You're right Rob, and I like the stick figure.
Our universe doesn't matter. The fact that one thing or another might or might not be true doesn't matter if it doesn't affect us. If the stick figure figured out that he was just here for our example, it would not matter as much to him as being hit by the talking train.
If we were to discover weather or not we have a soul, it would not change how we perceive anything. Everythough would continue as if the answer has not come up. Now, taken to a different extreme, if we were to discover that there was indeed life after death, that would matter inexplicable ammounts to us. It would shift how we take in our daily lives. Of course, this is why we argue about it though. If we do not know, and we are just philosophising, then it doesn't matter. me declaring all of this doesn't matter either because it is not changing your lives, nor is it changing mine...
The object of this blog is to get this off my chest and be informative. But that doesn't matter either!
The Truth about this world and universe doesn't matter.
The Truth about "Are you the same person you were before you read this sentance" doesn't matter...because it doesn't affect you!
I'm not saying this to be crass and calous to foreign nations...starving away as I sit here, comfortably and write this from my laptop...in my dorm room....
But I'm talking about the existencial difference in meaning of the universe...not something as close to home as 2 blocks from here where the man on the street is starving.
To him, this world is fucked up...but to the world, he doesn't even matter...nor should it matter to the world weather or not he stops existing or moves on to another place after death...
This world and this universe do not care about what we do. But the man on the street really only cares about his next meal. So that he can keep on surviving, because he cares about himself.
Worry about yourself and those you care about.
Again, all that matters in this life are creation and destruction, the end-all of human interactions is broken down into those 2 things, which can be said to be the same thing. Only scale is diffent.
Create and Destroy
Care about yourself and those who mean something to you.
-Bill
Monday, December 11, 2006
2) Program for Money
Having only minimal knowlege of programming this may seem like a difficult task, but alas, it does not take much knowlege in programming to create a program that can make you some quick cash. The uber basic skills I have consist of Visual Basic, Java, Java Script, C++, and PovRay.
In High School, I made a racing program that consisted of 3 cars running a drag race. There were many variables that increaced or decreaced each car's chance of winning. Given that I was the programmer, and knew all of the possible variables, weather, drivetrain, torque, mis-shifting, nitrous, etc, etc...it became very clear that I could not partake in the game against my freinds.
After some time I redesigned the game to be slightly more random, but still follow the same basic trends...nothing was preset, but the cars had tendencies to do different things. Now I could participate in the game, not win every time, and still have fun. After a while though, some people started taking bets against the game. Money was exchanged and people won and lost. I, on the other hand, stopped participating once this began because of my unfair, yet not complete, advantage.
The time has come to reinvent this game. The idea for the week is to code the game before finals are over (Extending my week-idea-time until the 20th) and make $20 here at college.
In High School, I made a racing program that consisted of 3 cars running a drag race. There were many variables that increaced or decreaced each car's chance of winning. Given that I was the programmer, and knew all of the possible variables, weather, drivetrain, torque, mis-shifting, nitrous, etc, etc...it became very clear that I could not partake in the game against my freinds.
After some time I redesigned the game to be slightly more random, but still follow the same basic trends...nothing was preset, but the cars had tendencies to do different things. Now I could participate in the game, not win every time, and still have fun. After a while though, some people started taking bets against the game. Money was exchanged and people won and lost. I, on the other hand, stopped participating once this began because of my unfair, yet not complete, advantage.
The time has come to reinvent this game. The idea for the week is to code the game before finals are over (Extending my week-idea-time until the 20th) and make $20 here at college.
Friday, December 8, 2006
Truth vs. Relevance
Here is a true fact:
Lakehaven Shopping Centre is a shopping centre in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located about 10 km northeast of Wyong.
Here is a relevant lie:
I will kill you in your sleep, with DVD's.
The difference? While the second statement is not true, it alludes to a running joke between the two of us, and allows for better communication, and allows me to opt out of a situtation in which I have nothing to say by making a humorous theat.
Now, Socrates & Company had a little word they liked to throw around, 'Truth.' They argued that what is true is the most important regardless of anything else. The problem was that their definition of Truth had nothing to do with anything testable, but was rather just a series of weird assumptions made by philosophers that, they claimed, would instantly present itself as true to any human being.
Okay, so. They claim that something unobservable and totally irrelevant to daily life is more important to the nuances of a situation? One word, sir: zomg.
The Socratic idea of Truth is frankly one of the more dangerous and yucky ideas to have grown out of proportion and inserted itself virally into all the world's cultures and religion. The idea that something totally irrelevant to our lives is good enough cause to be angry at, or even kill another person. That way lies war. That way lies death, disease, famine. That way lies fascism, that way lies genocide, that way lies frenzy and evil. Am I now using a phraseology of moral absolutes? Yep. To make a point--that to hold so firmly to 'Truth' regardless of how much it actually affects us always, in the end, a bad idea.
So, what if, in reality, our entire existence has been the delirium of some bacteria festering away in a multi-dimensional bar? If we can't do anything to stop the Bar Rag of Eternity from eventually wiping us all out of existence, why bother? A character in a novel can't kill the person reading.
Look at it this way. If the 'Truth' is that we're characters in a story, there exists no mechanism for us to observe or prove this, and even if we simply assume this to be the case, all we have enabled ourselves to do is get mad at people who disagree with us.
Therefore, the best Truth we have is the testable. If it's not testable, why bother?
This little stick man is pondering whether his entire existence is merely a figment of someone else's perception, while simultaneously trying to come out of the screen to learn the Truth: That he isn't real, that he's just a stick figure. Think this is the best course of action for him? Hm? He's pondering the Truth real hard. You and I know the truth: That he's a little stick man about to be hit by a train.
Lakehaven Shopping Centre is a shopping centre in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located about 10 km northeast of Wyong.
Here is a relevant lie:
I will kill you in your sleep, with DVD's.
The difference? While the second statement is not true, it alludes to a running joke between the two of us, and allows for better communication, and allows me to opt out of a situtation in which I have nothing to say by making a humorous theat.
Now, Socrates & Company had a little word they liked to throw around, 'Truth.' They argued that what is true is the most important regardless of anything else. The problem was that their definition of Truth had nothing to do with anything testable, but was rather just a series of weird assumptions made by philosophers that, they claimed, would instantly present itself as true to any human being.
Okay, so. They claim that something unobservable and totally irrelevant to daily life is more important to the nuances of a situation? One word, sir: zomg.
The Socratic idea of Truth is frankly one of the more dangerous and yucky ideas to have grown out of proportion and inserted itself virally into all the world's cultures and religion. The idea that something totally irrelevant to our lives is good enough cause to be angry at, or even kill another person. That way lies war. That way lies death, disease, famine. That way lies fascism, that way lies genocide, that way lies frenzy and evil. Am I now using a phraseology of moral absolutes? Yep. To make a point--that to hold so firmly to 'Truth' regardless of how much it actually affects us always, in the end, a bad idea.
So, what if, in reality, our entire existence has been the delirium of some bacteria festering away in a multi-dimensional bar? If we can't do anything to stop the Bar Rag of Eternity from eventually wiping us all out of existence, why bother? A character in a novel can't kill the person reading.
Look at it this way. If the 'Truth' is that we're characters in a story, there exists no mechanism for us to observe or prove this, and even if we simply assume this to be the case, all we have enabled ourselves to do is get mad at people who disagree with us.
Therefore, the best Truth we have is the testable. If it's not testable, why bother?
This little stick man is pondering whether his entire existence is merely a figment of someone else's perception, while simultaneously trying to come out of the screen to learn the Truth: That he isn't real, that he's just a stick figure. Think this is the best course of action for him? Hm? He's pondering the Truth real hard. You and I know the truth: That he's a little stick man about to be hit by a train.
EDIT: 'Truthiness' was named word of the year. Ah, Truthiness: That which Socrates, Politicians, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, & buddies all say is more relevant to your life than something that you can observe and measure. Close your eyes, inhale deeply, and feel the Truthiness. Isn't it so much better than anything you could read, see, measure, remember, sense, or make happen? Something that not everyone agrees on? Something you can get killed for, something you can kill people for? Luscious, lovely Truthiness.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
4th Wall eh?
Its 1:57am when I begin to write this...please forgive any spelling and grammatical mistakes.
Nifty analogy between the actor in the the movie and the ticket price Rob. This leads me to another point I wish I'd made previously. I've now taken this philosophy course, and I've seen various lecutres on the subject. Besides the fact that Philosophy and Theology are more or less the same, the concepts are always based on what the philosopher understood...or thought...or liked.
Although the most acceptable philosophy may be the one everyone likes the best, what is true does not have to be even realatively close to that. Socrates and Plato searched for the soul though knowlege, they based their thoughts off of the "understanding" that knowlege is incorporeal...and therefore the only thing that is our soul....more or less... Besides believing in one thing or another dosesn't matter... what is true and what the true nature of the universe IS and nothing we think or hope or wish it to be will be. The universe is not here for us...we are here for it.
To regres back to Plato and Socrates, Their philosophies spawned from the belief that we even have a soul, and that our soul is our true selves. Regardless of what you (The reader) may believe or not believe, the truth will not change depending on that. Say, for example, you are a devote Catholic...well, if you spend your entire life striving for the ideals of the church, and then you die...and there is no soul within you...then thats just it...you are dead...and anything you've done on this plane of existance is all that shall be.
Will Update Later...with the continued expansion of the atual argument that you hve yet to see... sorry guys
Nifty analogy between the actor in the the movie and the ticket price Rob. This leads me to another point I wish I'd made previously. I've now taken this philosophy course, and I've seen various lecutres on the subject. Besides the fact that Philosophy and Theology are more or less the same, the concepts are always based on what the philosopher understood...or thought...or liked.
Although the most acceptable philosophy may be the one everyone likes the best, what is true does not have to be even realatively close to that. Socrates and Plato searched for the soul though knowlege, they based their thoughts off of the "understanding" that knowlege is incorporeal...and therefore the only thing that is our soul....more or less... Besides believing in one thing or another dosesn't matter... what is true and what the true nature of the universe IS and nothing we think or hope or wish it to be will be. The universe is not here for us...we are here for it.
To regres back to Plato and Socrates, Their philosophies spawned from the belief that we even have a soul, and that our soul is our true selves. Regardless of what you (The reader) may believe or not believe, the truth will not change depending on that. Say, for example, you are a devote Catholic...well, if you spend your entire life striving for the ideals of the church, and then you die...and there is no soul within you...then thats just it...you are dead...and anything you've done on this plane of existance is all that shall be.
Will Update Later...with the continued expansion of the atual argument that you hve yet to see... sorry guys
I believe I perceive that I have the ability to alter my perceptions.
I believe I perceive that I have the ability to alter my perceptions.
If I have nothing else to work with, it doesn't matter whether or not my existence is real, or virtual. If, at the edge of the universe, all is encircled by a gigantic metal ring, or isn't, it's still the same universe. At least as far as we can tell. That metal ring doesn't affect us, and while it might fundamentally alter the way we think the universe is, if I can't see it, and it doesn't affect me in any way, then who cares? It's irrelevant to the way I live my life, or the way I perceive that I live my life. If we're in pods sucking nutreints through a straw with artificial reality being beamed into our skulls, well, if there's no way out and no way in, then it shouldn't affect how I live. Nihilism is stupid because if nothing is real, well- who cares? I perceive certain things, or hell, I've deluded myself into perceiving them. The end result is the same. If my life is a movie, I'm not in any position to start arguing over the ticket price, because I'm IN THE MOVIE. And no matter how hard a movie character strains at the fourth wall, he will never, ever break through.
If I have nothing else to work with, it doesn't matter whether or not my existence is real, or virtual. If, at the edge of the universe, all is encircled by a gigantic metal ring, or isn't, it's still the same universe. At least as far as we can tell. That metal ring doesn't affect us, and while it might fundamentally alter the way we think the universe is, if I can't see it, and it doesn't affect me in any way, then who cares? It's irrelevant to the way I live my life, or the way I perceive that I live my life. If we're in pods sucking nutreints through a straw with artificial reality being beamed into our skulls, well, if there's no way out and no way in, then it shouldn't affect how I live. Nihilism is stupid because if nothing is real, well- who cares? I perceive certain things, or hell, I've deluded myself into perceiving them. The end result is the same. If my life is a movie, I'm not in any position to start arguing over the ticket price, because I'm IN THE MOVIE. And no matter how hard a movie character strains at the fourth wall, he will never, ever break through.
Philosophy Class
Sitting in Philosophy class...can't sleep...its past 9:45am...why am i tired? Does it even matter anymore? Am I listening? Why is he talking around himself? There are so many questions we have for the final...why is THIS what were talking about? He still hasn't answer the question he's been asked...and the next one? Same. "The Distance between appearance and reality shows that we are immediatly aware of our own senses...and not pure objects." thats nice and all..but the question had much more to do with artificial intelligence...
uhg...break...the...ok....
Broken...
Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Gilbert Ryle, Daniel Dennett, and John Searle...
What do I have against them? Is it only the way the information is presented to us? I find this topic interresting...why Can't I enjoy it?
Have I lost interest? Or is it truly just this class? No, not just this class...Other classes as well...I enjoyed them months ago...why not any longer?
Crick...Crack...Snap...Pop...BREAK
ok.
.
.
Categorical mistake: Mental existance and physical existance are two species of the same genius of existance. This based off of Ryle.
Fof if they are the same...does it matter? Does it matter if we come to some understanding of the universe that is different from what we have already? If we discover that the universe doesn't exist and that it is all an illusion...does it change the fact that If I miss class tomorrow it won't be a valid excuse?
I don;t know...will edit later
uhg...break...the...ok....
Broken...
Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Gilbert Ryle, Daniel Dennett, and John Searle...
What do I have against them? Is it only the way the information is presented to us? I find this topic interresting...why Can't I enjoy it?
Have I lost interest? Or is it truly just this class? No, not just this class...Other classes as well...I enjoyed them months ago...why not any longer?
Crick...Crack...Snap...Pop...BREAK
ok.
.
.
Categorical mistake: Mental existance and physical existance are two species of the same genius of existance. This based off of Ryle.
Fof if they are the same...does it matter? Does it matter if we come to some understanding of the universe that is different from what we have already? If we discover that the universe doesn't exist and that it is all an illusion...does it change the fact that If I miss class tomorrow it won't be a valid excuse?
I don;t know...will edit later
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Wake up.
Above all, one must keep the flow of ideas moving out of one's head in order to keep a slightly negative pressure. Study is important, entertainment is important. Consuming to relax is dangerous, though. Hence, wakeful and outward flow of ideas is necessary to mental health.
With this in mind, I present to you the following short story.
________________________
I answered the phone for the eighth time in a row trying to get a signal.
"Hello?"
"Rob!" he was barely audible. "-'ve got to help me!"
"Calm down," I shouted into the phone. "Can you hear me?"
"-arely. I need to know something right now. Are y- at your comp-er?"
"Yeah," I leaned back, hand pressed against my other ear, trying to decipher what he was saying. "What do you need?"
"I need you t- look something up ab--- my truck!"
"What? What do you need?"
"-ash ratings, likelihood of the gas tank e-----ing , amount of force sustai-ed, speeds that occupa-ts--"
"What?" I was typing, trying to pull up anything helpful. "What exactly? What do you need this for?"
"-ob! I need to know ---eth- NOW!"
"What? I'll get it for you! What the hell do you need?"
"Too late! I'm through the front of the building!"
I put the phone down. There had been a low rumble and there were screams audible in the courtyard. I put the phone back to my head.
"Hello? What do you need this for? Do you know what just happened?"
There was no response. I looked down at my phone, but the call had already been terminated.
The fire sprinkler went off.
_______________________________________________
I'll post these as they occur to me or as I need to.
With this in mind, I present to you the following short story.
________________________
I answered the phone for the eighth time in a row trying to get a signal.
"Hello?"
"Rob!" he was barely audible. "-'ve got to help me!"
"Calm down," I shouted into the phone. "Can you hear me?"
"-arely. I need to know something right now. Are y- at your comp-er?"
"Yeah," I leaned back, hand pressed against my other ear, trying to decipher what he was saying. "What do you need?"
"I need you t- look something up ab--- my truck!"
"What? What do you need?"
"-ash ratings, likelihood of the gas tank e-----ing , amount of force sustai-ed, speeds that occupa-ts--"
"What?" I was typing, trying to pull up anything helpful. "What exactly? What do you need this for?"
"-ob! I need to know ---eth- NOW!"
"What? I'll get it for you! What the hell do you need?"
"Too late! I'm through the front of the building!"
I put the phone down. There had been a low rumble and there were screams audible in the courtyard. I put the phone back to my head.
"Hello? What do you need this for? Do you know what just happened?"
There was no response. I looked down at my phone, but the call had already been terminated.
The fire sprinkler went off.
_______________________________________________
I'll post these as they occur to me or as I need to.
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