Chit Chat Philosophy

Is there an end to knowledge?

2 Is there an end to knowledge?

1 Of course! Knowledge is a finite resource

2 What is knowledge?

1 I would define knowledge as a fact of the universe. Something that cannot be disputed once understood. An absolute truth.

2 How can knowledge be finite?

1 The laws of the universe are certainly finite. If it were constantly changing, our realities would be very different.

2 Is it true that humans are constantly changing the world around them?

1 Yes, I can agree on that.

2 Therefore, are we not introducing new knowledge with each interaction?

1 That’s a bit pedantic. I would consider human-generated facts more as information. Separate to the knowledge of the universe.

2 I see. How do you know the laws of the universe are not constantly changing?

1 The laws of the universe govern cause and effect. We have spent generation upon generation studying these laws, and they have not yet changed.

2 Could they change?

1 I do not believe it to be so.

2 Do you believe every possible interaction – even one that has never happened in the history of the universe – can be known before it occurs?

1 I believe given any input state, the universe will have an output state.

2 But can we know it before it happens?

1 We can hypothesize, but I am not certain we would be able to call it fact until it can be observed.

2 How can we be certain that we’ve reached the end of knowledge?

1 The universe has these laws built-in. If we have exhausted each one we will have reached the end of knowledge. Whether we know it is the end of knowledge or not is separate to whether the end exists.

2 I see. What about knowledge at the organic scale?

1 I maintain that all knowledge is finite. You can learn everything there is to know about the laws that govern every scientific topic.

2 And what about the arts?

1 Art is boundless. Though to steal my earlier definition, I would classify art as information rather than knowledge.

2 Does philosophy have an end?

1 Well, you certainly don’t have an end.

2 Before we conclude, I have one more question. How is art considered information?

1 It seems to me that art, philosophy, creativity – these are expressions built from the laws of the universe, rather than something which seeks to understand it.

2 And what about the fact that Chloe has walked from point A to point B. Is this not a kind of knowledge?

1 Again that is information. It is built with the rules of the universe rather than a foundational aspect of it.

2 I see. Can you conclude your theory then. Is there an end to knowledge?

1 There is an end to knowledge. You can learn all there is to know about the universe and – although it may still surprise you with the derivative works generated through its laws – those laws are finite. Ergo, our understanding must have a limit.

Diones

October 17, 2022

Socratic Dialogues

dialogue, knowledge, philosophy, socratic dialogue
How replaceable are you?

2 Here’s a question for you. How replaceable are you?

1 Everyone in the world is unique. We each have our own part to play in the grand story. That being said – there comes a time when our memories turn to legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten.

2 That’s from The Wheel of Time isn’t it?

1 It sure is. But the great philosopher Robert Jordan makes a poignant point. Life at the macro scale is nothing more than a cycle. Our impact to any age is fleeting at best. Eventually, it is all lost to time.

2 Are there not paragons of history that have sustained through the ages?

1 Sure, you’ve got legends like Siddhartha Guatemala. But even his legend is a speck in the history of the world. We have forgotten so much.

2 What about in the more immediate frame of a single lifetime?

1 Indeed there are people in my life who are impacted by my presence. This can be said for most everyone in the world.

2 If you had never been born – would the world be different?

1 I am not sure anyone can really say for certain their impact on the world. Furthermore, I’m quite certain many of us shape the present in ways that we don’t even realize.

2 Do you believe you can have an impact on the world, even if your name is lost to history?

1 That does seem to track. We make inventions, for example, which are the cornerstone for even grander inventions. And on and on through time. Regardless of the names that go along with them.

2 Does this apply to lineage as well?

1 Yes, of course. Every human is a product of a near-infinite lineage tracing back to the first origins of life.

2 This would seem to contradict your statement that “our impact to any age is fleeting at best”. Do you agree?

1 So it would seem. Perhaps our part to play has a longer lasting impact than I first gave credit.

2 In what ways might one contribute to the future of the universe?

1 There are many ways a person might impact the future. You could create or discover something. You could produce offspring. Maybe you simply inspire others who go on to make discoveries or contributions themselves.

2 And what about the person who does none of these things?

1 Even the person who makes no discernible discovery or contribution is still a valuable member of society and still a part of the warp and the woof in the wheel of time.

2 How so?

1 Nobody can exist in a vacuum. The mere fact that you are participating in society is cause enough to impact the fate of humanity.

2 Is anyone replaceable?

1 I would not put it like that. Instead, I would say: the story that we write collectively is an amalgam of every person – no matter how small their contributions may seem.

2 I see. Though you still haven’t answered the question. Is anyone replaceable?

1 Nobody is replaceable if you want to produce the exact same story. But the great part of life is that the story is ever changing. There is no right or wrong answer. The wheel wills as the wheel turns.

2 To clarify, you are saying that everyone contributes to the story of life and their part in that story – no matter the scale – is irreplaceable?

1 To tell this story. Yes. Every single contribution is required. However, replaceability does not really matter. To replace someone is simply to tell a different story.

Diones

October 15, 2022

Socratic Dialogues, Uncategorized

dialogue, meaning, philosophy, socratic dialogue, wheel of time
What is beauty?

2 If I may be so bold as to ask, what is beauty?

1 Beauty is when we take appreciation one level deeper. Anything that can be appreciated can be elevated to beautiful, if our emotion towards it is strong enough.

2 Can you clarify for me, what is appreciation?

1 Appreciation is an unconditional kind of respect.

2 Is there a specific emotion that must be correlated for appreciation to turn into beauty?

1 I would say no. People find beauty in all kinds of basal emotions.

2 So to clarify, beauty can occur when we have respect or appreciation for something coupled with a strong emotion?

1 Yes.

2 If you see something beautiful, will everyone share that opinion?

1 No, definitely not. For what I believe to be beautiful, others may find off-putting or ugly.

2 How can that be?

1 As they say, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Each of us makes our own definition for what is beautiful and what is not. Put another way, others may not feel the same kind of emotion or respect as I do towards the subject matter.

2 Would you then say that nothing is universally beautiful?

1 Ah but that is a wholly separate question. Allow me to say it thusly: no. Nothing is universally beautiful. I do believe some things are more likely to evoke emotion and respect than others, but they are not guaranteed to be interpreted as such.

2 Suppose you have just watched something which was “so bad, it’s good”.

1 Go on.

2 How can something awful command the appreciation needed for beauty?

1 I see your point, though I don’t believe it is a problem. I can appreciate mediocrity provided it still evokes the right emotion.

2 So you would say then the appreciation is because it has the ability to evoke emotion?

1 That’s right.

2 Can something be appreciated and evocative, yet forego the title of beautiful?

1 I believe so. Suppose there is a kind of music that you find particularly grating. You may respect the process that went into creating it and you may feel strongly (that it is annoying), yet it is not beautiful.

2 So the specific emotion you feel must be defined in a certain way for something to be beautiful?

1 I don’t think that’s quite right. For it is possible some people may find annoying music to be beautiful. I am not the one to say either way. I hold to my earlier definition that something respected and evocative can be considered beautiful.

2 Can something without respect still be beautiful?

1 I do not believe so.

2 So my friend, what is your conclusion?

1 Beauty is an attribute we can assign to anything that commands respect and evokes emotion.

Diones

October 14, 2022

Socratic Dialogues

beauty, dialogue, philosophy, socratic dialogue
Do all people deserve respect?

2 Do all people deserve respect?

1 Everyone is due a modicum of respect.

2 Why is that?

1 Because we are all human.

2 Do you have respect for the powerful bear that can rip you to shreds and consume your body?

1 Well, yes. I would have respect for all creatures that are demonstrably better than me in some way.

2 This would seem to imply more than humans are deserving of respect, do you agree?

1 I suppose I would.

2 Do all animals deserve respect?

1 No. Only those which are better than me in some way.

2 So the animals which have demonstrated a kind of superiority have earned your respect?

1 That’s right.

2 But that is not the case with humans?

1 Humans – being the apex predator – are preordained with a basal superiority and that fact commands respect. It is the same respect we might have for the tiger and its expert hunting abilities.

2 Would you then say respect is directly correlated to the mastery – or ability to master – a particular skill?

1 I would.

2 Now suppose a thief has held you at gunpoint and stolen your wallet. Have they earned your respect?

1 I should think not. They have lost my respect for their dishonorable actions.

2 Have they not demonstrated a kind of mastery to the art of mugging?

1 It is an ill reputable art.

2 So honor is a component of respect then?

1 I would say so.

2 How can this be? It is at odds with your original claim that all humans are deserving respect.

1 Maybe all humans are deserving of respect until it is lost.

2 Who determines when respect is lost?

1 I believe each person decides for themselves who they will choose to respect.

2 If someone loses your respect, should they lose everyone’s respect?

1 The actions one takes are a record in the footnotes of history. Anyone who is privy to the actions that have transpired may use these facts in their own calculation for respect. To answer your question more specifically: no they should not lose everyone’s respect. That being said, all of their actions should be accounted for.

2 Interesting. So you are saying that actions are facts and these facts accumulate to form respect (or the lack thereof)?

1 That’s right.

2 And what about animals that are not superior in any way. Does the horse fly deserve respect?

1 That’s a tough one, but I believe I can say firmly that – no – the horse fly does not deserve respect.

2 Does it not demonstrate the unique and envious ability to fly?

1 It does.

2 So what makes you say the horse fly is not owed respect?

1 Maybe it has demonstrated a mastery of some variety, but not all creatures have.

2 What is an example?

1 Let us take the worm as an example. It has no unique abilities whatsoever.

2 Does not the worm play a vital role in the ecosystem of our world?

1 I suppose it might be argued as such.

2 Can you find any creature which is inherently not owed a modicum of respect?

1 I suppose I cannot. I would revise my original statement then. All creatures are owed respect until it is lost.

(Featured image by John pulled from Wikimedia commons)

Diones

October 13, 2022

Socratic Dialogues

dialogue, philosophy, respect, socratic dialogue
Are we born inherently good?

2 Are humans born inherently good?

1 I believe humans are neither good nor evil, they are simply a blank slate to be filled with the contextual realities of their upbringing.

2 Would it be accurate to say then, all villains in history are taught to be evil?

1 I don’t think that’s true. Many people who do evil believe they are doing good.

2 What is good?

1 Good is any action which is right and just in society.

2 And what can we say it is to be right?

1 I would say rightness can be defined as any activity which does not harm another.

2 Excellent. This does bring up a contradiction however. You have stated that some villains believe they are doing good, but in fact perpetuate evil. How can this be?

1 I am not sure that’s a contradiction. You see, their definition of good is merely skewed.

2 And they were taught this ill-conceived definition of good?

1 Well, in some cases yes. In other cases, they simply accumulated that worldview based on their experiences.

2 What about those who do evil for the sake of doing evil?

1 Some people are born evil.

2 What is evil?

1 I believe evil is knowingly causing harm to another.

2 This does seem to be at odds with your earlier statement that people are neither born good nor evil.

1 I would revise that statement. Some people are born evil and some people are born neutral.

2 Let us revisit this concept of good. You said earlier that good must be learned?

1 Yes, that’s right.

2 But evil can be inherent?

1 Yes.

2 How can that be?

1 Now that you mention it, I think both must be learned. I believe there are two types of evil: those who are simply misguided, and those who are motivated by something other than morality. In the latter case – they have disregard for all of the laws of humanity.

2 It sounds like you are describing a motivational system which is separate from morality. Is this correct?

1 I suppose it is. Right and wrong are universal truths which can be understood across cultures. Whether we adhere to the tenants of morality is a product of our motivation coupled with our worldview.

2 Suppose someone is born with a motivation other than morality, yet they still practice rightness for the sake of it. Would this person be evil?

1 Well, when you put it that way I would say no. They would not be evil.

2 Earlier you said that to be born evil is to have a different motivation than morality. Does this statement still hold true?

1 No, it does not.

2 So what might our conclusion be?

1 I would conclude that at birth people are neither good nor evil. They have the capacity to understand and practice morality, but not everyone will be motivated by it.

Diones

October 12, 2022

Socratic Dialogues

dialogue, morality, philosophy, socratic dialogue
What is love?

2 What is love?

1 Love is an emotion shared by two people who care for each other deeply.

2 Is not bewilderment an emotion two people can share as well? And is it true that even those who care for each other deeply can express bewilderment against one another?

1 Well, yes. Let me try again. Love is a feeling of mutual joy.

2 Ah but what do you mean by joy?

1 Joy is the emotion of pure happiness.

2 Let us suppose for a moment that two people have just eaten a particularly delicious and satisfying meal together. Is that shared experience of joy considered to be love?

1 No, that’s not quite right. Maybe love requires an added dimensionality, like time.

2 What is an example?

1 Love is everlasting. A feeling of camaraderie which transcends a particular instance. Sharing a meal together would simply be a single encounter. Love is the feeling of joy coupled with the understanding that this experience transcends time.

2 What is the purpose of joy in this definition? Is it not the case that two people who are frustrated with each other can still be said to be in love?

1 I see your point. It is possible that joy is not required for love to exist. Although I believe it is required for love to begin.

2 What about two platonic friends? Can they be said to love each other?

1 They can.

2 What is the relationship between joy and love then?

1 Now that you mention it, it seems that joy does not factor at all in the meaning of love. Maybe it can be said that love is a bond between two people which is expected to maintain shape regardless of the day to day obstacles.

2 Can it be said that a rival and their opponent are in love? After all, they enjoy a strong bond which remains unchanged over time.

1 Maybe it can be argued as such, but I do not think that is a commonly held belief.

2 Perhaps there is more to love than just an everlasting bond?

Diones

October 11, 2022

Socratic Dialogues

dialogue, love, philosophy, socratic dialogue

Is there an end to knowledge?

How replaceable are you?

What is beauty?

Do all people deserve respect?

Are we born inherently good?

What is love?