Philosophy

Reminiscing on those chemically-enhanced days of college, where we would discuss just about anything, including philosophy...
Me: If the phase “I think, therefore I am” is right, would the converse make stupid people dissapear?
Friend: That's not philosophy, that’s logic.
Me: No, thats a one-liner.
Sometimes it would be serious. What is the purpose of mankind? What is MY purpose in life? But those days are gone. Now, my closest brush with philosophy is the day-to-day instructions for my kids. My years of collected wisdom come out in phrases along the lines of Because I said so! and One of these days, you’ll thank me, but not today. and Who shut the cat up in my underwear drawer, and why? That just happened a few minutes ago. Never a dull moment.

A Non-Philosopher’s Guide to Philosophy. I hope this helps.

For a short course, follow the links in the Meaning of Life.

The Nietzsche Family Circus pairs a randomized Family Circus cartoon with a randomized Friedrich Nietzsche quote. The results are cosmic. (via Sarcasmo’s Corner)

The Illustrated History of Buddhism. I don’t know how much you’ll learn here, but there’s some mighty pretty art.

You can join the discussion board at The Meaning Of Life Depot.

Existential Warning Signs. (via Sarcasmo’s Corner)

Check out this Ghandi doll. There’s a whole selection of Little Thinkers available from The Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild.

Or you might prefer the Carl Jung Action Figure. The perfect gift for someone you love.

If you liked that, you’ll love the Philosophical Action Powers figures. (via Neatorama)

Bill and Ted's Excellent Philosophy

THE SIGN

   Don't LOOK at anything in a physics lab.
   Don't TASTE anything in a chemistry lab.
   Don't SMELL anything in a biology lab.
   Don't TOUCH anything in a medical lab.
   and, most importantly,
   Don't LISTEN to anything in a philosophy department.

Being a philosopher, I felt compelled to post the following upon seeing the above.  

Philosphers truly appreciate the profound nature of life's deep questions.  As a result, they are still struggling with the same questions that have been asked for millenia.  Thus, they are the objects of ridicule on the part of scientists, who have less patience with such lack of progress.

For example, consider the age-old question: If a tree falls in a forest, and there is no one around to hear, does it make a sound? This question was posed by philosophers of antiquity, and there is still no philosphical consensus as to what the answer should be.

But ask a scientist the same question, and he'll go off for short while, apply for a grant or two, and come back saying, "Well, we've solved it for elm and birch, but we're still working on the general case"!

The Laughing Yogi

THE PIZZA

What did the Buddhist monk say at the pizza parlor? "Make me one with everything."

When the monk asked for his change, the clerk replied, "Change comes from within."

WALK ON WATER

Three monks decided to practise meditation together. they sat by the side of a lake and closed their eyes in concentration.

Then suddenly, the first one stood up and said, "I forgot my mat." He steeped miraculously onto the water in front of him and walked across the lake to their hut on the other side.

When he returned, the second monk stood up and said, "I forgot to put my other underwear to dry." He too walked calmly across the water and returned the same way. The third monk watched the first two carefully in what he decided must be the test of his own abilities. "Is your learning so superior to mine? I too can match any feat you two can perform," he declared loudly and rushed to the water's edge to walk across it. He promptly fell into the deep water.

Undeterred, the yogi climbed out of the water and tried again, only to sink into the water. Yet again he climbed out and yet again he tried, each time sinking into the water. This went on for some time as the other two monks watched.

After a while, the second monk turned to the first and said, "Do you think we should tell him where the stones are?"

Thought for today: The philosophy exam was a piece of cake -- which was a bit of a surprise, actually, because I was expecting some questions on a sheet of paper.

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Comments

[Joe the Troll]

I'd watch that cat. Could be a perv.

[Ed Bremson]

Good post. I was a philosophy major in college. The only thing I could do with that degree was work at a library, write books, and blog. Have a nice day.

[Saur]

I have a DD (Doctorate of Divinity). You'd think I'd love to talk philosophy and religion. Nope. It got me pretty good and sick of it. In the end, my flippant side takes over and I refer everyone to the Bill & Ted philosophies of life. For anything deeper, I turn to the Bible.

[Skunkfeathers]

LOL..wish I'd had that "Sign" in my college days...

[actor212]

Miss C,

As you know, all I know about life, I've learned from the Marx Brothers.

[Penny]

Everything I learned in life, I learned in kindergarten ... at least the most important stuff!

[Jacq]

OMG, those were funny!!! Great post!

[LBB]

I'm always amazed at how much good stuff you can pack into a single post. You're a great publisher, Miss Cellania.

I took a PHI 101 class and loved it so much I didn't sell the textbook back at the end of the semester. Does the Center Hold. Great text.

[Coll]

I have found that I am just now entering another life stage where philosophy (or is it now more spirituality) is again of interest. No more kids at home.. again have the time to look inward.

[THE Michael]

Having discovered your blog for the first time, I wonder where you get the time to put this amazing work together, and then it occured to me that this probably IS your job. Well, if so, it's a job well done!

It would be a pleasure for you to come over to "Dances with Leaves" and soak in some of my base, knee-jerk, common man philosophy, which I admit springs from the shallow end of deep thoughts, but should provide some laughs nonetheless. I added you to my ever increasing list of blogs worth reading and look forward to more of your excellent work.

[Miss Cellania]

THE Michael, you can rest assured that if I ever become a productive member of society again (wage earner, that is), these posts will be somewhat shorter. I will be glad to visit your site!

[Walker]

LOL ok I got to remember this stuff.
All I know is shit happens when it does and If a tree falls in the woods and doesn't land on my I don't care what sound it make if any.