What Do You Talk About?

My Suggestion Box

Published on April 2, 2004 By Everett Lee In Philosophy

It is a nice day in Western Illinois. The sunshine is coming done all the way. I am snacking from a bag of Munchies Ultimate Cheddar Mix. I started this blog yesterday because I want to participate in what is, at least for now though time will tell, a fad. I wonder what kinds of things I could say that would interest the Joe User community. Perhaps I could just rant and boohoo as many do? Or shall I reduce myself to a modern day diary sap? I hope not. I would like to see a discussion about principles in this country. The political season has begun early this cycle and I this gets me really wondering where America's values and principles are, if anywhere. There are reasons to support everything, but it must be that some reasons are better than others. Some might say that there is no real difference between everyone's values because there is no fact of the matter, but does that make sense? I don't think it does, but without a discussion of these things I am left talking to myself or a limited few others and the 'culture' just keeps moving along unconsciously. Obviously there are values and percpetions of normality that are the life-vein of any culture, no matter how valueless that culture appears at first glance. It can be said that that culture's values are reflected in their inattention to the existence of value at all, and no I am not talking about the value of the markets. Market value is an extrapolation from what value used to mean.

This is probably not the kind of topics that keep people interested, but they are interesting to me. If anyone is interested in a discussion about what really matters, or even why nothing matters, let me know. Otherwise I'll just keep talking to myself and continue to isolate myself from the real world. But right now I think I'm very in tune with reality, or at least I am respectful of just how important reality is.

Comments

Sherye Hanson

on Apr 02, 2004

I don't think that there is a life vein to our culture. Politically we are polarized. Socially we have many different cultures here. The judeo Christian value system has been replaced in part by a value system from many cultures and religions. In addition, capitalism has greatly influenced our values. In my opinion, we have such a diversity and such a polarity that you will find little agreement on values. As for which are better than the other, this is not as easy as it sounds. It depends on your assumptions. Assumptions cannot be proven or disproven. So how do you weight them, you weigh them with your assumptions. Are your assumptions better? We don't know. We use our own assumptions to evaluate yours. So if you want to talk about values, go ahead, but if you think that you are going to objectively find the best ones, I think that you are being presumptuous.

Does that mean that I don't believe that there is truth? No I believe in truth. But unless we all agree on the starting point, then we are arguing apples and oranges.

Everett Lee

on Apr 02, 2004

I don't think that we can objectively determine values in any scientific way in the sense that all we have to do is investigate. And you are right that meaningful discussion really does require a starting base of commonly held assumptions. But content of those most common values or assumptions can be discovered by talking about it. And then when we find common ground, we can start to form a compromise. The future will be a better place if we can all come together. That itself is a value statement, but it is one that I think we all can assent to.

Sherye Hanson

on Apr 02, 2004

I agree, but try doing it and you will find that very few people are willing to give up their assumptions and being right in order to compromise.

psychx

on Apr 02, 2004

The future will be a better place if we can all come together. That itself is a value statement, but it is one that I think we all can assent to.

I have a question and you seem like you would provide an interesting response. I quoted this excerpt from your post and there is a question which I have thought about in the past. Can we really all come together with all these differing moral values and cultural perspectives that we all have now. I mean whether it be religious or just political most people tend to be ethno-centric and stick to their culture inspired identities. I have said in the past that people need their separate ideals, ways of thinking, cultures, and beliefs. Psychologically we all need to hang on to these things, it is what defines us gives us identity. To come together we would have to put these values to the side and are people willing to due that? I actually posted an article like this about a month and a half ago. here's the link if you're interested.
This is actually a topic I find appealing and enjoy discussing.Link

Everett Lee

on Apr 03, 2004

I can't say that I am optimistic about people "getting together" as I say. I am really wondering if it can be done. But that this is a good ideal to strive for, I can not dissent.

psychx

on Apr 04, 2004

It can be done but we would have to sort of tone down vanity, pride, identity, self actualization, and many aspects of what makes us human today.

imajinit

on Apr 05, 2004

if you want to talk about things that matter, then you're in the right place. If you want to talk about politics, there's a whole category about it. If you want to engage in intellectual discussions, you have simply to write a blog about a topic that you want to discuss, and then reply to the replies. To gain more exposure, it's good to post on other people's articles so more people know who you are...

happy blogging dude

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