Monday, September 29, 2008

Let's all just pow wow

Based on our perceptions and our identity we all have different observations.

"Suppose a person present with me, who advances propositions, to which I do not assent, that Caesar dy'd in his bed, that silver is more fusible than lead, or mercury heavier than gold; 'tis evident, that notwithstanding my incredulity, I clearly understand his meaning, and form all the same ideas, which he forms. My imagination is endow'd with the same powers as his; nor is it possible for him to conceive any idea, which I cannot conceive; or conjoin any, which I cannot conjoin. I therefor ask, Wherin consists the difference betwixt believing and disbelieving any proposition?"
On Belief - David Hume

This is a very open-minded perspective. I'd like to think we all are open to understanding each other's beliefs, but at some levels we aren't. Last class we all threw out our ideas and accepted them diplomatically. We all accepted them with out really analyzing them. We zoned out. We took the safe route. I wish we argued with each other during class. In a very epistemological sense, not to create Leonard 7 animosity. I'm interested to see where the core of each of our beliefs exists. Not a generic 'I believe ... because it's the right thing to do', but what policies we deeply care about, and how our auxillary beliefs stem from there.

The state department, briefly, was interesting as everyone has said. I appreciated learning what really goes on there, but I wouldn't be able to deal with the layers of bureaucracy.

1 comment:

Seamus McGregor said...

I also feel like some people hold their beleifs back in order to not antagonize anyone, which dulls the discussion. I encourage all people to voice whatever opinions they hold.