@CC
I understand you likely resent my strong opinions, but I have already mentioned that it is the extremes that bother me, not philosophy in general. My OP did not clarify this for reasons I have already stated.
And I wasn't really admitting to engaging in the thing that I am bashing, seeing as I am bashing the "extremes" of philosophy more so than philosophy itself, make the distinction. Again, although my initial post did not represent this well, I have since clarified it and there is no excuse as to not understand that at this point in the thread.
The argument that "philosophy is in everything you do" does not in anyway justify it being used in such ridiculous ways and used as ridiculous arguments such I have previously mentioned. It is here...pressed to the extremes that philosophy completely loses any credibility with me. I completely am fine with the idea of thinking for yourself and not being "indoctrintated" and the basic idea of philosophy. But when simple, very universal terms and beliefs are questioned for no apparent reason other than to be difficult, OR to avoid losing an argument because reason and logic have failed you so you turn to some philosophical or semantical argument of "I'm not wrong because nothing is certain" is where I take issue.
Why do I take issue with this? Because we live in a world where we have a society, and in this society we have to play nice with other people, whom have other culters, beliefs, customes, etc. In order to do that we have to have a set of ground rules that we can agree upon and methods of enforcing those rules. We also have to have people with applicable skill sets, and knowledge that can be applied in practical ways to help us live and thrive. Philosophy, or just the idea of critically thinking, plays its part in us thriving. But when stupid people with no applicable skills or knowledge in various fields attempt to falsify various issues beliefs or topics that they have no real experience or knowledge of, not with reason or logic, but because the rest of us are sheep and they apparently are the enlightened thinkers, it serves to annoy. In addition to annoy, it really seems to serve no purpose other than strain relations, and HINDER progress rather than expedite it.
Yazata
I'm sure you dont mean any harm or annoyance by your post, so forgive me if I come off as annoyed. But, let me explain.
If we are to have any chance at a reasonable talk here, you HAVE to be able to have the deductive skills or common sense to know what I mean when I use the word "truth", specifically when I use it in the context of this thread and that particular statement. These types of requests in arguments that I have had in the past, where universal statements or words are asked to be defined...using words that they then ask to define...using words..(you get the point) is at the top of my list when it comes to how to drive me up the wall lol. (I'm truly not trying to bash you though). And yes, I do absolutely believe that the scientific method is able to come as close to the truth as humanly possible (in most circumstances) to provide a truth that we can then apply in the "real world" in a practical way. IE. Determining how to cure sicknesses and what not.
I may have come off as insulting, and if it does not apply to you then dont be offended, but there are absolutely people whom that insult fits perfectly for and although I do try to advocate friendliness in talks/debates/in general when I can, I have passed reached my point of tolerance for those people.
Common Sense is something that is obviously only applicable in the broadest of ways, but it is in these ways that are, what appears to be PURPOSEFULLY ignored.
How do I know the answer? Well in that particular sense I meant essentially at its most ridiculous, right and wrong, good and bad is determined by the individual. Thinking about it any further doesn't really serve a purpose. That doesn't mean that we dont come together and make rules as a society that ultimately determine what is right or wrong, and how we enforce it, just that there are many issues that we already know are strictly opinion and no further thought will ever change that.
And I have to agree with you if I am being honest with myself, I do want truths, that are definitive. But that is an overly simplistic way to sum up my motives. I just dont have the time at the moment to continue further into that.
I want to end this post on a good note however, and say that I do like your definition, as well as many others here. My irritation made me inaccurately portray my true feelings on the subject in my initial post and I hope I have since clarified my position on the subject and hope it is not as unreasonable to you guys as some in my past has made it out to be.
Also, this forum seems really good so far. Alot of good talks going on...and alot of arguments that start at A and end at 3...LOL. I have seen a few threads where people are arguing about completely different things and dont even realize it. Ill try to avoid those threads, but overall I am genuinely impressed and perhaps this forum will help me sort some things out in my own head lol.