h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

hi Acid,

<>

Well, how about: Social Constructs - what use are they?

az

You are contradicting yourself - if you do not want one hypothetical ideal world then it is not your ideal world. Yours may well contain things that I would see as imperfections. When I described my ideal world I was wondering how it differed from everyone elses ideal. Some people have commented that a perfect information universe has problems because it the the process of discovering that makes life interesting, being born into a world where everything is known is pointless. If you do not like my ideal world (And expect you not to, everyone is different) then put forward another suggestion - surely you don't think the one we are in cannot be improved?

Pavlov was a behaviourist and as such belives that there is only a quantitative difference in intelligence between humans and animals. There are those who belive that there is a qualalative difference - if so behaviourist learning principles are well documented for animals, but research into it's effects on humans is less convincing. As such it is possible to see Pavolovs explinations as instinctive learning entierly different from learning through reasoning. It depends if you belive that there is more to people than their bodies - if not animals are intelligent. If so then maybe we have something they don't (Call if a soul, x-factor, spirit, mind whatever you like - mayhap we have something they don't - maybe not)

"Many a promising life has been ruined by a happy childhood". - A. Bloke. Probably.

Does a bloke recommend unahppy childhoods as a method of social advancment?

I think the point is that people who never have anything bad happen to them can turn out very boring and unremarkable.

Or possibly whoever it was that I quoted that off was just bitter.

Ah but how do you define 'bad'? If it seemed 'bad' at the time but in the long term had 'good' results, do you have to re-evaluate the happening?

hi Bouncy

Hey, where did you find that quote? I had posted it somewhere awhile back - it's by Robertson Davies (so yes, a bloke). I don't think he was bitter and I don't think the quote is negative. In fact most of RD's writing is quite humourous.

So my take on that quote is that sometimes suffering can have quite positive results, by developing character and personal strength. And anyhow, how many people do you know who have had a 'happy childhood'?

az

(yes, yes, I know - define happy! sigh)

I bet Calvin's dad would agree with you there

I know how I want my ideal world to be. I just wanted to know how AI would be any large contribution towards your ideal world. So we wouldn't have to do so much work or what?

hi Acid,

What? I was contradicting myself? Ah well, nuthin new there.

Quote:

'Do I contradict myself?
Very well then, I contradict myself.
(I am large, I contain multitudes)'

- Walt Whitman


I think that my ideal world would be a place where everybody took responsibility for their own actions.

az

Well maybe I read your post then. I tend to pick these things up unconsciously and regurgitate them whenever.

Happy is relative I guess. I think I know at least a few people who never seem to have had anything go wrong in their lives ever, but this is probably one of those "grass is always greener" things.

Well, terms like happy and sad are totally subjective anyhow. And yes, the grass often looks greener as we can never totally know what is going on in the hearts of others who seemingly have an 'easier' life. And anyhow - who cares? It's *your* life you should be concerned about and it's always a bad idea to compare yourself to others. IMHO.

Only *you* know what is important and necessary for you. The rest of what is going on around you might show you other options or other ideas - but these cannot be just copied. You have to gain first hand personal experience before you can ever claim that you 'know' something.

Meanwhile, try to enjoy the ride.

az

Xanatic,

You might find this link interesting.

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/c/chineser.htm


az

We are always striving for a better world but we will never have a perfect world. There is no such thing and if there was it would probably be boring!

What makes us different from animals is our imagination, our ability to preplan and our ability to adapt to things more quickly. It's what kept us from becoming extinct like other species of animals. Maybe you call that a soul.

My cats don't have souls???

I think they do. I hope they do because you are suppose to have to go to heaven and if there is a heaven I want my dog and lots of other animals to be in it!

Back on the happy/sad lives topic - I'm convinced that some of that is down to your general attitude and how you perceive things. Somehow people who regard their lives as a series of trials do seem to have lots of 'bad' things happening, whereas those who make the best of everything' do better.

I'm sure if your cats & dogs believe there is a heaven, there will be one for them!

I agree with you it depends if you see the glass half empty or half full. Even if your life was everything you could ever ask for but you see the glass as half empty you will never be happy!

I don't want my dog in his own heaven I want him in mine!

Your viewpoint defines your experience of life.
Your experience of life moulds your viewpoint.

Viscious circle.

Why vicious? It sounds quite fine to me. Also logical.

az

Viscious circle because its a positive feedback loop that can have nasty consequences. It says that if someone's early life doesn't go well then it'll probably continue to go badly and in addition they'll be cynical enough to know about it.