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Author Topic: Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade  (Read 404 times)

Offline -sudz-

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« on: September 23, 2002, 10:09:27 AM »
Note: P101 threads are intellectual exercises - not doctrine or dogma.

In mechanics there are three fundamental tools which help form all complicated and sophisticated machines (saving electronic ones): the inclined plane, lever, and pulley.  For instance, a gear is made up of inclined planes spaced evenly about a pulley.

I got to wondering if there is an equivalent set of fundamental tools that make up higher-order thinking.  Mind you, this question isn't about finding out motivational factors that promote or spark higher-order thinking, such as flight-or-fight responses, but about how the mind comes up with fully fledged thought constucts such as political platforms.

For instance, one such fundamental tool would be comparison.  The mind's ability to take two or more unique experiences and find likenesses and differences between them is used in serveral high-order thought processes. Predjudice, for example.

Are there any others?  Does the question itself create a framework to that presupposes an answer?  If there are other fundamental mental tools they would have to be atomic, and couldn't be broken down into other thought processes.  And lastly, can higher-order thinking even be broken down into building blocks rather than an alternative such as linear association?

Rock on, intellects . . .

-sudz
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Offline midnight Target

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2002, 10:16:24 AM »
Seems to me one of the basic tools needed for a p101 discussion is a joint.

Of course that is only from memory. :p
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Offline Dinger

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2002, 11:32:10 AM »
Read the Metaphysics -- that's what it's about.  For Harry, it was the principle of non-contradiction:
the same proposition cannot be true and not true at the same time in the same way.
Without that, there can be no discussion.
Now, you'll need a concept of what it means "to be", what "true" is, as well as constitutes "knowledge".

(and, if you guessed that, for Harry, Scientific Knowledge consisted in principles from which the rest of the science could be derived, like a point and extension for geometry, or a  lever, pulley and inclined plane for mechanics, well, you're own your way)


target's not too far from the truth.  Good wine, good food and lots of leisure time is what gave birth to philosophia.
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Offline AcId

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2002, 11:51:36 AM »
What if C . . A . . T really spelled Dog? :D :p
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Offline AKSWulfe

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2002, 11:56:16 AM »
I have no idea what you are trying to say, but I do like Tahgut's idea...
-SW
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Offline Goth

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2002, 12:26:34 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by AcId
What if C . . A . . T really spelled Dog? :D :p


What does chicken taste like?
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Offline capt. apathy

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2002, 12:39:05 PM »
what if the hokey-pokey really is what it's all about?
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Offline batdog

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2002, 12:47:38 PM »
Abstract thinking.... only hairless monkeys have this ability. Its scarey.

xBAT
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Of course, I only see what he posts here and what he does in the MA.  I know virtually nothing about the man.  I think its important for people to realize that we don't really know squat about each other.... definately not enough to use words like "hate".

AKDejaVu

Offline senna

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2002, 03:29:56 PM »
I once saw a guy smoke a joint then ponder on the origins of the universe while eating out a bag of Dirritos Chips.
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Offline Thrawn

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2002, 03:43:14 PM »
Perception.
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Offline capt. apathy

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2002, 04:15:37 PM »
ya, with the right drugs you can discover the meaning of life.  but you wont remember it in the morning.
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Offline AcId

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2002, 04:41:44 PM »
sorry sudz ;)
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Offline hardcase

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Philosopy 101: Tools of the Trade
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2002, 04:44:38 PM »
We are not monkeys,  we are Primates. Who said the majority of the bell curves thinks?

hc
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Offline midnight Target

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I guess hairy apes can do it too.
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2002, 04:54:00 PM »
Baboons Show Signs of Abstract Thought, a Human Trait

Kinda blurs the subject a little doesn't it?
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Offline Sandman

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Re: I guess hairy apes can do it too.
« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2002, 04:56:17 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by midnight Target
Baboons Show Signs of Abstract Thought, a Human Trait

Kinda blurs the subject a little doesn't it?


Yeah, but the Pope says they have no soul.
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