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From: The Goobers <docdwarf@erols.com>
To: arnold.trembley@worldnet.att.net
Subject: Re: Philosophers
Date: 1998/01/25
Date: 1998-01-25T00:00:00+00:00	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <34CB5A90.BB8@erols.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: 6afc8j$6k2@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net


Arnold Trembley wrote:
> 
> The Goobers wrote:
> >
> > Mike Whiten wrote:
> > >
> > > Nick Roberts wrote:
> > > >I'm afraid I believe a great many people don't realise that philosophy is
> > > >the most 'hard core' field of study there is.  As Russell put it,
> > > >philosophy is "accurate thinking", which is really exactly what computer
> > > >programming is.  Give me a bunch of CS PhDs and a philosopher to employ,
> > > >and I'd have the philosopher every time.  They are the only ones who are
> > > >actually taught to _think_ (I really mean this!).
> > >
> > > Philosophy is what scientists do in their spare time.
> >
> > 'Scientists'?  What are those... oh, wait a minute, I see... you mean
> > 'natural philosophers'!
> >
> > (For the unaware... up until the late 18th century what we now call
> > 'scientists' were called 'natural philosophers'.  For the aware... muse
> > over the difference between 'philos sophos' and 'scire')
> 
> I am not aware, I had to go to my American Heritage dictionary for the
> derivation.  "Philosophy" from the Greek "Loving Wisdom", "Science" from
> the Latin "Scire" which means "to know".

Very good!  Now, for the kicker, check the derivation of
'mathematics'... but be cautious; the AHD Greek derivation is a bit...
incomplete.

> 
> >
> > > Actually, this is true for philosophy grads... it's just that they have
> > > a lot *more* spare time on their hands...
> >
> > Hey, the reason I went into coding was because nobody was hiring
> > Corporate Philosophers... isn't it obvious?
> >
> > DD
> 
> Okay, I only have a BS in English (having declined to take a foreign
> language after high school French).

This always struck me as strange... if one gets a BA in, say, chemistry
or mathematics it is not unusual for said one to become a chemist or a
mathematician... does a BA in English put you in the running to be an
Englishman?  My BA is from a very weird little school which required,
for graduation, four years of languages... two of Ancient Greek and two
of French.  (I can now almost-translate the inscriptions on drachmae and
can order from a Parisian waiter... if said waiter can wade through my
Ancient Greek-accented French)

> I took a couple of philosophy
> courses in College.  They were fun but probably better suited for
> criminal lawyers (is there any other kind?).

That I cannot agree nor disagree with; I do not know how the courses
were taught.  Keep in mind the Socratic dictum of 'The unexamined life
is not worth living' (and the corollary, 'the unlived life is not worth
examining').  I have seen instances where a poorly-taught course can do
more damage than remaining ignorant of a subject as it can turn an
otherwise-unsullied mind into that of a misologist.  A well-taught
course, on the other hand, can do very pretty things to one's thinking,
both adding to it and re-arranging the structure thereof.

> Lots of debate and
> argument, but no conclusions as far as I could tell.  Marginally more
> polite than usenet, sometimes less polite.

Just what one would expect from an arrant poopie-head... I would ask,
slyly, whether you look for conclusions in something where the process
is the telos.

DD




  reply	other threads:[~1998-01-25  0:00 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 245+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
     [not found] <199712121931.LAA25389@sirius.infonex.com>
1997-12-12  0:00 ` Which language pays most 17457 -- C++ vs. Java? Roedy Green
1997-12-17  0:00   ` Wes Groleau
1997-12-16  0:00     ` steve
1997-12-18  0:00       ` Alicia Carla Longstreet
1997-12-17  0:00         ` steve
1997-12-19  0:00           ` Larry Elmore
1997-12-19  0:00             ` James Giles
     [not found]         ` <01bd0c0b$53cc1860$26db45cf@juddesk>
1997-12-17  0:00           ` steve
1997-12-18  0:00           ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-17  0:00             ` steve
1997-12-19  0:00               ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-17  0:00                 ` steve
1997-12-22  0:00               ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-21  0:00                 ` steve
1997-12-28  0:00                   ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-18  0:00             ` James Giles
1997-12-17  0:00               ` steve
1997-12-19  0:00                 ` James Giles
1997-12-18  0:00                   ` steve
1997-12-19  0:00                     ` James Giles
1997-12-18  0:00                       ` steve
1997-12-19  0:00                         ` James Giles
1997-12-22  0:00                       ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-21  0:00                         ` James Giles
1997-12-21  0:00                           ` steve
1997-12-30  0:00                             ` Chris Gray
1997-12-28  0:00                           ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-28  0:00                             ` John Winters
1997-12-30  0:00                             ` paulr
1997-12-31  0:00                               ` Which language pays most " arnie sherman
1997-12-30  0:00                                 ` Dann Corbit
1997-12-31  0:00                                 ` John Slaman
     [not found]                                   ` <01bd198f$4050d960$68c8b5cc@dhite.unicomp.net>
1998-01-06  0:00                                     ` Jedi
1998-01-10  0:00                                     ` Highlander Consulting
1998-01-11  0:00                                       ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-11  0:00                                         ` Carsten Arnholm
1998-01-15  0:00                                         ` Highlander Consulting
1998-01-16  0:00                                         ` Charles F Hankel
1999-08-09  0:00                                         ` Paul Groves
1999-08-09  0:00                                           ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-11  0:00                                       ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-11  0:00                                         ` Barrabazz
1998-01-11  0:00                                           ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-12  0:00                                           ` Ron Peterson
1998-01-14  0:00                                             ` anonymous
1998-01-19  0:00                                               ` Joe Gwinn
     [not found]                                                 ` <01bd2526$66b70fa0$d6d945cf@juddesk>
1998-01-23  0:00                                                   ` dnns
1998-01-23  0:00                                                     ` Philosophers Nick Roberts
1998-01-23  0:00                                                       ` Spam--> was:Re: Philosophers Dann Corbit
1998-01-24  0:00                                                         ` Nick Roberts
1998-01-26  0:00                                                           ` Doug Miller
1998-01-24  0:00                                                       ` Philosophers John G.
     [not found]                                                         ` <Pine.LNX.3.95. <34cd2808.10685219@newsroom.tassie.net.au>
1998-01-28  0:00                                                           ` Philosophers docdwarf
     [not found]                                                             ` <01bd2c40$b62837a0$7261b693@HP5079Q>
1998-01-28  0:00                                                               ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-01  0:00                                                                 ` Philosophers Scott Adams
     [not found]                                                                 ` <01bd2cc0$f0042b70$7261b693@HP5079Q>
1998-02-04  0:00                                                                   ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-10  0:00                                                                 ` Back to the topic of CS students. (was Re: Philosophers) cyanide
1998-02-10  0:00                                                                   ` Nick Roberts
1998-01-30  0:00                                                             ` Philosophers jim
1998-01-30  0:00                                                               ` Philosophers Samuel Mize
1998-01-30  0:00                                                               ` Philosophers docdwarf
1998-01-30  0:00                                                                 ` Philosophers suzie
1998-01-30  0:00                                                                   ` Philosophers docdwarf
1998-01-31  0:00                                                                 ` Philosophers Martin Richardson
1998-01-31  0:00                                                                   ` Philosophers Jeff York
1998-02-01  0:00                                                                     ` Philosophers Martin Richardson
1998-02-02  0:00                                                                       ` Philosophers Eddie Armstrong
1998-02-03  0:00                                                                         ` Philosophers Nyk Tarr
1998-02-02  0:00                                                                       ` Philosophers Jeff York
1998-02-02  0:00                                                                       ` Philosophers Pat O'Connell
1998-02-02  0:00                                                                     ` Philosophers Robert Garskof
1998-02-02  0:00                                                                       ` Philosophers Dave Tholen
1998-02-10  0:00                                                             ` Philosophers cyanide
1998-02-09  0:00                                                               ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-18  0:00                                                             ` Philosophers Mad Hamish
1999-07-29  0:00                                                         ` Philosophers firewind
1998-01-24  0:00                                                           ` Philosophers John G.
1998-02-10  0:00                                                             ` Drifting further off topic cyanide
1998-01-25  0:00                                                           ` Philosophers Jens Schweikhardt
1998-01-28  0:00                                                           ` Philosophers Mad Hamish
1998-01-27  0:00                                                             ` Philosophers Kurt Wall
1998-01-24  0:00                                                       ` Philosophers Mike Whiten
1998-01-24  0:00                                                         ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-01-25  0:00                                                           ` Philosophers Arnold Trembley
1998-01-25  0:00                                                             ` The Goobers [this message]
1998-01-26  0:00                                                           ` :-) Philosophers Giovanni Drogo [drogo@rn.bastiani.it]
1998-01-29  0:00                                                           ` Philosophers Steve Dekorte
1998-01-29  0:00                                                             ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-01-27  0:00                                                     ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? Robert Garskof
1998-01-28  0:00                                                 ` Steve Dekorte
1998-01-28  0:00                                                   ` Barrabazz
1998-01-28  0:00                                                     ` dogmat
1998-01-29  0:00                                                       ` Joe Gwinn
1998-01-29  0:00                                                         ` coryb
1998-01-29  0:00                                                         ` Wayne L. Beavers
1998-01-29  0:00                                                           ` Frank A. Adrian
1998-02-03  0:00                                                           ` GLE
1998-02-03  0:00                                                             ` The Goobers
1998-02-03  0:00                                                             ` Harold Stevens ** PLEASE SEE SIG **
1998-01-30  0:00                                                         ` Robert S. White
1998-01-30  0:00                                                           ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-31  0:00                                                           ` Paul Van Bellinghen
1998-02-01  0:00                                                             ` Nick Roberts
1998-02-09  0:00                                                         ` cyanide
1998-02-10  0:00                                                           ` Bill Lynch
1998-02-10  0:00                                                             ` Michael Rot13 Klein
1998-02-10  0:00                                                             ` Jeff Knaggs
1998-02-10  0:00                                                           ` dogmat
1998-01-29  0:00                                                       ` Tim Oxler
1998-01-29  0:00                                                       ` Tim Oxler
1998-02-09  0:00                                                       ` cyanide
1998-02-10  0:00                                                         ` dogmat
1999-07-29  0:00                                                       ` Edwin Purvee
     [not found]                                                     ` <01bd2c3c$6726d520$8101b8c7@MIS-RKW95.spartan.com>
1998-02-10  0:00                                                       ` Steve Dekorte
1998-02-10  0:00                                                         ` Bill Lynch
1998-02-11  0:00                                                         ` dogmat
1998-01-29  0:00                                                   ` Joe Gwinn
1998-01-31  0:00                                                 ` Larry Wiggins
1999-07-29  0:00                                                   ` Ben Pfaff
1999-07-29  0:00                                                     ` Kaz Kylheku
     [not found]                                                 ` <6alu5l$onm$1@owl.slip <01bd2c3c$6726d520$8101b8c7@MIS-RKW95.spartan.com>
1998-02-02  0:00                                                   ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-02-02  0:00                                                     ` Michael C. Kasten
1998-02-02  0:00                                                 ` This thread has drifted miles from its subject line Wes Groleau
     [not found]                                                 ` <6alu5l$ <34D6243C.2A53@gc057.fw.hac.com>
1998-02-05  0:00                                                   ` Paul Osborn
     [not found]                                                 ` <6alu5l$onm$1@owl.slip <34E0D798.E29D6CA0@cableol.co.uk>
1998-02-11  0:00                                                   ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? Kaz Kylheku
     [not found]                                               ` <gwinn-1901981219520001@dh5055142. <01bd284c$4b0b4fe0$c0f682c1@xhv46.dial.pipex.com>
1998-01-24  0:00                                                 ` Philosophers Kaz Kylheku
     [not found]                                               ` <gwinn-1901981219520001@dh5055142. <34CE059C.634DE881@snet.com>
1998-01-27  0:00                                                 ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-28  0:00                                                   ` Robert Garskof
     [not found]                                               ` <gwinn-1901981219520001@dh5055142. <34C9F3D0.6B5A@erols.com>
1998-01-28  0:00                                                 ` Philosophers Warren B. Focke
1998-01-29  0:00                                                   ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-05  0:00                                                     ` Philosophers Warren B. Focke
1998-02-05  0:00                                                       ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-06  0:00                                                         ` Philosophers dogmat
1998-02-06  0:00                                                           ` Philosophers docdwarf
1998-02-06  0:00                                                             ` Philosophers dogmat
1998-02-06  0:00                                                               ` Philosophers docdwarf
1998-02-06  0:00                                                       ` Philosophers Harold Stevens ** PLEASE SEE SIG **
1998-02-10  0:00                                                         ` Film "Contact" Nick Roberts
1998-02-09  0:00                                             ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? cyanide
1998-01-02  0:00                                 ` Philip Hunt
1997-12-31  0:00                             ` Which language pays most 17457 " Guillermo Schwarz
1997-12-31  0:00                               ` Billy Chambless
1998-01-03  0:00                                 ` Berna L Massingill
1998-01-04  0:00                               ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-19  0:00                   ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-19  0:00                     ` James Giles
1997-12-18  0:00                       ` steve
1997-12-23  0:00                       ` Guillermo Schwarz
1997-12-18  0:00         ` John Seitz
1997-12-18  0:00           ` Robert Robbins
1997-12-19  0:00             ` Mark Wilden
1997-12-19  0:00           ` Ian Upright
1997-12-19  0:00             ` William Murray
1997-12-19  0:00               ` steve
1997-12-20  0:00               ` Robert Munck
1997-12-19  0:00         ` Chip Ling
1997-12-17  0:00     ` James Giles
     [not found] ` <349793cb.33600861@news.wxs.nl>
     [not found]   ` <34923264.75B5@netup.cl>
     [not found]     ` <670qio$8a$1@sparcserver.lrz-muenchen.de>
     [not found]       ` <3494B7DA.5463@ici.net>
     [not found]         ` <34958D16.190C@gsg.eds.com>
     [not found]           ` <679807$8gm@ws1.emirates.net.ae>
     [not found]             ` <e9k976.8h3.ln@localhost>
1997-12-18  0:00               ` Klaus-Georg Adams
     [not found]               ` <67bjnv$j35$1@brie.direct.ca>
     [not found]                 ` <349B0417.D4DB6A30@its.cl>
1997-12-20  0:00                   ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-20  0:00                     ` William J. Leary Jr.
1997-12-20  0:00                       ` Kurt Watzka
1997-12-20  0:00                         ` William J. Leary Jr.
1997-12-21  0:00                           ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-21  0:00                       ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-21  0:00                         ` William J. Leary Jr.
1997-12-22  0:00                           ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-22  0:00                         ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-22  0:00                           ` Kurt Watzka
1997-12-28  0:00                             ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-22  0:00                           ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-24  0:00                           ` John Porter
1997-12-24  0:00                             ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-27  0:00                               ` Which language pays most? Smalltalk, not C++ nor Java Guillermo Schwarz
1997-12-27  0:00                                 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-29  0:00                                   ` John Porter
1997-12-29  0:00                                     ` Robert Dewar
     [not found]                                       ` <01bd14b4$dc6f6a80$6428b4cf@carla.ici.net>
1997-12-29  0:00                                         ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-30  0:00                                           ` Billy Chambless
1997-12-31  0:00                                         ` David Thornley
1997-12-31  0:00                                           ` Keith G. Murphy
1998-01-01  0:00                                           ` Robert Dewar
1998-01-01  0:00                                             ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-02  0:00                                               ` Robert Dewar
1998-01-02  0:00                                                 ` Peter Seebach
1998-01-02  0:00                                                   ` Robert Dewar
1998-01-02  0:00                                                   ` firewind
1998-01-02  0:00                                                     ` Ian Piumarta
1998-01-03  0:00                                                     ` Richard Kenner
1998-01-02  0:00                                           ` Shelly Mujtaba
1998-01-02  0:00                                             ` Guillermo Schwarz
1998-01-03  0:00                                               ` Jacqueline U. Robertson
1998-01-03  0:00                                               ` Dean Roddey
1998-01-03  0:00                                                 ` Jacqueline U. Robertson
1998-01-03  0:00                                                   ` Dean Roddey
1998-01-05  0:00                                                     ` Guillermo Schwarz
1998-01-05  0:00                                                       ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-03  0:00                                         ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-29  0:00                                     ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-29  0:00                                     ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-29  0:00                                     ` Patricia Shanahan
     [not found]                                     ` <01bd147e$11496760$6a28b4cf@carla.ici.net>
1997-12-29  0:00                                       ` Billy Chambless
1997-12-30  0:00                                       ` Jeffrey Templon
1997-12-30  0:00                                         ` Patricia Shanahan
1997-12-30  0:00                                           ` Charles R Martin
1998-01-03  0:00                                       ` Lawrence Kirby
1998-01-28  0:00                                     ` SmallTalk Execute files Thaminda Erangane Perera
1998-01-28  0:00                                       ` Dann Corbit
1998-01-29  0:00                                         ` Griff Lewis
1997-12-27  0:00                                 ` Which language pays most? Smalltalk, not C++ nor Java Patricia Shanahan
1997-12-27  0:00                                 ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-28  0:00                                 ` Kurt Watzka
1997-12-29  0:00                                   ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-29  0:00                                   ` Guillermo Schwarz
1997-12-29  0:00                                     ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-30  0:00                                     ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-30  0:00                                       ` firewind
1997-12-30  0:00                                         ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-31  0:00                                           ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-31  0:00                                         ` Brock
1997-12-31  0:00                                           ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-31  0:00                                           ` Dann Corbit
1998-01-01  0:00                                           ` firewind
1997-12-30  0:00                                       ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-30  0:00                                         ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-30  0:00                                           ` Dann Corbit
1997-12-31  0:00                                             ` David Thornley
1997-12-31  0:00                                               ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-31  0:00                                             ` John Porter
1997-12-31  0:00                                               ` Jon S Anthony
1998-01-02  0:00                                                 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-30  0:00                                         ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-30  0:00                                       ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-30  0:00                                         ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-30  0:00                                     ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-30  0:00                                     ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-30  0:00                                       ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-03  0:00                                         ` Lawrence Kirby
1998-01-03  0:00                                           ` Patricia Shanahan
1997-12-30  0:00                                     ` Billy Chambless
1997-12-29  0:00                                 ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-02  0:00                                 ` Tor Iver Wilhelmsen
1997-12-25  0:00                             ` Which language pays most 17457 -- C++ vs. Java? Kurt Watzka
1997-12-19  0:00 ` Quowong P Liu
1997-12-19  0:00   ` William J. Leary Jr.
1997-12-24  0:00   ` Richard D Riehle
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