Philosophy Now Forum

I do not know if a particular religion teaches this, I came by the understanding in a rather hodge-podge way, reading over many years. There certainly is an element of it in Schopenhauer. I am sure there must be a number of religions that touch on it in different ways. Well, tolerance does not belo...

A more interesting alternative for you would be to google the story and then comment on my interpretation. Nobody is interested in whether or not you knew the story. Regarding Greek mythology v The Bible, plausibility is a minor consideration for unbelievers and believers. Some implausible stories ...

Alexis Jacobi wrote: A generation back (or possibly two in your case) the men in your lineage could distinguish the value-difference between the core gist of Hebrew and Christian story content and what is intimated through it, in contrast to (for example) Aesop. A world was built on the former and n...

I was just looking up the story of Prometheus and Pandora which is basically about man going it alone without Authority. I don't know the story, but I suppose I could have quickly googled it and then claimed I was already familiar with it, which would, I suspect, be the normal course of action for ...

Yes, a much more straightforward way would be better than an ancient and discredited story. However people do enjoy entertaining stories and few bother to read or listen to an explanation that they don't enjoy. I will try to find a short and entertaining modern alternative to the Genesis story. I f...

Yes, a much more straightforward way would be better than an ancient and discredited story. However people do enjoy entertaining stories and few bother to read or listen to an explanation that they don't enjoy. I will try to find a short and entertaining modern alternative to the Genesis story. I f...

The myth of The Expulsion From Eden explains original sin i.e. how mankind is morally autonomous and how men can avoid the pitfalls of moral autonomy by obeying the authority of God.This important story can be interpreted as taking place in a time sequence but that is to miss its point about man's ...

That which is not a thing is unmanifested energy. Perhaps then one can ask, when does a condition become a thing? Thingness and "unmanifested energy" are each ways of imagining nature. Spinoza's Latin words for these ways were Natura Naturata (the things of nature) and Natura Naturans (na...

Interesting, no they certainly are not mutually exclusive. The reasoning of self-interest in identifying the self with other selves, leads to compassion, sympathy, and I believe love is perfect sympathy. The fact that all organisms are open systems should make the extended concept of the self, self...

Toppsy Kretts wrote: ↑Tue Apr 25, 2023 6:28 am John 7:34
"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire"

It's impossible for non-specialist scholars to know what John meant by the symbolism that he espoused.

Yes, but there's more to it than that: in the case of Christianity, that which you've (we've) been referring to as the Story (with a capital S) is not mere story (in the sense of narrative) but is also and already comprised of metaphysical principles. An example is original sin. This is part of the...

Advocate wrote: Epistemic meaning is a technically correct definition. Axiological meaning is desire for things to be other than they are. There's no inherent connection. But what most healthy humans seek from their lives is their futures, when they will eat more or better, enjoy themselves a bit m...

The selfhood you speak of is a highly functional illusion, and perhaps necessary, but the evolution of human mentality would do well to understand the expanded concept of the self. Only with this expanded concept of the self does compassion arises for others, and extended to the very world we live ...

Values in theory, are not values at all, values are what you do. That's an interesting theory. :wink: Yes, but what you believe is what you do. All politicians know this , even dictators, and strive to control people's ideas and beliefs. Values are relatively good or bad. The values set out by Jesu...

I've been thinking about the possibility of reincarnation, and after much deliberation (one minute and twenty three seconds) I have concluded the notion to be utterly bonkers, and that's that. :roll: I hope it's bonkers. Who wants to go back through this shit show again. No thanks, God. Please just...