The secret is out. This forum is actually an attempt to create the ultimate AI philosopher by building a database of responses to philosophical questions.

I for one am content with the situation.

The worst and most ignorant ‘philosopher’ ever? ;)

The worst and most ignorant ‘philosopher’ ever? ;) — I like sushi

Well, given that we are having a halcyon period of Wittgenstein reading groups, I suppose our collective efforts will result in the AI being a quietist.

The only piece of data necessary to share is an email address. If you use a VPN or post from 4G then even your own IP address is concealed. So apart from that, there's nothing apart from your content - what you enter - that is collected, so far as I know.

https://plushforums.com/privacy-policy

The secret is out. This forum is actually an attempt to create the ultimate AI philosopher — Wallows

We'd better start recruiting if that's the goal.

Oh. You're one of those people. :roll:

You people are annoying. "Hi, I would like a refund". "Ok, I'll just need to take a few details". Proceeds to have a tantrum.

So far the only person here having a tantrum is you, S.

So far the only person here having a tantrum is you, S. — Theologian

He's just looking for love.

I'm tempted to add "In all the wrong places."

But hey, this is only my seventh post. So what would I know?

I'm tempted to add "In all the wrong places." — Theologian

Q.E.D. Unless it's philosophy, right?

Ooh... You got me there!

I had to think for a few seconds before that penny dropped! :wink:

Ooh... You got me there!

I had to think for a few seconds before that penny dropped! :wink: — Theologian

So, what's on your mind as of late in terms of philosophy? I loved Walden Two by B.F. Skinner, in my youth; but, thought it would only apply to places where the law is so strictly enforced that it leaves no room of indecision or apathy or angst.

A bunch of stuff.

I did an undergraduate major in psych way back when. I discovered Skinner and have long considered myself a methodological behaviorist, unfashionable though that may be. I spent many essays fruitlessly attempting to explain to my lecturers why they were wrong.

Though to be honest I found Walden Two (which I started but did not finish) unintentionally hilarious. Sorry. :sad: I always think the best and clearest point of entry into Skinner's work is his 1950 paper "Are Theories of Learning Necessary?"; especially the first and final sections. You don't really need to read the middle part unless you're interested in the technical details of operant conditioning.

More recently I started a philosophy degree out of interest. The "Favorite Philosophers" you'll find on my profile reflect the fact that I think it's still far too soon for me to meaningfully choose any actual philosophers. The ones I feel most drawn to (like Camus) are still people I know only (or primarily) at second hand.

There's a thread on whether the "A" theory of time means time travel is impossible. I have some ideas on that question myself, so I've been thinking of joining that.

There are also a bunch of ideas I have in various states of readiness for posting. These are primarily my own reactions to the stuff I've been taught in my coursework, and so range from Kantian deontology to logical fatalism.

But... I'm still getting the hang of this place.

What are your thoughts about Ludwig Wittgenstein? You'll find his name dropped around here like crazy.

Aside from him being a beery old swine, you mean?

I'm interested, but honestly, I don't know enough to say. I have thought of tackling the Tractatus at some point.

Aside from him being a beery old swine, you mean? — Theologian

Haha, you either love him or hate him, I suppose. And by love, I mean intense adoration.

I'm interested, but honestly, I don't know enough to say. I have thought of tackling the Tractatus at some point. — Theologian

Have a look: https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/3558/ongoing-tractatus-logico-philosophicus-reading-group/p1

So far my philosophical studies are quite limited. I did Philosophy of Psychology (really a philosophy of mind course) and Formal Logic in my undergraduate degree. And I recently finished first year philosophy as part of my current degree (two units down, two HD's - Yay me! :razz: ). But... HD's or not, as you might expect, there are still huge gaps in my knowledge of the discipline as a whole.

Awesome possum. Looking forward to any new topics of yours.

Why thank you! I'll try not to disappoint! :wink:

Incidentally, I have a question for you that I've been thinking about. If you're a big fan of Wittgenstein, I imagine you have more than a passing acquaintance with the philosophy of language. My question is, to what extent has that sub-discipline dealt with the relationship between syntax and logic?

I ask because it seems to me that important philosophical arguments are often ultimately points of grammar.

Which could well be a thread in itself!

My question is, to what extent has that sub-discipline dealt with the relationship between syntax and logic? — Theologian

The answer to the question, in my opinion, lies within the field of pragmatics, which eventually became a field of science from the womb of philosophy. Definitely an unsung hero that Peirce was.

Hmm... will have to look into this. Cheers.

Alternatively, I might just start a thread on the subject, go out on a limb, and see if anyone can saw me off! =P