Comments | theredphoenix2: are old people useless

theredphoenix2

are old people useless

Jul 16, 2008 18:53

I love sensational titles. Maybe it's because I like to mildly offend people and then say, no, no, it's okay, we cool, right? So here is another vaguely political entry, because I have a few curious ideas floating around ( Read more... )

Comments 6

pcjunkie July 17 2008, 00:46:36 UTC

Well the priest example is flawed because one might not believe in the priest's religion and therefore question the premise of their moral "authority" and "experience." Though odds are that an experienced priest will probably have a lot of valuable insight into human nature even if you don't buy their theological perspective.

I'm not necessarily sure that McCain's age adds that much wisdom over McCain of say 10 years ago. Whereas there is a high likelihood of him dying sometime in the next 4-8 years, especially living under the considerable stress of being president. Therefore, his VP choice becomes very important.

theredphoenix2 July 24 2008, 02:18:32 UTC

Good point. You're right if morality is subjective or you believe that those with religious beliefs can have no generalized wisdom aside from that within the religion.

Also true about the age. There exists an optimal trade-off that's somewhere between Obama and McCain, in regard to wisdom versus a new perspective.

pcjunkie July 17 2008, 00:47:45 UTC

Oh also, I concur with you that we keep old people alive too long. The last year of life soaks up a hugely disproportionate amount of our medical expenditures. I look forward to that entry.

ballcoach July 22 2008, 06:42:33 UTC

Firstly, top notch music choice, my friend. How fondly I remember the infamous Haynesville Hootenanny, at which this legendary song was played ( ... )

ballcoach July 22 2008, 06:55:15 UTC

In short, there is less of an emphasis on propriety of relationships (between the youth and parents, elders, authority) for the sake of emboldening individual rights. Not all bad, I reiterate, but the side-effects are starting to show. Obedience is utterly passe. Moral authority is passing from the hands of the well-established traditions and authorities to individual consciences. This move towards individual conscience reflects some sort of truth regarding the process of moral decision-making, but not in terms of determining moral truth itself (another subject for another time). However, the individual is becoming the ruler of his or her own world and (key point) is closing himself or herself off to the rest of the world ( ... )

theredphoenix2 July 25 2008, 02:24:02 UTC

Very, very good points, sorry it took a while to respond to them but it requires much thought. I think it's interesting why the gap between young and old is so great now. The analogy in the end was kind of in haste and now I see enormous problems with it. It's another debate, but I've always believed there's a false dichotomy between scientia and and sapienta. As Maslov says, "dichotomizing pathologizes" (though he referenced science and religion, I think the principle is close). In conclusion, I concur with your argument in the end about the priest example.

Anyway, thanks for the Aristotle reference, at least they're teaching you well in your program.