Bigthink - User Ideas Feed

Re: how do we know anything?

Bigthink — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:42:08 +0100

First of all, I try to avoid questions like: Do we really know anything for certain? and Isn't it all just opinion? I think those questions slow down genuine thought and are simply questions badly phrased. Sure, you could make an argument that would state: Because of ideas like "The earth is flat" and "Fire is an element" and other debunked theories, you could say that everything is a theory waiting to be proved wrong. However if this were true, would you have any confidence in anything at all? Ask yourself, what do you know? What is this knowledge based on? Usually, knowledge is based on evidenciary support. But, since you are questioning if we know anything. Evidence must then not be fullproof either. So, now what is your knowledge based on?

Probability.

What do the masses tend to think? What do signs point to? Both of these questions are a factor in probability. People believed the earth was round because everyone did, and they didn't notice the signs that pointed to other theories. This is not an impenetrable idea, probability. There are things that just don't fit. But then again there are things we really just don't know... So, we don't know NOTHING, but we certainly don't know everything.

Why be good?

Bigthink — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:10:30 +0100

In societies today, it is a nearly assumed belief that people should be good. It is not often that the idea is questioned, but I want you to ask yourself: Why am I good? Why do I feel I should be good? Why do I believe in this?

Before you answer this question consider these things: Goodness today seems to mean having characteristics associated with kindness, compassion, sympathy, empathy, forgiveness, and generosity. It is generally considered that goodness is selfless. However, many people do good and act good so that they benefit from the results of that behavior. Others are good simply because it benefits others. It is my belief that to be good simply to gain from it is self-centered. Also, to be good ONLY for the benefit of others is irrational. I am not asking you to adopt these ideas, but just to consider them.

So with these things in mind, Why are you good? Why should we be good? Why do we believe so strongly in goodness? And if you are not good, why not?

Goodness vs. Expediency

Bigthink — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:04:34 +0100

: In Cicero's essay On Duty he discusses what he calls the most pernicious error. He believes that the most pernicious error is to believe that the morally good choice is not always the most expedient choice. Meaning, one may be better off or receive benefit from doing things that are immoral or questionable. Do you believe that The morally good choice is always the most expedient, or are there times when you should divert from morality?

Re: What is the measure of a good life?

Bigthink — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:59:23 +0100

: I do not believe that this is a question of "What is the fun life?". The good life is an idea that centers around goodness. What does it mean to be good? One must be just. One must subject everything that they do to a certain standard. That standard is morality. Morality is not simply the laws of a god. Morality is perhaps the easiest idea to grasp. Simply ask yourself, "What is the right thing to do?" And you will be a morally good person. The good life centers around this idea. How good of a man or woman are you? The answer to the question of morality is almost always totaly obvious, if we look at it clearly. It is the courage to act on that standard that gives one a truly good life. The measure of a good life is found in one's own moral strength and courage.

Re: Is happiness the measure of a good life?

Bigthink — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:48:53 +0100

: First off, I would like to say that Happiness is one thing that contributes to a good life. However, I firmly believe in the idea of a commonwealth. In Cicero's essays On the Good Life he believed that what is good for the commonwealth is good for the person. It is not placing a person before yourself, it is creating a bond between yourself and everyone. Goodness is not happiness. Goodness is not quality. Goodness is the idea of doing right.