RE: Random Thoughts
October 4, 2021 at 4:16 pm
(This post was last modified: October 4, 2021 at 4:17 pm by HappySkeptic.)
I don't believe that truth can be arrived at using the Socratic method. It may be useful for exposing obvious B.S., but it doesn't actually lead to truth. Objective truth is hard-won through evidence and experiment.
As for discussions around frameworks for morality and other social constructs, those are best discussed in terms of values. i.e. given the premise of Societal Value X, does Social Construct Y conform to it? Then, we can determine on what basis we decided on Societal Value X. These are nothing but opinions, but they reveal something about ourselves as human beings. Our common humanity is the only thing that allows us to have any agreement on these, not any objective philosophy.
I don't see formal debates as being that useful. I usually give my opinion, and see if anyone can shoot it down (and see if someone comes up with a good idea I haven't thought of). I'm not going to debate endlessly as if there is the possibility of "winning the internet"
As for discussions around frameworks for morality and other social constructs, those are best discussed in terms of values. i.e. given the premise of Societal Value X, does Social Construct Y conform to it? Then, we can determine on what basis we decided on Societal Value X. These are nothing but opinions, but they reveal something about ourselves as human beings. Our common humanity is the only thing that allows us to have any agreement on these, not any objective philosophy.
I don't see formal debates as being that useful. I usually give my opinion, and see if anyone can shoot it down (and see if someone comes up with a good idea I haven't thought of). I'm not going to debate endlessly as if there is the possibility of "winning the internet"
