Philosophy Now Forum

Why? Appearing so doesn't make it actually so.

Jaded Sage wrote:Why? Appearing so doesn't make it actually so.

No, but I hate it when someone assumes too much from a small number of posts.

Jaded Sage wrote:Why? Appearing so doesn't make it actually so.

I grew up in a large family and the only way to get much attention was to appear intelligent. I learned a lot of tricks through life to seem intelligent and to correctly answer questions that I didn't even understand.

But at a young age I came to believe that all God's creatures were as intelligent as humans and then later in life I confirmed this was true but that humans aren't intelligent. I don't so much care any longer if people think I'm smart or not; merely that they believe I'm right.

Few people will think this post is very smart (~4% of the general population). Most people will get the idea I'm no smarter than a rabbit (and they won't be far wrong).

I'm inclined to believe sometimes too that we are not much smarter than the average chimp, say. You only care that you appear correct? What a bravely honest thing to say!

You only care that you appear correct?

No. I used to only care that I appeared intelligent. If saying something incorrect could accomplish this then I'd intentionally say something that was incorrect.

Now (since age 12) I only care whether or not I am correct. Of course I still have all the lazy habits I learned and taught myself to look smart but I use them differently. I have learned a few things over the years and deduced more.

Jaded Sage wrote:I'm inclined to believe sometimes too that we are not much smarter than the average chimp, say.

When it comes to the ability to think there's just not that much difference between animals. The differences are in how animals think and what is important to them. Animals also differ in the amount of brain activity focused on thought that isn't directed at primary urges and muscle usage. What appears to set humans apart is the body of knowledge that has been developed as a result of complex language. In other words it is language that makes us appear intelligent to ourselves. Other animals think we're dumb as a stump and our technology is a force of nature. Other animals are far closer to the reality than we.

What a bravely honest thing to say

I'm trying to communicate a message that people can't understand because it flies in the face of language. Perhaps it will help if they understand my perspective.

"Are you afraid to appear unintelligent?"

Nope...I'm dumb as brick and I don't care who knows it.

cladking wrote:It is language that makes us appear intelligent to ourselves.

I gotta be honest: that is the most intelligent thing I've read on this website. You didn't just pull one of those tricks on me, did ya?

cladking wrote:

Jaded Sage wrote:Why? Appearing so doesn't make it actually so.

I grew up in a large family and the only way to get much attention was to appear intelligent. I learned a lot of tricks through life to seem intelligent and to correctly answer questions that I didn't even understand.

But at a young age I came to believe that all God's creatures were as intelligent as humans and then later in life I confirmed this was true but that humans aren't intelligent. I don't so much care any longer if people think I'm smart or not; merely that they believe I'm right.

Few people will think this post is very smart (~4% of the general population). Most people will get the idea I'm no smarter than a rabbit (and they won't be far wrong).

The problem is that many people believe that if you aren't smart, you can't be right.

On the opposite side, many people believe if you are smart, you must be right.

cladking wrote: Few people will think this post is very smart (~4% of the general population). Most people will get the idea I'm no smarter than a rabbit (and they won't be far wrong).

Did you know that 63% of all statistics are made up on the spot?

thedoc wrote:The problem is that many people believe that if you aren't smart, you can't be right.

On the opposite side, many people believe if you are smart, you must be right.

It's a god damn travesty. They are really only hurting themselves. That's why I always look for the uniqueness of an answer, not a seeming likelihood.

...not if I'm unintelligent enough to be unaware of it...a common condition among humans.

I'm my harshest critic anyways. No one can punish me for a stupid, unthought remark more than myself.

There is a scene in I Claudius right after he was made emperor, and some of the senators were making fun of his speech impediment. Claudius told them "I always thought what a man said was more important than how he said it".

thedoc wrote:There is a scene in I Claudius right after he was made emperor, and some of the senators were making fun of his speech impediment. Claudius told them "I always thought what a man said was more important than how he said it".

I love I, Claudius. One of the few series I have on DVD.

Dalek Prime wrote:I love I, Claudius. One of the few series I have on DVD

Get the books, Dalek, both of which are masterpieces of English literature as well as significant works of Roman history. Robert Graves was not only one of the most significant poets of the early 20th century he was also a very highly regarded historian and prose writer. "I Claudius" and "Claudius the God" are two of my most treasured books