans cannot know all things and those realities that cannot be observed with eyes, hearing, touch, smell or by any uses of machines and observing equipment, must therefore be handled through thinking and imagination. A purposeful question for any problem could be 'what is real'?
Philosophy helps mankind address challenges, some large, as Fritzie infers. What could humankind achieve without the ability to think? Not much, I suspect.
You have the ability to think and I suspect you consider the topics selected by your professor is a waste of time. Could be very true for you at this time in your life. Pick a different topic in your private thinking or in concert with others and attempt to find explanation for what troubles you---the questions you have in life. Meditate on those problems and in time note the questions and ideas that come to mind related to your selected challenges or topics you wish to address.
Philosophy has its purposes. You would be wise to attempt to reconcile what you can observe and learn by education and compare it to your ideals you would like to prevail in your life---be it small or large. After all is said, it is the good you can give to the world that matters most. Think of ways you could do the most good, no matter how large or small your personal world!
Would there be any value for you and friends to encourage others to do the same?
May 7 2013: Peter,
I'm probably not in a position to educate you, nor anyone else. For me infinity is endless; a concept we humans find troublesome. To admit endless and not able to see the results thereof, is to admit limits of capability and knowledge. How can anyone form an absolute opinion while not seeing infinity? Only Absolute Original Mind knows all and sees all while simultaneously omnipotent. How can man explain anything else.
On the worldwide stage people say in many different ways, endless and unlimited are God!
May 1 2013: Consider the word Diety. It is the non-personal aspect of the Original Eternal Mind. Infinity does exist and is not fully understood by man. Good of you to think.
How do you want to relate to infinity? Of what value is infinity to you and what are the possibilities for relating to life when infinity could be applied to anything?
Apr 29 2013: I like the fact you asked for a definition. We define freedom by our experiences and by our desires for more of freedom. Both are needed.
Freedom is about relationships with others and is defined at life levels: home, community, region, national and planetary. It includes your social or cultural experience to define and your efforts or desire to have greater opportunities, which if withheld, decrease freedom.
True freedom includes love and this means a person will self limit and not demand for himself what would be inconvenient or harmful to others. A simple example would be three persons arrive at a doorway of a building. All three cannot pass at the same moment, for if they tried they would bump into one another or be offended in some way. However, in kindness if one opens the door for the others, they all pass freely and all benefit. True freedom involves not doing something that would harm or deny others. Freedom of speech does not mean a person should say anything that comes to mind. Freedom to smoke does not mean a person should do so when others would be offended or harmed.
True freedom means a nation will enforce laws of equal opportunity so that all who are able will rise to one's highest level of capability. This leads to happiness knowing that real freedom is granted for one to express himself in ways that contribute good to people.
One can define freedom to newly experienced higher values when true freedom is discovered and valued.
True freedom does not exist in selfishness. It exists in selflessness; in love. True freedom is enjoyable when law is applied equally and for the benefit of the group----of any size.
Apr 26 2013: It is satisfying to me because no one has proposed a better explanation. A person wrote here several months ago the big bang is only imagined, not proven. The belief in an Original Mind Cause is not magic. No, its not ignorance. Partial details are revealed and none of the world's religions has all the facts. We cannot rely on any religious traditions to explain what was not known when written or as they evolved from man's early beliefs.
No one can explain an Uncaused Cause! Who or what caused the big bang? Surely a thinking person could assume there are many more details of the beginnings of things. I prefer not to participate in fallacious arguments. The dilemma for science is material realities are here, but we cannot explain all things. We never will, but we will discover more in time. Its reasonable to assume new discoveries will bring more questions. Where does it end if there is no provision for a First Cause of all things? Satisfaction comes from knowing by faith there is a First Cause Parent of all. Such cannot be proven by science and exclusively scientific approach.
It is satisfying for me now because no scientist has found a better answer. If someone has, then let him step and explain.
The comforting aspect is that the Cosmos is enduring and all of us are invited to apply our curiosity to investigation, to relating to the Parent of all things material. The Enduring One is not imagination, but revealed in time and in private thoughts to all who will listen. PS: I am not interested in discussing religions or doctrine, so that is not involved here.
Apr 24 2013: I am satisfied with a concept of Original Mind capable of developing vast and stupendous plans, a mind far transcending capabilities of human mortals to comprehend or even imagine. The beginnings of things material are not an accident or of a big bang. Humans are time oriented and therefore cannot imagine timeless eternity, so therefore its difficult to see the location of the Original Mind as coming from a still, motionless, timeless infinity called Paradise. This Original Mind is the philosophical (for man's limited thinking capability) and real origin of all energy. Are we not able to now imagine, given all the discoveries in the recent centuries, that the Universe of universes is larger than what we had thought possible?
The satisfying conclusion for now is that material energy and matter is caused by an uncaused Cause! God is the only such Mind-Person. Relying totally on tradition of world religions is very limiting; scientific investigation has revealed new data not found in traditions of the past. Such traditions cannot explain all things.
Apr 16 2013: Mick,
Guilt forming here!! I don't back up my hard drive, but do back up a few files on jump drives. My concern is security for online backups, i.e. how do we know there is real security? How do we know the company will endure and not disappear, which could result in loss of access?
Who do you trust?
I do very much appreciate your concern and suggestions.
Apr 3 2013: Erika, you might notice ageism, but there is the reverse also. Getting on a bit, I notice young folks ignore the older ones!
If you feel discrimination, then I suggest getting to know people better and let them know you better. Some may even want a "grandparent" role in the office and generally, grandparents love their grandchildren! Let people get to know you better and they will want to know you even more, work with you more harmoniously, and greet you cheerfully. Show them your best skills and dedication to duties.
Relationships can be sour, negative, unsatisfying, sad or a person could take charge to make a change for the better. Offices are opportunities for people to fine tune skills in human relationships. Hey! We're human; we make mistakes and we can cause hurt. But, having confidence in self we can forgive, repair, rise to cheerful living and feel greater satisfaction of life.
Ageism is not discrimination generally; it is failure for people of all ages to relate well. Get in there and show everyone a better way. Don't let anyone see you whining!!!!!
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A reply on Conversation: Would you share your definition of maturity and the processes to become mature?
I want to wait a few days to give people ample time to think and respond.
A comment on Conversation: Is it time for philosophy to do away with metaphysics?
Philosophy helps mankind address challenges, some large, as Fritzie infers. What could humankind achieve without the ability to think? Not much, I suspect.
You have the ability to think and I suspect you consider the topics selected by your professor is a waste of time. Could be very true for you at this time in your life. Pick a different topic in your private thinking or in concert with others and attempt to find explanation for what troubles you---the questions you have in life. Meditate on those problems and in time note the questions and ideas that come to mind related to your selected challenges or topics you wish to address.
Philosophy has its purposes. You would be wise to attempt to reconcile what you can observe and learn by education and compare it to your ideals you would like to prevail in your life---be it small or large. After all is said, it is the good you can give to the world that matters most. Think of ways you could do the most good, no matter how large or small your personal world!
Would there be any value for you and friends to encourage others to do the same?
A reply on Conversation: Infinity exists regardless of mankind's ability to conceptualize it.
I'm probably not in a position to educate you, nor anyone else. For me infinity is endless; a concept we humans find troublesome. To admit endless and not able to see the results thereof, is to admit limits of capability and knowledge. How can anyone form an absolute opinion while not seeing infinity? Only Absolute Original Mind knows all and sees all while simultaneously omnipotent. How can man explain anything else.
On the worldwide stage people say in many different ways, endless and unlimited are God!
A comment on Conversation: Infinity exists regardless of mankind's ability to conceptualize it.
How do you want to relate to infinity? Of what value is infinity to you and what are the possibilities for relating to life when infinity could be applied to anything?
A comment on Conversation: What is your definition of 'freedom'?
Freedom is about relationships with others and is defined at life levels: home, community, region, national and planetary. It includes your social or cultural experience to define and your efforts or desire to have greater opportunities, which if withheld, decrease freedom.
True freedom includes love and this means a person will self limit and not demand for himself what would be inconvenient or harmful to others. A simple example would be three persons arrive at a doorway of a building. All three cannot pass at the same moment, for if they tried they would bump into one another or be offended in some way. However, in kindness if one opens the door for the others, they all pass freely and all benefit. True freedom involves not doing something that would harm or deny others. Freedom of speech does not mean a person should say anything that comes to mind. Freedom to smoke does not mean a person should do so when others would be offended or harmed.
True freedom means a nation will enforce laws of equal opportunity so that all who are able will rise to one's highest level of capability. This leads to happiness knowing that real freedom is granted for one to express himself in ways that contribute good to people.
One can define freedom to newly experienced higher values when true freedom is discovered and valued.
True freedom does not exist in selfishness. It exists in selflessness; in love. True freedom is enjoyable when law is applied equally and for the benefit of the group----of any size.
A reply on Conversation: What created the universe?
No one can explain an Uncaused Cause! Who or what caused the big bang? Surely a thinking person could assume there are many more details of the beginnings of things. I prefer not to participate in fallacious arguments. The dilemma for science is material realities are here, but we cannot explain all things. We never will, but we will discover more in time. Its reasonable to assume new discoveries will bring more questions. Where does it end if there is no provision for a First Cause of all things? Satisfaction comes from knowing by faith there is a First Cause Parent of all. Such cannot be proven by science and exclusively scientific approach.
It is satisfying for me now because no scientist has found a better answer. If someone has, then let him step and explain.
The comforting aspect is that the Cosmos is enduring and all of us are invited to apply our curiosity to investigation, to relating to the Parent of all things material. The Enduring One is not imagination, but revealed in time and in private thoughts to all who will listen. PS: I am not interested in discussing religions or doctrine, so that is not involved here.
A comment on Conversation: What created the universe?
The satisfying conclusion for now is that material energy and matter is caused by an uncaused Cause! God is the only such Mind-Person. Relying totally on tradition of world religions is very limiting; scientific investigation has revealed new data not found in traditions of the past. Such traditions cannot explain all things.
Is this helpful?
A comment on Conversation: How many people backup their computer on a regular basis?
Guilt forming here!! I don't back up my hard drive, but do back up a few files on jump drives. My concern is security for online backups, i.e. how do we know there is real security? How do we know the company will endure and not disappear, which could result in loss of access?
Who do you trust?
I do very much appreciate your concern and suggestions.
A comment on Conversation: What will happen to us next? Where is our next phenotypic evolutionary change? And what will it look like?
Who among all humans beings are capable of accurately describing the future of what humans cannot control?
it's good to imagine, but being non-omniscient humans we are relegated to the opinions-only section of observers!
A comment on Conversation: How do you feel about ageism?
If you feel discrimination, then I suggest getting to know people better and let them know you better. Some may even want a "grandparent" role in the office and generally, grandparents love their grandchildren! Let people get to know you better and they will want to know you even more, work with you more harmoniously, and greet you cheerfully. Show them your best skills and dedication to duties.
Relationships can be sour, negative, unsatisfying, sad or a person could take charge to make a change for the better. Offices are opportunities for people to fine tune skills in human relationships. Hey! We're human; we make mistakes and we can cause hurt. But, having confidence in self we can forgive, repair, rise to cheerful living and feel greater satisfaction of life.
Ageism is not discrimination generally; it is failure for people of all ages to relate well. Get in there and show everyone a better way. Don't let anyone see you whining!!!!!