Philosophical Questions

[mrpenguin]

BEFORE READING PUT YOUR SMART PHILOSOPHICAL THINKING CAP ON AND BE PREPARED TO THINK ALOT!!!

Know what a Philosophical Question is? Yes, Skip this Paragraph! No, Read On!!!
Heres a quote from Wikipedia to help:~
The philosophical questions are conceptual, not factual questions. There are questions that are not fully answered by any other. Philosophy deals with questions that arise when people reflect on their lives and their world. Some philosophical questions are practical: for example, 'Is euthanasia justifiable?', 'Does the state have the right to censor pornography or restrict tobacco advertising?', 'To what extent are Mäori and Päkehä today responsible for decisions made by their ancestors?'. Other philosophical questions are more theoretical, although they often arise through thinking about practical issues. The questions just listed, for example, may prompt more general philosophical questions about the circumstances under which it may be morally justifiable to take a life, or about the extent to which the state may restrict the liberty of the individual. Some fascinating, 'classic', questions of Philosophy are speculative and theoretical and concern the nature of knowledge, reality and human existence: for example, 'What, if anything, can be known with certainty?', 'Is the mind essentially non-physical?', 'Are values absolute or relative?', 'Does the universe need explanation in terms of a Supreme Intelligence?', 'What, if anything, is the meaning or purpose of human existence?'Finally, the philosophical questions are typically about conceptual issues; they are often questions about our concepts and the relation between our concepts and the world they represent.

There are many philosophical questions one can ask, many of which being debated by Scientists at the present time. A famous example would be 'If a tree fell in a forest when there was nobody about would it make a noise?' My Dad came up with one the other day 'When you close the fridge door does the light really go off?' Heres another but from my teacher 'If you saw the colour magenta, is that the same magenta everyone would see - is it really the colour blue?'

So heres some questions to get you mind thinking:
1.) Whats your opinion on Philosophical questions?
2.) Can you think of reasonable answers to these which you can back up:-
a) If a tree fell in forest, whilst nobody was around, would it make a noise?
b) When you close the fridge door does the light really go off?
c) If you saw the colour magenta, is that the same magenta everyone would see - is it really the colour blue?
3.) Do you have any Philosophical Question that aren't mentioned?


Thank You for Reading, Answer the Questions and Discuss!

[Commander Thor]

So heres some questions to get you mind thinking:
1.) Whats your opinion on Philosophical questions? Don't have one.
2.) Can you think of reasonable answers to these which you can back up:-
a) If a tree fell in forest, whilst nobody was around, would it make a noise? It would not. The shock wave that would be perceived as noise/sound by living beings is still there, but no one is there to perceive it.
b) When you close the fridge door does the light really go off? Indeed it does. Thats why there's that little switch. ;)
Plus, you could always leave a camera in there when you close the door.
c) If you saw the colour magenta, is that the same magenta everyone would see - is it really the colour blue? Since light wavelengths are left to be interpreted by your eyes/brain, then I suppose some would be seeing what you perceive as blue, as magenta.
3.) Do you have any Philosophical Question that aren't mentioned? Indeed I do. Can I think of any right now? No. :p

[Sapphire]

1.) Whats your opinion on Philosophical questions?
As isolated questions, they are useless. Only when they are answered and applied to tangible situations do they gain any real significance.

2.) Can you think of reasonable answers to these which you can back up:-
a) If a tree fell in forest, whilst nobody was around, would it make a noise?
Just because no one is there to perceive it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
b) When you close the fridge door does the light really go off?
Yes, the light is turned off by the switch mechanism which is triggered by the closing door.
c) If you saw the colour magenta, is that the same magenta everyone would see - is it really the colour blue?
Yes, it is. Everyone would see the same colour. If everyone's eyes, optic nerve and brain are healthy and functional then they would all perceive it to be the same. The only thing that would differ would be whether or not everyone named it as magenta.

3.) Do you have any Philosophical Question that aren't mentioned?
What separates humans from animals?
Is it right to modify the genetics of plants and animals to serve humans best interests?

[byee]

Thinking cap on!

1) Philospohical questions are useful in the same way memorizing the math formulas are: They teach mental discipline and the ability to think and conceptualize things in a dfiferent way than we're used to. Which helps in dealing with new situations in life that require flexibility and concentration and discipine.

2) Yes, there would still be noise in the forest even if no one is around. It's a scientific fact (not a point of phiolosophy) that when something falls, it makes a noise. Scientific facts are so b/c they don't require further proof. This goes for 3), also, we know the light goes out in the fridge b/c of the little switch by the door that automatically turns the light off when door is closed.

Magenta is a man made description, so it is highly subjective and not subject to the same rigid std. of 'reality', so everyone can have a different understanding/interpretation of it, based on experience. Experience is a greater arbiter when the question is based on something that is purely subjective and of man's own creation.

Do I have a philospohical question? Me? C'mon, many.

A) If man is the 'superior' ( i.e. 'thinking') creature, why is he the only creature that doesn't seem to recognize (or respect) his own kind?

B) If man is a 'superior' creature, why does he treat the world like a toilet bowl?

C) If man is a 'superior' creature, why can't he figure out how to live with one another?

D) If man is the 'superior' creature, why can't he see that actions have consequences?

E) How does 'ego', a universally despised quality, allow so many to attain positions of authority or power or influence beyond their true capabilities?

F) If 'Accountability' is so important, why aren't we (as a species) held accountable?

[Hyper]

What separates humans from animals?
Is it right to modify the genetics of plants and animals to serve humans best interests?

It is breeding like any other, except it goes a step further..

When we're breeding animals we are just selecting out the stronger specimens and having them produce stronger offspring with other strong specimens and so on and on.. Or we look for certain qualities but the principle remains the same..

The difference that comes in here, is that we are modifying the genetics directly while before we were just having ''nature take care of things'' under a watchful hand.

I'm sort of in the middle with this, I don't fully agree or disagree with it, however I believe that if things like this are used for the right purposes; ridding hunger and so on..... It is right.

[INFERNO]

1.) Whats your opinion on Philosophical questions? They're great to stimulate the mind and to perhaps broaden your views and perhaps become less narrow-minded.
2.) Can you think of reasonable answers to these which you can back up:-
a) If a tree fell in forest, whilst nobody was around, would it make a noise? It still would make a noise as physical laws apply regardless if someone is or is not present.
b) When you close the fridge door does the light really go off? This can be tested for easily. Put a camera in there, close the door and presto.
c) If you saw the colour magenta, is that the same magenta everyone would see - is it really the colour blue? No, people's eyesights, visual acuity, etc.. differs. The wavelength may be the exact same, however, that does not mean it will be perceived as the same colour.
3.) Do you have any Philosophical Question that aren't mentioned? If nobody is truly 100% normal, then why are many people afraid of abnormal behavior?
Suppose some time in the future, humans know every single thing that there is to know or they made some machine to do this for them, then would science have to be redefined (i.e. scientific theories)?

[Camazotz]

1.) Whats your opinion on Philosophical questions?
Philosophical questions make people think in a different perspective. Instead of "the answer to 2+2=4" factual answer, it poses a unique and creative way of thinking

2.) Can you think of reasonable answers to these which you can back up:-
a) If a tree fell in forest, whilst nobody was around, would it make a noise?
Physically, it would make a sound. So yes, even though the sound is not being perceived. For example, if I shoot a man in the head and no one else sees it, is he dead?
b) When you close the fridge door does the light really go off?
Yes, there is a button that must be pushed for the light to go off. It turns off to conserve energy. On my refrigerator, I can turn the light off even when the door is open.
c) If you saw the colour magenta, is that the same magenta everyone would see - is it really the colour blue?
We as human beings perceive colors through the color spectrum. To us, it may be magenta, but to other species of animals, it may be a different color. The color is determined by the amount of light it reflects.

3.) Do you have any Philosophical Question that aren't mentioned?
There are many philosophical questions, my favorite: Would you kill one to save a thousand? (Even if this one was a loved one and you're saving criminals)

[punkjake]

So heres some questions to get you mind thinking:
1.) Whats your opinion on Philosophical questions?i like them they question sometimes reality
2.) Can you think of reasonable answers to these which you can back up:-yes
a) If a tree fell in forest, whilst nobody was around, would it make a noise?Yes and no.it would make a sound just not to our ears,no,a noise is a vibration to our ears so no it doens't
b) When you close the fridge door does the light really go off?Yes like cammazots said there is a button or swithc for mine
c) If you saw the colour magenta, is that the same magenta everyone would see - is it really the color blue?I also thought of this one,but isn't magentia pink?But it is confusing
3.) Do you have any Philosophical Question that aren't mentioned?
I do beleve in God but if God created us,who created him?

[punkjake]

1.) Whats your opinion on Philosophical

3.) Do you have any Philosophical Question that aren't mentioned?
There are many philosophical questions, my favorite: Would you kill one to save a thousand? (Even if this one was a loved one and you're saving criminals)

I :heart: that one too :]