LGP Philosophy Discussion Thread

[count2infinity]

bad doesn't necessarily mean evil, both are very subjective. I think of evil as just a higher degree of bad.

[PensFanInDC]

bad doesn't necessarily mean evil, both are very subjective. I think of evil as just a higher degree of bad.

I dont think evil can exist outside of a spiritual existence. Without spirituality evil is, as c2i said, just a higher degree of bad.

[PensFanInDC]

I'm not sure if this is the place to post this but it seemed right...

My wife and I were discussing a rhetorical question last night.

What would the world be like if women were the dominant sex throughout history?

It's very hard to answer that question because the fact that men are inherently bigger and stronger than women means that it was impossible for women to be the dominant sex because when "advanced civilization" started roughly 10k-15k years ago the bigger and stronger you were made all of the difference.

But let's assume that physical stature was reversed. I'm not saying we assume that every woman would be amazon and every man a little person. Let us just assume that the ratio of size between women and men in this scenario is the same as it is in real life except that women are the larger sex.

Would our history be virtually the same because of pure human nature? Would it be drastically different because of the natural psychological differences in men and women?

[count2infinity]

To assume that women would be the ones that come to power and then say "the natural psychological differences in men and women" are sort of counter to each other. There are natural psychological and physical traits that contribute to men coming to power rather than women in the past and even in the present. If you reverse the physical traits, I think that in and of itself has an effect on the psychology of the genders as well.

Now as far as assuming this situation is possible that women were in charge with their current psychological state, I'm not sure how the world would turn out. I'd like to think it'd be pretty similar as it is today, but I have a tough time envisioning that hypothetical situation just based on what we know about physiology, anthropology and psychology.

[PensFanInDC]

To assume that women would be the ones that come to power and then say "the natural psychological differences in men and women" are sort of counter to each other. There are natural psychological and physical traits that contribute to men coming to power rather than women in the past and even in the present. If you reverse the physical traits, I think that in and of itself has an effect on the psychology of the genders as well.

Now as far as assuming this situation is possible that women were in charge with their current psychological state, I'm not sure how the world would turn out. I'd like to think it'd be pretty similar as it is today, but I have a tough time envisioning that hypothetical situation just based on what we know about physiology, anthropology and psychology.

I totally agree and it was very hard to discuss because I kept coming back to "this is impossible". Most rhetorical questions are at least possible if not extremely unlikely.

[columbia]

It seems like one needs to think about this question: Does the presence of testosterone make men far more likely to kill?

[shmenguin]

if we're keeping the fact that women are the ones who have the babies, i can't picture this premise making any sense - even hypothetically.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

Well, it's like the famous Roman poet so poignantly stated:

Men go to college to get more knowledge,
Women go to Jupiter to get more stupider

[count2infinity]

[columbia]

[youtube][/youtube]

[count2infinity]

you trying to tell me that MIMH isn't really responsible for the posts he makes?

[shmenguin]

yes, that ^

edit...referring to the video. but it also applies to c2i. but make no mistake, he should definitely be held accountable, even if he's not responsible.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

don't get me wrong, I love physics, have a physics degree, etc. but to think that we completely understand the universe and specifically the concept of free will especially with how it interacts with our brains and whatnot is hard for me to believe.

[count2infinity]

he's not saying we understand free will, it's just that nothing in the world as we see it through the laws of physics (or all science) points to free will being a possibility. As always with science, he reserves the right to change his mind based upon new information, but everything we have right now suggests it doesn't exist.

[columbia]

Kraftster will like that video.

[MRandall25]

So it wouldn't be considered free will if I walked into the kitchen where my mom is currently setting up dinner plates, grabbed one of the plates, and chucked it off the wall (not that I'm going to actually do that)?

[count2infinity]

you're not going to right? why not? and who's to say that what you just typed wasn't just a predetermined response based on the way your brain is wired to the discussion?

[PensFanInDC]

MR25...always throwing platesa fit

[MRandall25]

you're not going to right? why not? and who's to say that what you just typed wasn't just a predetermined response based on the way your brain is wired to the discussion?

Purple monkey dishwasher.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

I don't need free will, I just need the illusion of free will

[PensFanInDC]

something.gif

[MRandall25]

I just turned the TV on. Are you/is that video saying my brain was wired to turn the TV on because of the situation (sitting on my couch, working on my laptop, relatively in silence)? It wasn't actually my choice to turn it on?

[FallenHero96]

I just turned the TV on. Are you/is that video saying my brain was wired to turn the TV on because of the situation (sitting on my couch, working on my laptop, relatively in silence)? It wasn't actually my choice to turn it on?

If we had enough information, and took into account all of the experience and variables and choices that have been made in your life, if and when you do decided to do anything could be predicted. So did you ever really make a choice to turn the tv on?

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

so are you telling me that I don't actually get to choose my destiny?

[shmenguin]

If you replayed your life infinity times it would turn out exactly the same way every time. Furthermore, if you replayed everything that happened after the Big Bang infinity times, it would play out the exact same way every time. There is no randomness. No chance. You're playing a part in a script that you haven't read, but is already written.