Why don't more people take these courses? It's really not very useful as a major, but I would really like more people to take at least 1 or 2 philosophy courses.

I just think that if we started teaching philosophy earlier on it might be beneficial. Like... teaching people to think would probably be good, right? There are too many hard-headed idiots around lately. Looking back at past philosophers like Aristotle and Kant and Spinoza you realize that these people aren't JUST philosophers, they're craftsmen and astronomers, they're professionals in their own fields, but they're just not 1-track minds like I think so many people lately are. People these days aren't less-educated, they're just dense and narrow-minded.

I've taken a few courses and they're fun. Philosophy 101. Modal Logic, Philosophy of Sexuality, etc. It just really gives you a sense that "Shit, I don't know what the hell I'm talking about." It's humbling, and I think soooo many people need that. So yeah.... take some philosophy courses. Or just watch I Heart Huckabees and pretend you know what they're talking about.

I'm soooo burnt out from writing this paper lol, but I think my point is that as humans we should THINK about things, not just quickly form opinions on things and hold fast to that opinion. People should do themselves a favor and admit they're wrong every once in a while.

I've taken 2 philosophy classes...it's interesting at times, and incredibly boring at other times.

And trying to read Emmanual Kant and making sense of it is downright rediculous.

I was really worried when I read the topic title, but I'm glad this thread wasn't what I thought it would be.

Yeah, critical thinking skills have always been in short supply. Philosophy is a very good study.

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Retired 8/21/06
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Kant is a tough read sometimes.... but he's better than Mill. Never read Mill... ever. He doesn't write about anything important anyways, just Utilitarianism

What did you think this topic was going to be about?

I've read some Mills too, and yes I agree. Going to the bars on a saturday night and then trying to read that on a sunday afternoon...not happening.

i took a philosophy class in my 1st year of university... and oh dear god, based on what my shitty-assed prof was teaching, i felt like i was in an Environmental Studies class

she'd go on about how we're rapidly destroying the earth (which, to be fair, is pretty true), how technology is inherently evil (i disagree, it's neutral, and it's the users who determine if it's good or evil), and stuff like that.. and how globalization is bad (mixed bag there, it's not all bad, but it's not all good either)

really, she spent the entire year teaching us what SHE thought, and didn't really let us develop our own thoughts and opinions on the subject matter... we barely spent any time on Aristotle, Socrates, or any of the other well known philosophers (or lesser known ones, for that matter), and when we did, she just picked and chose passages that supported her point of view

so yeah, my view of philosophy was totally ruined by her, it's still interesting in my eyes, but at the same time, i'll never take it if/when i decide to return to finish my degree

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And I still lost /cry

Did your class read Ishmael? We read that in our Wildlife issues class, actually a really good read.

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Retired 8/21/06
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Yeah a teacher can really make or break a class... that's unfortunate

I kinda wonder if I should start smoking weed. I've never smoked weed, but the converastions people have when they're high is totally my bag.

"Dude what if like.... our physical bodies are just an extension thought from a non-physical reality where our minds are suspended in a sea of ever changing universes and what we see and feel is just a reaction to what we sense with our minds?"

"Fuck yeah dude....... minds and shit"

learn2play

i learned that when i was 14

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I dunno about you but I feel like everytime I open up my mouth to speak my mind and express my philosophical side people just want me to stfu.

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Not to bash you (i'm not even implying this is something you'd say), but alot of times people just have really superficial and inane philosophical questions.