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Plato at the Googleplex
Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away | Rebecca Goldstein
78 posts | 8 read | 1 reading | 10 to read
Is philosophy obsolete? Are the ancient questions still relevant in the age of cosmology and neuroscience, not to mention crowd-sourcing and cable news? The acclaimed philosopher and novelist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein provides a dazzlingly original plunge into the drama of philosophy, revealing its hidden role in todays debates on religion, morality, politics, and science. At the origin of Western philosophy stands Plato, who got about as much wrong as one would expect from a thinker who lived 2,400 years ago. But Platos role in shaping philosophy was pivotal. On her way to considering the place of philosophy in our ongoing intellectual life, Goldstein tells a new story of its origin, re-envisioning the extraordinary culture that produced the man who produced philosophy. But it is primarily the fate of philosophy that concerns her. Is the discipline no more than a way of biding our time until the scientists arrive on the scene? Have they already arrived? Does philosophy itself ever make progress? And if it does, why is so ancient a figure as Plato of any continuing relevance? Plato at the Googleplex is Goldsteins startling investigation of these conundra. She interweaves her narrative with Platos own choice for bringing ideas to lifethe dialogue. Imagine that Plato came to life in the twenty-first century and embarked on a multicity speaking tour. How would he handle the host of a cable news program who denies there can be morality without religion? How would he mediate a debate between a Freudian psychoanalyst and a tiger mom on how to raise the perfect child? How would he answer a neuroscientist who, about to scan Platos brain, argues that science has definitively answered the questions of free will and moral agency? What would Plato make of Google, and of the idea that knowledge can be crowd-sourced rather than reasoned out by experts? With a philosophers depth and a novelists imagination and wit, Goldstein probes the deepest issues confronting us by allowing us to eavesdrop on Plato as he takes on the modern world. (With black-and-white photographs throughout.)
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GingerAntics
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Anyone else still struggling to review this one? It‘s been over a month, we are starting our next book‘s discussion TOMORROW, and I still don‘t have a handle on exactly what this was.
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie SAME. 1y
kspenmoll Have no idea just what to say! 1y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @kspenmoll at least it‘s not just me. I‘m thinking it‘s a pick… I‘m tempted to just mark it a pick a move on. lol 1y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie This book was a trip. Most of the time I was WTF. However. It made us think and made us question ourselves so that in itself is worth it to me. It was very strange and almost irreverent at times but I think that was the point? Confront ourselves rather than hand us answers. We must know ourselves how to search for truth. And we must also be open to change know better do better. So many people get stuck in this is how it is and never veer from it. 2y
TheBookHippie I think this is accurate “Above all, my Plato is the philosopher who teaches us that we should never rest assured that our view, no matter how well argued and reasoned, amounts to the final word on any matter. And that includes our view of Plato.” (edited) 2y
TheBookHippie What‘s next to read?! I very much like having philosophy as a regular read! 2y
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kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics These are 2 previous ideas been on my radar. Have not read reviews-see above comments (edited) 2y
TheBookHippie @kspenmoll I‘m up for anything! This is in my list 2y
kspenmoll @TheBookHippie That sounds great too! 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie More. Religion is set. (Most of them) and religion is exclusive. Philosophy is inclusive. Science should be a partner to philosophy and spiritual (non religious). 2y
kspenmoll @TheBookHippie said it perfectly! 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie I think the minute we stop questioning and being philosophical is when dictatorship wins. We are easy to control without philosophy. 2y
kspenmoll I think it is vital to our world- we need to keep questioning ourselves & it is a scary thought to think@of life without its expansive inclusive thought processes. 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie 😵‍💫 2y
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GingerAntics
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Ah, the ultimate question of philosophy! This harks back to a philosophy essay in the NYT that one philosophy professor where I used to work would assign toward the end of the class.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/07/opinion/sunday/chimps-legal-personhood.html
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie I think no. It‘s not just us who are human. Human can be humanity and that applies to many living things IMO. Those poor chimps/monkeys. Let them free! 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie 🙋🏻‍♀️ 2y
TheBookHippie So strange . This did make me think and so it wins that point. 🤣😅👏🏼 2y
kspenmoll I must read the last chapter. I stopped reading when life for me was rather chaotic- but then maybe that is when zi should read Philosophy?! 2y
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ravenlee
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Pickpick

I‘ve fallen behind on reading and reviewing - and, well, everything. This was a thought-provoking, challenging read that frequently went over my head. I preferred the clear nonfiction sections to most of the fictionalized parts (though the advice column part was great). Thanks to @GingerAntics for leading the #deadphilosopherssociety through it!

This was also my March #bookspin

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GingerAntics
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We‘ve talked about the internet, is it democracy, is it anti democratic, is it a power for good or a weapon of hate, but this just ain‘t it. This is definitely NOT democratic. This is not part of a free society. This is not part of any sort of civilised environment what-so-ever.
#Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

GingerAntics Should this be considered a form or terrorism? Should this be a special kind of crime? Should this add to the charges in some way? Or is this simply part of freedom of speech? Why or why not? 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics Should be a crime. And ITSTHEFUCKINGGUNS . 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie 💯! Unfortunately the gym has every channel on, and the treadmill I ended up on last night was right in front of Fox. Tucker Carlson literally said NOTHING about this. Not one word. He spent 20 minutes of his 30 mins I saw going on about “the new Obama, another white straight guy.” Uuuuum… look at how you reacted to the single deviation in that formula nut bag!!! The man literally makes no sense. 2y
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GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I always wondered how people managed to NOT know about these things, how they could possibly say “it wasn‘t on the news,” but if all your watching is fox entertainment, you quite literally live in another version of reality. They‘re not out of touch with reality at all, they are just completely ill informed. 🤯🤯🤯 2y
TheBookHippie If you keep people divided and afraid you can control them better and fascism …. Fox is just brain washing and they know it. Plus the NRA pays Congress well… Money and power. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics clearly free speech is over since they expelled the Tennessee three for protesting 🙄. 2y
kspenmoll It‘s horrifying & so terrifyingly sad that we still debate guns- kudos to the Tennessee three. 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll @thebookhippie I love that at least 2 of them got back in. Their constituents have spoken AGAIN. People want them over people bought and paid for by the NRA. 2y
GingerAntics The national rifle association is going to have to change its name to the no reality association in a minute. We could nail them to the wall for false advertising. 2y
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GingerAntics
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kspenmoll This is a tough one. I would like to exclude nasty racist, sexist, etc. ( thinking of desantos & his crusade against gender identity, etc. (edited) 2y
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GingerAntics
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie Need nap will be back 🤣💤😅👩🏻‍🍳 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I‘m gearing up for nap number 3 today. I feel ya!!! 2y
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kspenmoll
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I am continuously behind in my reading, but while befuddled at times, I am entranced with this book. It contains such beauty in its language, images, & analysis. #adventuresinphilosophy #deadphilosopherssociety #PlatoattheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein

TheBookHippie I agree and I think we‘ve all been behind the entire time 🤣💕🤷🏻‍♀️. 2y
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GingerAntics
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TalesandTexts I would have to say, no. All knowledge enriches us. Whether that knowledge is called upon in our everyday lives is another question altogether. 2y
ravenlee Well, I have a seemingly endless supply of pretty useless trivia facts (Roger Taylor [drummer of Queen] is the only living person depicted on UK postage because he‘s in the background of the Freddie Mercury memorial stamp, for instance). I find them enjoyable, but they‘re pretty useless information. (edited) 2y
ravenlee This does bring up with differences between knowledge, information, and wisdom. If it doesn‘t lead to wisdom, is knowledge purposeful or not? Plenty of people know a lot without ever coming anywhere close to being wise. 2y
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kspenmoll @ravenlee. So well said. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I didn‘t know that about Roger Taylor. That‘s pretty cool. I do enjoy trivia, but I also agree about the uselessness of that information most of the time. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee 100% agree. I think that might be cultural in a sense. There is this push for knowledge. In some cases there is a great love and desire for knowledge, but there is little to no discussion of taking those further steps toward wisdom. Knowledge is enough. No need for wisdom. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee In the worst sense of the word, yes. In many ways it‘s a free-for-all where people hide behind their relative anonymity and let out the worst aspects of their natures. You can also argue that with major corporations controlling large aspects of the internet and politicians messing around with internet access that it‘s become more of an oligarchy or plutocracy than democracy. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I like the idea of the internet as an oligarchy. I mean, I‘d prefer it wasn‘t, but that‘s a really good way to look at it. I agree, the internet is definitely not the best of humanity. It could be, and sometimes it is, but often times it‘s really not. Unfortunately. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee Labeling is something we all do. Anyone who is different from me is “other” in some way. When those labels become powerful is when they‘re wielded by groups, and any “other” becomes “less than.” Who wields the labels? Those who hold the power/those who stand to gain by using them or lose by fear of being so labeled. 2y
ravenlee Shock jocks and extremist politicians incite their followers by using derogatory labels like pinhead and libtard. They‘re stirring up the “us” against the “them” by painting “them” as stupid, antagonistic, and in all other ways “less than.” Encourage the camaraderie of the group, strengthen the bonds by putting down anyone else. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee so true 🙄 us vs them is so old and tiring. You would think in a world where you can instantly communicate with just about anyone around the world that nonsense would go out of fashion, but sadly, it seems to have given it even greater life. 2y
ravenlee @GingerAntics it just makes more of “them” against whom “we” need to be vigilant. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee sadly, that‘s so true 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee What comes to mind is the idea that there are always at least three versions of what happened: my version, your version, and what ACTUALLY happened. Perspective changes things. I know that relativism can be taken to extremes, but truth isn‘t 100% hard and fast. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I agree. I keep going back to things like scientific fact. Maybe that‘s where we need to differentiate between truth and fact. They really aren‘t the same thing, and facts aren‘t an agree to disagree proposition. The earth is round. The Big Bang happened. (Which makes me think of the young Sheldon episode where pastor Jeff says “the bible says, in the beginning was the word” and Sheldon response with “was the word kaboom?” 🤣😂🤣) 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I think truth comes down to perspective and there has to be room to agree to disagree. Perspective is everything, and even science has shown that time distorts based on perspective. Fact proves that truth is not universal and there is room for multiple truths based on where, when, etc. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee This problem has been exacerbated since the abolition of the Fairness Doctrine under Reagan, which led to the rise of right-wing talk radio (Rush Limbaugh 🤮); and more recently, with the rise of “college of Google” and “research” making confirmation bias all the more easy to accomplish. With all the “alternative facts” so easy to find, anyone who can‘t see what “I” see MUST be an idiot. 2y
ravenlee It‘s human nature to hold one‘s own beliefs higher than anyone else‘s - my religion, your mythology and superstition. It takes actual effort to listen and hear another perspective and give it serious consideration. Intellectual laziness, fear of being wrong, and generations of being told your way is THE right way, they all add up to being absolutely unable to entertain other thoughts or tolerate those who do. Ergo - “they” must be stupid. (edited) 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee this is such a wonderful articulation of the problem at hand. All of this was swirling around in my head, and I just couldn‘t get any of it to settle into anything coherent. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Yes to all of this. It‘s sad. The concept of education is meant to combat all of the above, but unfortunately we‘re removing all of this from curricula all over. 2y
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GingerAntics
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I barely made it through this chapter. When I hear a nut case like McCoy on TV, I change the 🤬 channel. I couldn‘t do that here. I made it though. Thoughts?
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

ravenlee The whole idea of “Christian supremacy” is disturbing, and the fact that it‘s gaining traction with the MAGA Republicans (and some less-extreme Republicans, too) is terrifying. The running theme of McCoy inserting God-not-gods and trying to get Plato to accept or assert Christianity was so close to some of the crap we‘ve seen in the years since this book came out. 2y
ravenlee I read Culture Warlords with #SheSaid last year, which is where I learned much of what I know about Christian nationalism. It wasn‘t the best book overall, and certainly felt out of date in many ways, but it did give good info on this subject. 2y
ravenlee Another good read on similar ideas, much denser but also much better, is Tim Snyder‘s 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee exactly my thoughts! It was so spot on. I think this sort of thing definitely existed when she was writing this book, but this sort of thing has definitely become more popular and common since then. It disgusts me and terrifies me in equal measure. 2y
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GingerAntics
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Sorry I‘m posting so late. I slept so much this weekend I lost track of what day it was. lol Whoops. 🤷🏼‍♀️ This chapter certainly was a trip. Thoughts?
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie It‘s a trip I‘ll finish it tomorrow and be back ! 😵‍💫 2y
ravenlee I found this chapter incredibly lifelike and disturbing. I‘ve never watched/listened to this type of show, but from secondhand reports (I follow Heather Cox Richardson‘s daily news updates and highly recommend her) it sounds spot on. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee it really does! It was terrifying and disquieting in its realism. I really struggled to finish it. I wanted to just skip it through pretty much the entire chapter. 2y
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kspenmoll
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I used to teach the Iliad & the Odyssey in HS, but our then new curriculum director took it out of the curriculum with the exception of honors classes.It makes me sad because although the poetic language was difficult initially, we read aloud an abbreviated version.The freshman were really engaged, & not just because of the mythical creatures, but because they came to understand its relevance (video games,the heroes journey,Nike & Hermes, etc.).

dabbe That is super sad. Kids who might not be at the highest reading level can still enjoy challenging books; that's what the teacher is there for, to guide them through that challenge. Kudos to you for exposing all the students that you could to the two oldest pieces of western literature that we have. ❣️ 2y
TheBookHippie They took it out here as well. Makes me so sad. I do the graphic novels with them a little sneaky 🤣♥️👏🏼 2y
Bookwormjillk My son read The Odyssey this year and didn't hate it. He's in 9th grade, and not a reader.

Know what he did hate? Agatha Christie. Go figure.
2y
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ravenlee That‘s so sad. 2y
kspenmoll @TheBookHippie Keep on being “ a little sneaky”! 2y
kspenmoll @Bookwormjillk Glad to hear he didn‘t hate it! That says something about the the book‘s timelessness. 2y
kspenmoll @dabbe Thank‘s for your support! 2y
dabbe @kspenmoll #teachersinsolidarity 🤜🏻🤛🏻 ❣️ 2y
Reggie I took 9th grade Greek mythology with Mrs.Gunderson. I still those stories to friends and coworkers when I need them to understand something or just for entertainment value. 2y
kspenmoll @Reggie I am happy to hear that you are still sharing these stories! 2y
GingerAntics It is so sad how they are removing classics from the lives of our children. 2y
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GingerAntics
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I think we may have had this discussion before, but we‘ve certainly done a lot more reading since we considered this last.
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie Ha. That we have. One you can question -one has rules. Do I win the prize? 🤣🤣🤣Honestly the theocracy threat to the USA keeps me up at night. 2y
ravenlee I love that we‘ve been going on this journey together. 🥰 And that we can revisit old questions in light of the new reading and thinking we‘re doing. 2y
ravenlee Theology, according to my Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially the study of God and God‘s relation to the world. 2y
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ravenlee Philosophy, on the other hand, has a range of definitions, including pursuit of wisdom, and a search for general understanding of values and reality. 2y
ravenlee I looked them up to get another perspective, and it bolsters my own feeling. Philosophy includes a search for truth, meaning, answers (always makes me think if Indiana Jones and “fact, not truth.”) Theology seeks understanding of the nature of deity, which is an entirely different can of worms. Both can (and should) be dynamic, but theology changes with the whims of religious faith while philosophy should be a more progressive endeavor. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie same. I am terrified we will end up in a full blown theocracy. We are so dangerously close right now. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I think philosophy tends to build upon itself. It‘s not afraid to acknowledge past shortcomings or flaws (like when philosophers took racism as a natural fact that didn‘t even warrant thinking about). Philosophy has made the effort to correct itself, where as theology has spent a lot of time justifying (it was for their own good, to bring them Christianity, etc). 2y
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GingerAntics
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Sorry, I totally forgot to post this when I woke up today. Sorry this is so late in the day, but we‘ll discuss all week and beyond anyway.
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie So. My ethos aren‘t even the same as Mr BookHippies . However I still think there‘s ethical practice and not. Something can be unethical even if someone says according to their credo it is. Talking circles but as of late being ethical is so rare would we even recognise it? This was our coffee talk this morning. Is it right to play golf for Saudi Arabia to get millions instead of the PGA knowing who they are and what they‘ve done. 2y
TheBookHippie It‘s definitely absent in people. 2y
ravenlee While I do believe there‘s some flexibility based on culture, there are actions that are ethical and unethical, period. The grey areas shift, but the heart of the matter just is. I‘m not a believer in situational ethics. And I HATE the “because God says so” argument. I don‘t need a supernatural nanny telling me not to kill because it‘s wrong - it just IS. No Jiminy Cricket needed. 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee 🤣😂🤣 I agree with all of this. Are you even doing the right thing if you‘re just doing as you‘re told? I think part of acting ethically is making your own choice. You can choose to act ethically or not. Without that choice, you‘re forfeiting your own agency. That‘s just my two cents. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie complete absent. I think part of being ethical is allowing others their differing views. As long as we can all agree on the basics, such as killing is wrong, we should be able to live harmoniously beyond that. If you think drinking or dancing is wrong, cool. Then don‘t drink or dance. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie If I think hitting children is wrong, as long as you‘re not hitting my kids, I can‘t really stop you from hitting yours (even though I know it‘s detrimental it is to all children). 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y
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kspenmoll
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Finished The Critic, Gallows Court, A Rare Interest inCorpses this week. The others I am at various stages. #enzofiles #2 #goldenagecrime #victorianlondonmystery #InspectorTomReynolds #ireland #adventuresinphilosophy #deadphilosopherssociety #audio

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kspenmoll
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After weeks of having no interest in picking this up- some of its content felt beyond me- I am thoroughly enjoying the chapter: xxxPlato, structured as an advice columnist who consults with Plato. #deadphilosopherssociety #platoatthegoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #adventuresinphilosophy

TheBookHippie Love your pillows!!!! 2y
GingerAntics That chapter was definitely a different look at Plato. 2y
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GingerAntics
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Is everyone feeling caught up and ready to move to the next chapter, or do we need another catch up week? Probably should have asked this sooner. lol
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie I‘m catching up now 🤣😵‍💫😅 but I can wait I‘ve not even written notes yet. 😅🤣👀 which ever is easiest for the masses. I am truly enjoying bending of my brain with this. 2y
ravenlee I‘ve read through Socrates Must Die and plan to start the next chapter tomorrow. Well, I intended to start it today but then today was over… 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee oh wow, then you‘re more on track than I am. lol I was planning to read Socrates Must Die for tomorrow. 2y
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GingerAntics @TheBookHippie this one is definitely a brain bender, especially the way it‘s written with the unique chapters like the panel discussion and the advice letters. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie what chapter are you on? 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I‘m where you are Socrates must die. 2y
Chrissyreadit I am no where but will absolutely begin today 2y
GingerAntics @Chrissyreadit lol this one is a bit of a mental trip, so hold on to your seat, there. 2y
kspenmoll I have not been in the mode to read this for a time but I plan to start ch 5 later this week. 2y
GingerAntics @kspenmoll you really do need to be in the right mood for this one. This one is quite heavy in an odd way. Not the same way as Sophie‘s World, but very dense all the same. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I found the whole idea of Plato-as-advice-columnist very odd, but also interesting. I think the letters from BONDAGE and about the Very Bad Boys were very…weird…to read the responses. It‘s disconcerting to think of Plato advising on dating concerns. 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee SO WIERD!! 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee @TheBookHippie 🤣😂🤣 I‘m not going to lie, I have a hard time picturing Plato dating. 2y
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GingerAntics
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Almost forgot to post these. Whoops. So much sleep, so little time. I wasn‘t quite sure what to do with this chapter. I did my best. If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ask them and tag everyone.
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie No worries I‘m catching up 😵‍💫 2y
ravenlee I didn‘t even start the chapter yet. Busy week/weekend and now scrambling to finish some of this month‘s reading. But soon! 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee no worries. We‘re all playing catch up right now, I think. 2y
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ravenlee Hmm, really tough. I‘m not sure that Plato would actually answer any question I asked, for one thing, or that I‘d be able to understand it if he did, for the other. I‘d probably ask for some clarification on the cave dilemma, but I don‘t know what Plato would have to say. 2y
TheBookHippie Still thinking on this I‘ll be back! 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie so am I. I‘m not sure what I was thinking with this question. It‘s a mind bender, that‘s for sure. 😝 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I do very much like the book - it‘s a good thing to have while watching the world burn to the ground 🤣😅😵‍💫🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie ain‘t that the truth! 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I think we tend to forget the giving part of any type of love and focus on the selfish part. And I think that can be a pretty natural thing to do, to get caught up in the “me” part of a relationship, but maybe part of what‘s going on in our society is a bigger picture of that selfishness. 2y
TheBookHippie I never understood and I‘ll never understand people unwilling to love because they think it costs them. Unreal. 2y
TheBookHippie I think the inability to love has cost us everything everytime in every way. 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee I think there is a part of everything that we naturally tie to ourselves, but I think part of love is thinking of those we love as part of or an extension of ourselves. We think about them and are concerned about them as if they were us. I agree the level of selfishness in our country has truly gotten out of hand, and somehow, they‘re using the bible Christianity to support and condone it. 🤮 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie that blows my mind, too. I don‘t get it. It seems completely illogical to me. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics 🤷🏻‍♀️ it‘s so much energy to hate. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it really is. It‘s unfortunate and truly sad for the “soul of our country” to be so centred on hate. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes! I try to treat people decently, and do no harm when it can be avoided. It seems revolutionary sometimes. 2y
TheBookHippie Can‘t think of one thing the same as me and culture 👀 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee right? I have the hardest time wrapping my head around the idea that being decent to people is revolutionary or automatically makes you a “fruitcake” or a “snowflake.” I just don‘t get it. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee The more I think on it (and the more depressing it seems), the more I feel like it must be: being right/winning. I wish that weren‘t the case, but it sure seems like it. 2y
TheBookHippie It‘s POWER AND CONTROL. 2y
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GingerAntics There‘s got to be a word that means all of those things. Oh wait, I think it might be “American.” 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics what‘s more important to say is why why do they have to have power and control ???? It‘s FEAR. They cannot deal. They don‘t understand - it is. So since it just is why not make the journey good for all of us. Yes I know I‘m dreaming. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it‘s a good dream, though. 2y
ravenlee @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics they are ruled by fear. They fear the turnabout, that everyone they have mistreated for centuries just because they can will gain power and be able to do unto them. (edited) 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee May it be so. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee so true! They genuinely don‘t get that people don‘t want to mess with them, they just want to live their lives. 2y
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GingerAntics
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GingerAntics Money? Power? Manipulation to the Will the rich and powerful? Fame? Karenism? Racism? Elitism? Sanctimonious Jack@**ery? 2y
ravenlee I feel like our culture is so splintered these days that it‘s hard to find any really shared values. Decency, democracy, generally not being an a**hole - apparently none of these is as widespread as we‘d like to think. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee it‘s terrifying how controversial those things are. When did human decency become controversial? Seriously people? 2y
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ravenlee @GingerAntics I think that goes back to the zero-sum game. So many people seem to think that giving away any bit of kindness means I have less for myself. And that their right to follow their own faith = forcing those ideals onto others or crying oppression (seriously, white Christians - you are in no way oppressed!). 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee especially the men. I think women are somewhat oppressed within Christianity, no matter what anyone claims, so those women have something to cry foul about, but none of them ever will because they “understand their place.” White, male, Protestant wouldn‘t know oppression if it kicked them in the marbles. 2y
ravenlee @GingerAntics you‘re right, Christianity as we know it is actually based on women‘s oppression (excuse me, “submission”), but the Christian women who claim oppression aren‘t fighting against their actual oppressors - they‘re making the same claims that someone “else” is getting the same rights that they do. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee yeah, they‘re called men! These women are “shooting wide” with their impression accusations. (I totally just said that in Memaw‘s voice from Young Sheldon, by the way. lol) 2y
TheBookHippie Power and money and control and evil. 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee No one can understand altruism that‘s for sure 😵‍💫 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I think it‘s interesting that for 35 years I‘ve been controversial being Altruistic in my alt right evangelical town, and now the country is following suit… 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie altruism is controversial. It‘s sad really, but we all need more of that thing that makes it controversial. Right. Tell me a story I‘m going to believe. 2y
ravenlee @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics there must be an ulterior motive! What‘s in it for you? 🤨 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee people always judge others based on their own behaviours. If someone questions your motives, don‘t be offended, start questioning theirs. 2y
ravenlee @GingerAntics exactly - your accusations tell a whole lot more about you than about me. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee Be a good person, regardless of reward. Pretty simple, really. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I think taking the reward out of the equation is imperative. If you‘re being a good person just for the reward (be it in the here and now or in your afterlife) you‘re not really being a good person, are you? You‘re just playing a part, you‘re just pretending to get what you want (the reward). 2y
ravenlee Exactly. Carrot-and-stick systems are just conditioning, and nobody actually learns anything but blind obedience (which is usually what the system operators are after). It‘s impressive, though, how many faith systems have some sort of “don‘t be an asshole” guideline - and how frequently that gets caveats added. 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee or straight up ignored 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics once again what most people do not understand about me if I‘m not doing it for the evangelical God, then why am I doing it? It‘s stuns me every time they ask. @ravenlee no one doing ask for reward for self are sincere, and it shows in their works… OY. Fear and cult like religion. Don‘t work clearly -look at our country. 2y
TheBookHippie If you can see the value of a person are you really religious 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Just wondering. I see the divine in almost everyone the pure spirit of a soul but not one ounce of religion is in me. 👀 spirit yes. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I fully agree with all of that. It‘s about spirit, soul, not religion. Spirit is smothered, contorted, and destroyed by religion of we‘re being honest. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics It is so toxic… 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it really is. I feel bad for kids being raised in that mess. Yes, I believe parents have the right to raise their children within their own belief systems, but to think about all those kids and their natural capacity to love be socially being beaten out of them (literally and figuratively) just breaks my heart. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics mine too. I keep thinking of the Jinger Duggar book. Such a mess, and so cruel. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I‘ve been thinking about what you told me about that book a lot, too. It‘s heartbreaking that anyone could do that or allow that to be done to a child. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics Millions of young girls living in fear .. boys too but to be taught you‘re less than is so devastating on so many levels and so ripe for abuse. I think philosophy gives us an it‘s okay not to know let‘s question together comfort. It‘s so important in hundreds of ways that seem more relevant every day. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie totally agree 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie if you‘re not free to question, you‘re in a cult. Period. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I fell behind this week, too. Why don‘t we just go from here and move everything else back by a week? 2y
TheBookHippie Almost caught up as well 😵‍💫😬 2y
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ravenlee This harks back to Hägglund, and the idea of living a secular life, in the moment. A life worth living provides satisfaction to oneself and doesn‘t impinge on others doing the same. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee it‘s that last part that seems to be so controversial. 🙄 It‘s truly ridiculous. 2y
ravenlee No kidding. I mean, we can‘t admit that the Wiccans and Pagans have had it right all along - an ye harm none, do what you will. Or admit that the golden rule is pretty straightforward yet so very hard to follow. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee oh they will never admit that any other religion other than their own has any validity. 2y
TheBookHippie I forgot to do these! I‘ll get it!! (edited) 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee I‘m reading a book about trauma and it keeps stating the communal life apart from ego is healthier… who wants to tell MAGA.. 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee I‘m for witches. All of them had it correct. That‘s why they got killed. 2y
TheBookHippie I‘m still life in true community is the best. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie after watching what they did on January 6th, I‘m not telling them anything! I agree with you, though. Community and togetherness is so important for a healthy life. Even people who don‘t like large groups need community and connection. I still maintain segregation is only okay if it means all the MAGA people with their dictatorship run by a pedophile on their side of the line, and the rest of us living communally on our side. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics WORD to that. They are just unreal I have been thinking of this as I watch that and what amazes me is, it‘s been proven people lie they have it on tape people lied they have testimony people lied in the MAGA crowd still believes That the election was stolen -they‘re in a cult. Oh my Lord. Like for real 😵‍💫🥴 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie total cult! 100% There is no other word for it. 2y
GingerAntics At least not another word that is accurate. 2y
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GingerAntics
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I am SO sorry guys! I completely forgot what day of the week it was. I promise I‘ll get caught up and get some questions posted in the next few days.
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie No worries ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 2y
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ravenlee
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Today I‘m working on this week‘s chapter for #DeadPhilisophersSociety after (FINALLY) catching up on Middlemarch. #DannyBoy thinks I should be napping instead, and my eyelids seem inclined to agree. #catsofLitsy

RaeLovesToRead Oh my goodness! 🥰🥰🥰 so cute and snuggly 2y
GingerAntics I know that feeling. 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie I‘ll be back fighting weather related migraine 😝🙄😵‍💫 2y
ravenlee I found this idea very interesting. Of course, the legacy of the Founding Fathers is problematic, as we see every day in the continuing clash over their intentions. Those who want to honor the spirit of those laws and ideas, while acknowledging the changes in time and society, are ever at odds with those who claim to honor the letter of those laws (knowing that so much of those latter individuals just use that rhetoric to push their own agendas). 2y
TheBookHippie It‘s interesting thought. It is problematic and used to do such evil.. 2y
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GingerAntics @ravenlee @TheBookHippie they were so gung-ho about the constitution being rewritten with each generation. Why they heck didn‘t they put that in there?! Make it a law?! Sheesh. The trouble that could have been saved. 2y
ravenlee @GingerAntics it‘s interesting to picture the founders seeing what their legacy has become. Lots of recoiling and lots of “what? No! That‘s not what we said and certainly not what we meant!” 2y
ravenlee I mean, how could they know how twisted their words and vision would become? 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee right? What a cool thing to see, though. I wonder how many of these guys the founders would completely dismiss or even suggest that they need to be locked up. Talk about a shock to these morons! It would be hilarious! 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee With the current Supreme Court? No. The executive branch is trying, component of the legislative branch are making some effort, but overall too many of the powerful are the wealthy and vice versa. 2y
TheBookHippie Nope. Keeps me awake at night!!! Yikes!! 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee that sums it up right there 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I have pills for that now. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee It‘s a double-edged sword. The internet has expanded access to information (not knowledge), which can be an aid to democratic functioning. It enables grass-roots movements to gain momentum in a way previously impossible. But it also provides a platform for and amplifies the voices of the opposition, promotes the spread of “alternate reality,” and can discourage true interpersonal interaction. Like any other tool, it has to be used properly. 2y
TheBookHippie Currently it‘s a mess.. cess pool… but it can have good points. It‘s so tricky. 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee @TheBookHippie I agree with all of this. It‘s such a mess these days, but it could be and has been used as such a great tool. 2y
GingerAntics The internet is like a hammer. It‘s not good or bad in itself. If you use it to build homes for the homeless, it‘s great. If you use it to repair an elderly neighbour‘s home to keep them warm all winter, it‘s great. If you go after people you don‘t like, smash windows, and beam people over the head with it, that same thing just turned bad. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee Wow, would things be different! What would life have been like in Flint if the elected representatives had to live there and drink the water? Probably a lot better a lot faster. I can‘t even imagine a world like this because it‘s so far from our reality. 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee 💯💯💯💯 2y
TheBookHippie I‘ve often enjoyed listening to Corey Booker speak on this https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/02/01/cory-booker-president-2020-pr... 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I was thinking the same thing, but imagine if every politician was like Corey Booker. Like his politics or not, he lived like and WITH the people he represented. That is absolutely invaluable. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I think this ties back into the religion problem - as long as we have religions telling us that you‘re either right/saved or wrong/damned, the zero-sum idea will continue. There are those who understand that extending rights to others doesn‘t deprive anyone else of anything (except the right to harass and persecute the “others”), but that is definitely the minority. 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I was thinking of this when I read this description of Christian nationalist this week ⬇️ 2y
TheBookHippie Christian nationalism is based on the idea that God has designed rigid structures for humanity and those who are obedient will be rewarded.
"I find it interesting how relatively infrequently Jesus
Christ is drawn upon in these conversations. There's a lot of talk about what is right, what is God's order for society.
...It's not one primarily motivated by following Christ - loving your neighbor as you would yourself."
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TheBookHippie churches play a large role in fostering the continuance of the "obedience" theory, pushing through unpopular policies by any means necessary to achieve a greater good.
"They're convinced that what they're doing is for everyone's good - that if you disobey you won't be blessed by God and you will only experience suffering,"
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TheBookHippie "So for outsiders, it seems like coercion - which it is - but for them, it seems like: 'We know what's best for you and we're going to make sure - even if you don't want it
-we're going to do ultimately what's for your own good and the good of our country and the good of your children.'?
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ravenlee @TheBookHippie ugh, paternalism. You poor ignorant children, you couldn‘t possibly know what‘s best, so let us guide you. Just eat your animal crackers and do what you‘re told. 2y
ravenlee I‘m reading Mary Wollstonecraft‘s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, which has a lot of this nonsense being called out in the terms of male/female relations: paternalism between husband and wife is just icky. And that all relates right back to Middlemarch, too. (edited) 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee I KNOW!!!! I keep thinking of that book!!! OY. Hundreds of years later still here we are.... 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee just eat the crackers drink the koolaid..... 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @ravenlee this certainly ties into the nutcases who believe that 9/11 happened because we stopped beating children or because we turned from god. It‘s so stupid. If that‘s your god, honestly, I won‘t nothing to do with him. He‘s a prick. 2y
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GingerAntics
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ravenlee I think most of us will be average, because mathematically it just works that way! I knew a lot of kids, for instance, when I was in youth orchestra in high school, whose parents pushed them really hard: into playing violin, into STEM classes, into extra-curriculars like the orchestra, trying to get into “good” colleges. So many of those kids were miserable and couldn‘t wait for college to escape. Some of them probably turned out to be truly 2y
ravenlee exceptional, but I‘d bet most of them are just leading average lives (maybe just above average). How many “gifted and talented” kids are just normal people in normal jobs now, but suffering from crippling anxiety? As a parent, I absolutely want to encourage my kid to do her best and try new things, but never at the cost of love and support. 2y
TheBookHippie @ravenlee this 💯. I also thinks this kills creativity and in “average life” jobs etc having your creativity saves your spirit and I believe helps you make an average life wonderful. I feel these pressures kill the nuances of individuality. A good clean life my grandpa would say is goal the older I get the more I understand that statement .. 2y
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TheBookHippie I don‘t think the exceptional live well in community 😵‍💫🤷🏻‍♀️😬😑 they‘re raised to excel for self. Right? 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee I bet you‘re right. There aren‘t that many exceptional people, and let‘s be honestly, the exceptional people usually have money to help them out. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I think exceptional people who were raised to be average people are good for community because they think of their exceptionality as something to share and benefit all, where as people raised to be exceptional, whether they‘re actually exceptional or not, are such a hinderance to community. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it‘s sad really. When did the choice become me or everything else? Why can‘t it be both? I suppose this just takes us back to the zero-sum discussion. 2y
ravenlee @GingerAntics well said. Who should benefit from exceptional talents? The one or the many? 2y
GingerAntics @ravenlee it certainly seems to be what a lot of high profile atheists believe in. You know “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” and all. The number of high profile atheists who have said that sums up their ethics is pretty clear. Yet still, Christians don‘t get it and say that atheists by definition must be amoral. 🙄 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie We were just having this long conversation about freedom not being free and all the different ways people think of and describe freedom. Freedom is just another word for nothing left to loose…. Janis Joplin may have had something!!!! 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie interesting perspective. Freedom is another word for nothing left to lose. That certainly would explain a lot. If the religious right get their way. We really will have nothing left to lose. Once again I wonder if they‘re reading the Handmaid‘s Tale as an instruction manual. 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie OMG THIS. It‘s so frightening this religious right gaining more and more power. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie isn‘t it? I am so terrified. 2y
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GingerAntics
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🤣🤣😂 Not to belittle actual PTSD, but this chapter, so far, is hilarious.
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety

TheBookHippie We all have it at this point I think the trump years did us all in… 👀 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie 100% agree with that 2y
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GingerAntics
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TheBookHippie Oy. 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 2y
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ravenlee
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The guardians of the just state should be the most underprivileged of all its citizens. It is an essential feature of the just state that the wealthy be kept away from political power and that the politically powerful be kept away from wealth.

#DeadPhilosophersSociety

Texreader That would be true public service 2y
TheBookHippie 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 2y
GingerAntics That would be an awesome government. 2y
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GingerAntics
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I work for a catholic hospital/medical system, so we have a daily reflection and prayer. Today‘s seemed to dovetail nicely with this past week‘s chapter of Plato at the Googleplex. I don‘t believe this is true for everyone, but this is the case for some. I think it‘s a little pie in the sky thinking to ignore the fact that some people use the above instances to feed division, hatred, greed, etc.

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GingerAntics
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Is our modern idea of “only the good die young” the same as the Hellenic idea that it‘s better to choose the short, song worthy life?
#PlatoAtTheGoogleplex #RebeccaGoldstein #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll

TheBookHippie I struggle with this. I think 99 percent of people are redeemable, they may need long life to accomplish it. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie redeemable from what though? I think 99% of people are humane. They just have to remember they are connected to everyone else in the world. 2y
GingerAntics Some (many?) choose to abandon that humanity for personal gain, hated, bias, etc. 2y
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TheBookHippie @GingerAntics ha yes I meant I think one percent are pure evil. Generally people figure out ego, power, money aren‘t the answer -some on their death beds. People in general are good -we just are constantly told and shown bad so we look at if differently or fearful and then or thus easier to control and divide. 2y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics the connected and community has taken a huge hit. Thus the current mess. This ME ME ME has to go. 2y
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie oh I totally agree. We seriously need to stop thinking the only thing that matters is A-number 1. 2y
ravenlee I think it‘s less “only the good die young” and more “live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse.” 2y
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