The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

[PDH]

Truth is relative. Unless you mean being true to yourself by "true beliefs" (just want clarification on that).

No, I disagree that truth is relative. Knowledge is probabilistic, reality is what it is. Because different people have access to different information, some people will be closer to the truth than others but that doesn't change what the truth is. We would not be able to have this conversation if that wasn't the case.

[GHERU]

maybe not more evil, but I agree we have lost most of our empathy and respect for other people
the desire to eliminate taboos, not just from teenagers but grown adults, is troubling, IMO

[GHERU]

I don't think the sex and drugs are indicative of our evilness, but rather how we treat others, or even if we think about how our actions will effect other people

[mrorangesoda]

Considering that the murder rate has been consistently going down world wide for the last several hundred years, I don't think you say we're more evil violence wise.

[achilles]

I for one am working hard at becoming even more evil. Evil, however, much like pimping, aint easy. It takes practice and dedication which few have. At the very least, I am more evil than GOSD.

Most people however are too apathetic to be truly evil. Lazy bastards, and selfish, but not truly cackling, secret headquarters in a volcano Starbucks kind of evil. Might not lift a finger to help a dying man in the street, but probably wouldn't kill him themselves.

[Nacmir]

No, I disagree that truth is relative. Knowledge is probabilistic, reality is what it is. Because different people have access to different information, some people will be closer to the truth than others but that doesn't change what the truth is. We would not be able to have this conversation if that wasn't the case.

He sees truth as relative. You see truth as absolute. Isn't that a proof that that it is relative? As long as someone differs, it goes away from absolute.

[Dragavon]

Considering that the murder rate has been consistently going down world wide for the last several hundred years, I don't think you say we're more evil violence wise.

That's not proof. It could be that people are getting better at getting away with murder (making it look like accidents or something else). I guess if we tracked the percentage of the population that goes missing and see whether it's increased or decreased is if we find out whether more or less people are dying.

[PDH]

He sees truth as relative. You see truth as absolute. Isn't that a proof that that it is relative? As long as someone differs, it goes away from absolute.

Of course not.

Look, you're conflating ontology with epistemology. Ontology is about what actually, physically exists, which is independent of whether we're right or wrong about it. Epistemology is about how we know what exists.

One is the territory, the other is the map. Our maps may differ but the territory does not. The territory is what it is. You can say there's no cliff in front of you but that doesn't mean you won't fall off it if you happen to be wrong about that. It's not up to you to decide whether there's a cliff there, it's up to reality. If there really is a cliff there, no amount of relativism will save you.

The existence of different opinions doesn't prove anything. It shows only that some people are wrong.

[Victorian Squid]

Relativism is overrated these days, especially inside the ivied walls of academia.

[TheLurker]

IIRC, Christianity teaches that we are born evil because of Eve!

But, I think that a part of this is due to mass media and social media/technology. It is difficult to feel empathy for people in an earthquake on the other side of the planet when the next two news stories involve people in your own town. We hear/read so much that we just listen to what we want and ignore the rest.

I believe that for the most part the "lower classes" in America are dragging us down. Evil can be seen as giving in to your most base desires, and that is what I see being done more and more. We see a rise in single parent households, due to the idea that "I want to get laid NOW, but I don't want to be a parent LATER". Children then start to get raised by TV and their friends, because the parents are gone, immature themselves or too busy to do the damn job. this leads to kids watching Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, Bad Girls Club or any of the other crap shows on TV not intended for kids. I have seen far too many people in their 20's that are more concerned with sex, alcohol, looking kewl and really great rims on their cars. This is in contrast to having a career, saving for the future, etc.

I work in health insurance. It is close to a CRIME how pathetic some young people are. Last week I had the mother of a 20-somthing guy call. He was standing there, but his mommy had to do all the talking. Why? Because he had recently become a father, but didn't know how to add his child to his insurance. Or to be more precise, he didn't know how to politely ask what the benefits were or ask how to get the child on the plan without cursing and yelling. Dude, use a condom and some common sense.

I could go on and on . . . . . .

[Nacmir]

Of course not.

Look, you're conflating ontology with epistemology. Ontology is about what actually, physically exists, which is independent of whether we're right or wrong about it. Epistemology is about how we know what exists.

One is the territory, the other is the map. Our maps may differ but the territory does not. The territory is what it is. You can say there's no cliff in front of you but that doesn't mean you won't fall off it if you happen to be wrong about that. It's not up to you to decide whether there's a cliff there, it's up to reality. If there really is a cliff there, no amount of relativism will save you.

The existence of different opinions doesn't prove anything. It shows only that some people are wrong.

I difer. As I understand ontology, it does not configure itself physical and objetive existence, but I may be very wrong. I mean, it being part of metaphysics and all. But it's not really my best area for coherent arguments, so if someone else wants to tag me out...

[Nacmir]

Relativism is overrated these days, especially inside the ivied walls of academia.

Old teacher of mine said "When someone else call you a relativist, say thanks, as absolutism has done awful things and not being part of it is somewhat a fortune" or something along, it was in spanish and it happened a lifetime ago. Then he started teaching us about Feuerbach.

[PDH]

I difer. As I understand ontology, it does not configure itself physical and objetive existence, but I may be very wrong. I mean, it being part of metaphysics and all. But it's not really my best area for coherent arguments, so if someone else wants to tag me out...

I don't understand what you mean by this sentence.

[PDH]

Old teacher of mine said "When someone else call you a relativist, say thanks, as absolutism has done awful things and not being part of it is somewhat a fortune" or something along, it was and spanish and it happened a lifetime ago. Then he started teaching us about Feuerbach.

If relativism is true then your teacher has no basis on which to criticise absolutism or anything else. It's a self-defeating position.

[Victorian Squid]

Relativism is overrated these days, especially inside the ivied walls of academia.

Old teacher of mine said "When someone else call you a relativist, say thanks, as absolutism has done awful things and not being part of it is somewhat a fortune" or something along, it was in spanish and it happened a lifetime ago. Then he started teaching us about Feuerbach.

Yup, that illustrates my point.