Tag Archives: Bertrand Russell

Homework

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This is a part of the homework feature of my blog, which is an ongoing conversation with my mate S.F.

Hey mate. Lovely to see you again, as always.

First, two things from last time which I forgot to write up:

I mentioned Veritasium which is a video blog of interest.

I have a note here that says “ASI”. And that’s all it says. Not sure what that was about?

I did consider writing my response to Mark Fisher‘s work Capitalist Realism (which is available on the web here), but in researching him and his work this evening I have learned that he died by suicide in 2017. I think suicide is the worst thing ever and I can’t bring myself to write something which tears strips off people who are no longer here to respond. (I intend to read Mark’s PhD thesis Flatline constructs: Gothic materialism and cybernetic theory-fiction.)

You mentioned Pick of the Litter, noting that dogs are trained to sometimes ignore the command of their master, particularly when it wouldn’t be safe.

One good thing about arguments with friends is that there is always time to pee.

Norvig’s Law: Any technology that surpasses 50% penetration will never double again (in any number of months).

This marketing dude Rory Sutherland is actually quite impressive. I hadn’t expected as much from someone in advertising! He has given a number of TED talks and there are many interviews with him on YouTube.

The documentary about the 2008 financial crisis that I mentioned was Inside Job. Not to be confused with the TV series with the same name (which is excellent, by the way).

My favorite philosopher of the day is Iain McGilchrist. I suspect my own beliefs and preferences diverge from those of McGilchrist but I do really enjoy his thought. I have watched a number of interviews with Iain McGilchrist. He has written a number of books, a few of which I have purchased and intend to read: The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions and the Unmaking of the World, The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, and The Divided Brain and the Search for Meaning.

The book Thinking, Fast and Slow by psychologist Daniel Kahneman demarcates two systems of thinking: one fast and automatic, the other slow and deliberative.

The quotation “the stupid are cocksure, while the intelligent are full of doubt” is variously attributed (including to Bertrand Russell).

Check out Mr Inbetween, it’s really excellent!

Love you my brother, see you on Christmas Day! <3

Homework

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This is a part of the homework feature of my blog, which is an ongoing conversation with my mate S.F.

Hey mate. Lovely to see you again, as always.

You mentioned this paradoxical thought: “Grieving the loss of something you don’t want back.”

One thing about evil is that it only cares about itself; it doesn’t care about you.

The RAND Corporation is an American think tank and the name “RAND” is from “Research ANd Development”, I don’t believe it has anything to do with Ayn Rand. The RAND Corporation is the first entity to be called “think tank”, it defined the category.

The parody metal band I mentioned, in the spirit of Spinal Tap, is Ten Times Your Master. Check it out, it’s pretty funny. :P

ur an aligned philosopher

Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? is a 2009 book by British philosopher Mark Fisher. It explores Fisher’s concept of “capitalist realism”, which he describes as “the widespread sense that not only is capitalism the only viable political and economic system, but also that it is now impossible even to imagine a coherent alternative to it.” This book is available on archive.org.

My theory about contradiction is that when someone becomes aware of a contradiction they can either:

  • Laugh
  • Cry
  • Deny

Well adjusted people laugh. Some people get sad. Others suffer cognitive dissonance and deny.

But as you say some people just “don’t get it” and never become aware of the contradiction.

My theory is that at the heart of all humour is a contradiction, and not everyone will choose to laugh when they see the contradiction, some people will get upset about it or refuse it.

I have a note here “consistency with variation”, I think we decided that was a good idea?

David Graeber wrote a book called Debt: The First 5,000 Years. He presents his ideas in this video: Debt: The First 5,000 Years | David Graeber | Talks at Google.

When we were chatting I said that the father of Subjective Idealism was Bertrand Russell but of course it was George Berkeley.

Look forward to seeing you again soon! <3

The Problems of Philosophy, further reading

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At the end of The Problems of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell says:

The student who wishes to acquire an elementary knowledge of
philosophy will find it both easier and more profitable to read some
of the works of the great philosophers than to attempt to derive an
all-round view from handbooks. The following are specially
recommended: