Scientist and engineer mentalities

Dustin · January 15, 2015, 08:27:40 AM

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Ajax · January 15, 2015, 11:31:29 AM

Quote

What mentality do you fit into?

I think both... I value the pursuit of knowledge above all else, but I would believe in something if it makes me happy...

Lemy the Lizerd · January 15, 2015, 11:35:27 AM

You seriously expect us to have a philosophical discussion based on The Matrix?

PSU · January 15, 2015, 11:37:28 AM

I guess an engineer mentality.

I value being happy over anything else. I'd rather be a retard and happy than a genius and miserable.

More Than Mortal · January 15, 2015, 11:40:03 AM

It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.

Knowledge comes above all else, and I have no respect for fideism or hedonism.

Dustin · January 15, 2015, 11:47:24 AM

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Dustin · January 15, 2015, 12:03:19 PM

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More Than Mortal · January 15, 2015, 12:07:53 PM

Quote from: Dustin xLilD on January 15, 2015, 12:03:19 PM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on January 15, 2015, 11:40:03 AM
Knowledge comes above all else, and I have no respect for fideism or hedonism.
Why exactly is that?

Why the fuck should I?

A virtuous or otherwise decent life isn't properly obtained by subjecting yourself to a sort-of informational starvation or negligence.

Dustin · January 15, 2015, 12:11:07 PM

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More Than Mortal · January 15, 2015, 12:14:21 PM

Quote from: Dustin xLilD on January 15, 2015, 12:11:07 PM

What exactly is so intrinsically valuable about intelligence? If you're not gathering intelligence for hedonistic purposes, why else would you bother with it?

Nothing is intrinsically valuable. I could conceive of several pieces of information which ought to be kept from the people at large.

The point is that all sorts of advancement--moral, medicinal, neurological, societal, political, economical--rely on solid foundation of information, and in pursuing objectively correct information then we are, by definition, on the way to better understanding how such things function and then supplying a greater level of well-being for conscious creatures.

Dustin · January 15, 2015, 12:25:10 PM

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Verbatim · January 15, 2015, 12:28:50 PM

To me, "the truth" is axiomatically preferable to happiness. The truth gives me clarity, and clarity helps me understand. It doesn't always make me happy to understand--but I like to understand. What I like doesn't always make me happy.

More Than Mortal · January 15, 2015, 12:32:05 PM

Quote from: Dustin xLilD on January 15, 2015, 12:25:10 PM

I get that you usually need intelligence to then create well being, but creating well being is still your ultimate goal, is it not?

Obviously.

Dustin · January 15, 2015, 12:34:45 PM

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More Than Mortal · January 15, 2015, 12:36:15 PM

Quote from: Dustin xLilD on January 15, 2015, 12:34:45 PM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on January 15, 2015, 12:32:05 PM
Quote from: Dustin xLilD on January 15, 2015, 12:25:10 PM
I get that you usually need intelligence to then create well being, but creating well being is still your ultimate goal, is it not?
Obviously.
Yeah I didn't realize it was an irrelevant point to make until a little later.

Hell, even if you're utterly, utterly psychopathic and you don't have that motivation, surely more information is always beneficial for the sake of offering clarity?