Thanks for throwing some topics out, Ayman. I forgot to.

I think Descartes WAS a genius...but not in philosophy. His genius was in optics, and math, and astronomy. He's not even a very good skeptic, as you point out, and the religious stuff is as strong in him as it is in more devoutly religious folks like Malebranche. For a good discussion on Descartes religiosity, read a book by one of my teachers, the recently retired Richard "Red" Watson. I think it's called Descartes: An Intellectual Biography or something of the sort. It's a good read.

I think Hobbes was a better skeptic AND a better challenger of the prevailing dogma. He SCHOOLS Descartes in some of their correspondance.

I am also fond of Russell, although I find some of his early writing to be a bit obtuse. I really like his later stuff, and his social criticism.

One of my favorite comments from an undergrad professor was something to the extent of: "Bertrand Russell is famous for being wrong about everything he ever put forth." Always thought that was funny coming from a professor who spent his life preaching the gospel of Wittgenstein, given the close ties between 'W' and Russell.

Favorite Shirt: Short-sleeve button that I can pull over so I don't have to unbutton (any color.)

The nicest or meanest thing you ever did, and why did you do it?

quote:

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Originally posted by keylimetrev:
One of my favorite comments from an undergrad professor was something to the extent of: "Bertrand Russell is famous for being wrong about everything he ever put forth." Always thought that was funny coming from a professor who spent his life preaching the gospel of Wittgenstein, given the close ties between 'W' and Russell.

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Really funny given that Wittgenstein's brilliance seemed to be matched only by his inability to hold his position...

But a lot of great philosophers do change their minds...Philippa Foot has been a Kantian rationalist about ethics, a Humean non-cognitivist, and now she's an Aristotelian naturalist!

quote:

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The nicest or meanest thing you ever did, and why did you do it?

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I think that the meanest thing I have never done, is just all of the fights my younger brother an I got into, I regret it to this day. But boys will be boys, and we still have a pretty good relationship.

The nicest thing I have ever done is probably give a friend my only car. He is such a great guy. At the time he was taking care of his fiance's child as if it were his own and she was pregnant with another, so I gave them my car and have been taking the bus to college since.

Funniest thing you have ever done?
OR
Most embarrassing moment?
(They may actually be one in the same)

I hope people don't mind, but I really liked this discussion and I can't think of an answer to either of Mike's questions. So I'd like to throw in a few more easy ones just to get things flowing again. If anybody is angry because I'm breaking the rules, I'll be happy to delete this post.

So...

Favorite element?

or

Favorite marsupial?

or

Least favorite Simpsons character?

In real life, it would be a close fight between kangaroo and koala, but I guess my honest-to-God favorite is the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes.

Favorite Astronomical Object

AND/OR

Favorite Place to recharge your personal batteries

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Favorite Place to recharge your personal batteries

By myself on a chilly autumn day in my favorite sweater walking down an old country road with a camera in my hand and thoughts brewing within my brain....and of course holding a long discussion with myself.

Favorite dream

AND/OR

Least favorite nightmare

I didn't want to plug the thread by answering myself, thankyou kd, for doing that for me.

I have to say that I have some pretty scary dreams. While I was a kid I had a dream about a recliner that was a monster and tried to eat me. But I have also had ones where someone in my family is randomly shot. Maybe I need a therapist.

I don't really have dreams anymore. They are more like images or emotions. There was one where I was just gently floating in the clouds, real pleasant like.

Favorite fruit?

Favorite dessert?

Hmmm... My favorite fruit would have to be mango.

My favorite dessert is impossible. I love anything with chocolate though.

Favorite Ancient Civilization?

or

Favorite Day of the Week?

I am a sucker for Ancient Greek history. There was just so much going on during that time. Favorite day of the week is probably Tuesday or Thursday because those are my days off.

Favorite Cartoon?

Favorite Cartoon Character?

Favorite cartoon would have to be The Simpsons. Favorite cartoon character is a 3 way tie between Stewie from Family Guy, Cartman from South Park, and Ralph from the Simpsons.

I'll do the two I said before that nobody answered:

Favorite Element?

Least Favorite Simpsons Character?

Least favorite Simpsons character? .... this is hard because I love them all. I guess Krusty, because he doesn't really have a satirical purpose that isn't already being covered by a different character. He's just an unecessary character. Sideshow Bob, now HE'S funny.


Favorite feature about yourself?

OR

The best idiot, ever (anywhere).

Best feature, ehh? Are we talking physical or characteristics in general? I like a lot about me (Because I rock) so picking one thing is difficult. I like my sense of humor, although it is sarcasm which is commonly found in people my age. And I like the fact that I keep myself calm and collected in my everyday life.

There are many best idiots that deserve mention so I am just going to list some of them. Homer Simpson, Ralph Wiggum, Peter Griffin, Eric Cartman, Officer Barbrady, Shaggy and Scooby Doo, Phillip Fry, Beavis and Butthead, morons who use acronyms like OMG, LOL, and ROTFL, rednecks, Paris Hilton, Otto from "The Simpsons," and that is all I can think of. People made this list for many different reasons, obviously Homer made it for a different reason Paris did but they both inspire laughter.

Favorite type of ball?

Morning person or Night owl?

Favorite type of ball would have to be a Wiffle ball, simply because of the name.

I definately see myself as a night owl. Late to bed, late to rise.

Okay, I'll throw out four new ones:

Favorite type of gum

or:
Most exciting moment of your life

or:

Most prized possesion

or:

Least Favorite Pixar movie

I like Winterfresh or Orbitz gum.

My most exciting moment is a tough question to answer. If you asked for the most exhilarating moment I would probably go with a time when I was playing football, the story goes like this (Flashback to two years ago), I am out playing a game of pick-up football with about 12 of my friends, one of my friends just happens to be a 6 foot 11 monster. On the first kick-off he runs through everybody on my team, I am on the other side of the field and things start to go into slow motion, I am running full speed straight towards this guy I somehow get to him without having to actually get off track and run right through him, I swear he flew about ten feet away from me after the hit. I knocked the wind out of him, but he was okay, and he vowed to never play football again with little old, five foot ten 210 pound, me and to this day I still hear people telling me how great it was. That was off topic and I am sorry it was so long winded. My most exciting moment was probably high school graduation.

Prized possesion, nothing. I'm not really a material person, there is nothing that I consider to have emotional attachment to. There are a couple things that I really like though, my computer, my Oakley sunglasses, and my entertainment system.

I don't really have a least favorite Pixar movie, but I did think that "Toy Story 2" was disappointing.

Most disgusting thing that has ever been in your mouth?

Favorite food for breakfast, or most unusual?

Favorite fast food fries?

Favorite fast food fries: These probably won't be familiar to many of you, but it would have to be a draw between Del Taco and Lion's Choice (a Midwest roast beef sandwich joint). I rarely eat fast food, but I often crave the fries from these places.

My breakfast choices alternate from hash browns to omelets. I eat an omelet almost every day, usually with veggies and cheese. In fact, I think I'm gonna eat one now!

New choices:

Favorite or least favorite magazine to read for entertainment?

or

Favorite or least favorite news program (radio, TV, or whatever)?

or

All time favorite television program?

or

Favorite city?

All time Favorite Television Program: All in the Family and/or The Simpsons

Favorite Horror/Sci-Fi Movie

Favorite Horror movie - The Shining...

Favorite Superhero?

or

Favorite Dessert

Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider Ham

Favorite Dance Move

or

Favorite Hangover Remedy