Who has influenced your philosophy or views? - Page 7 - Historum

**Brisieis** · April 15th, 2012, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thechristianphilosopher

I don't think scientists like Dawkins should be involved in the debate over God. He is a Bio-Physicist, not a Philosopher. Science is good for explaining how things work, but not why things work. Religion is a philosophical and metaphysical matter. I don't want to see scientists on the debate, people like chrishitch (RIP) and dandennet I'm fine to see, but scientists are totally out of their depth on this topic. It's like trying to figure out a Maths problem using historical source analysis, it's just out of place

Science has a everything to do with god, because we can prove or disprove different claims of religions. Also, whether he is a scientist or not is irrelevant, we all have a right to have a view on religion and god belief.

Thechristianphilosopher · April 15th, 2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brisieis

Science has a everything to do with god, because we can prove or disprove different claims of religions.

Well, yes it can if you are taking a literal view of the bible (as discussed in other thread) but that is a biblical matter. However, that aside you cannot prove or disprove the existence of god using a scientific method, because he is a metaphysical being, and needs to be reasoned with philosophical logic, not science. I totally agree that scientists are perfectly entitled to their own opinion, but im just saying i prefer to hear arguments from philosophers, like the late Christopher Hitchens(whom, despite my belief in god, is someone i love very much)

harbinger · April 15th, 2012, 10:35 AM

Napoleon bonaparte,christopher hitchens,ashoka the great.

**Lucius** · April 15th, 2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox

For a lot of these names it would be interesting if they were paired with a sentence or two which described the nature of the influence in question.

From Marcus Aurelius' Meditations -

"The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing, in so far as it stands ready against the accidental and the unforeseen, and is not apt to fall."

"Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not "This is misfortune," but "To bear this worthily is good fortune.""

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."

"All men are made one for another: either then teach them better or bear with them."

macro · April 15th, 2012, 03:54 PM

I recommend Marcus Aurelius' Meditations or other Stoic writings.

Antiochos III Megas · April 17th, 2012, 03:01 AM

Zeno, Chrysippos, Marcus Aurelius, Platon, Aristotle, Sun Tzu.

**Iolo** · April 17th, 2012, 04:07 AM

Buddha, what little I can find out about pre-Socratic philosophy, Jesus of Nazareth, Marx. Lenin, Trotsky and Tony Cliff. I think Aldous Huxley, Arthur Koestler and F.R. Leavis affected me most directly, though, in raising the issues that mattered in my own time.

BRIAN GOWER · April 17th, 2012, 04:17 AM

Jesus, Lobsang Rampa, Martin Luther King Jr., Isaac Bashevis Singer, Colin Wilson and Jiddu Krishnamurti

athena · April 17th, 2012, 09:16 AM

How about what has influenced our philosophy? I feel like I am getting a whole new brain trying to keep up with the discussions here. At age 65 I am no longer restricted by the demands of parenting, and no longer tormented with all the concerns of my younger years. Trying to comprehend the whole of history, is stretching my brain, perhaps beyond its limits.

I do not want to forget my domestic concerns, but also do not want to be limited by them. Someone has to take care of the children, and of what value is humanity if it does not do right for the children?

But are the wars good for children? Are they necessary? I think a strong defense is necessary, but wars of aggression should be avoided. However, we call leaders of wars of aggression Great, and I am concern what does to our consciousness.

BRIAN GOWER · April 17th, 2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by athena

How about what has influenced our philosophy? I feel like I am getting a whole new brain trying to keep up with the discussions here. At age 65 I am not longer restricted by the demands of parenting, and no longer tormented with all the concerns of my younger years. Trying to comprehend the whole of history, is stretching my brain, perhaps beyond its limits.

I do not want to forget my domestic concerns, but also do not want to limited to them. Someone has to take care of the children, and of what value is humanity if it does not do right for the children? But are the wars good for children? Are they necessary?

War has not served us well; it's given us nothing but history and heroes, victory, defeat, death and destruction, widows and orphans then recovery ...to start all over again.