Never judge a philosophy by its abuse

[Rhondazvous]

Some of you may recognize this title from the signature of Kingphil. I think it's an interesting concept with the potential to generate interesting thoughts and discussion.

For starters, there is precious little created by humans that somebody, somewhere has not figured out a way to abuse. So if we judge a philosophy by its abuse we might as well throw everything out the window. How then do we judge the value of anything?

[Catholic_Lady]

Following.

[Minimalist]

[Pyrrho]

In practice, there is often disagreement about what is abuse of an idea and even what the idea is.  This is particularly true in cases where the writer is not clear.  But even with good writers, there are often disagreements about interpretations.

Also, is what is logically entailed by a philosophy considered to be included in it?  Or is inferring such things an "abuse" of the philosophy if the philosopher never made the inference?

[brewer]

Soooooo..........

Do we judge (prefer evaluate) the philosophy based on it's position on/of abuse? It's ability/propensity to be abused? The people(s) that claim it and then perpetrate abuse?

Value is subjective. To the believer/non abuser it may have great value, the same for the abuser. To the observer/receiver of the abuse, little value.

I choose to make my evaluation on the philosophies inherent value to me to and my world. Not how others may believe in it or use it for their purposes (abusing or not).

[Napoléon]

Some of you may recognize this title from the signature of Kingphil. I think it's an interesting concept with the potential to generate interesting thoughts and discussion.

For starters, there is precious little created by humans that somebody, somewhere has not figured out a way to abuse. So if we judge a philosophy by its abuse we might as well throw everything out the window.   How then do we judge the value of anything?

Who is the judge of what is abuse or not?

[Longhorn]

.....Show me the radicals, and I'll show you what the religion teaches.

[robvalue]

I'd say anyone who regularly commits logical fallacies is misusing philosophy. This covers theology for a start.

To abuse it, I suppose, would be to knowingly misuse it in ways you think you will get away with (in the present company) in order to further your argument. This covers every apologist ever. Well, the ones who have any understanding of logic, anyway. The rest don't even know they are misusing it.

[Minimalist]

Some of you may recognize this title from the signature of Kingphil. I think it's an interesting concept with the potential to generate interesting thoughts and discussion.

For starters, there is precious little created by humans that somebody, somewhere has not figured out a way to abuse. So if we judge a philosophy by its abuse we might as well throw everything out the window.   How then do we judge the value of anything?

Who is the judge of what is abuse or not?

On that subject I think I'll value Vorlon's opinion.

[vorlon13]

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