Philosophy Now Forum

It could be answered yes or no, but I tend to think not.

PhilX

What's an 'average person'?

Arising_uk wrote:What's an 'average person'?

For starters, average intelligence and temperament.

PhilX

By what measures?

Arising_uk wrote:By what measures?

For intelligence, one can use the IQ test where the average is 100. For temperament, it's hard to say as there are different ways of measuring and I don't know if an attempt was made to measure philosophers to compare with the general population (see https://www.b-di.com/measuring.html e.g.).

For the time being, I'll let you pick your own measures and apply your subjective opinions unless you actually know.

PhilX

I am so much different from the average person because of philosophy that I would become sad if I were not so different.

Jaded Sage wrote:I am so much different from the average person because of philosophy that I would become sad if I were not so different.

So you want people to realize that you are different because of your investment in philosophy.

Being different can be hard to endure.

How about not being different for a while and seeing how it feels like and comparing the two modes of existence ?

I have started to immerse myself in "social life" which means mainly impudent gossiping, supposing what may be the case although it is none of my business, making stealthy approaches etc. I feel like a fish in a swarm of fish and want to see how my mood gets influenced by it.

Opting out is easy, becoming an accepted fish is far more difficult.

Philosophy Explorer wrote:

Arising_uk wrote:What's an 'average person'?

For starters, average intelligence and temperament.

PhilX

What's a philosopher?

marjoram_blues wrote:

Philosophy Explorer wrote:

Arising_uk wrote:What's an 'average person'?

For starters, average intelligence and temperament.

PhilX

What's a philosopher?

I asked this question a long time ago.

It could be a very inquisitive person.

PhilX

An average person would have answered "yes" or "no" by now in a conversation like this. Most people want answers, not questions. Or so i find people around me.

MB: What's a philosopher?

PhilX : I asked this question a long time ago.
It could be a very inquisitive person.

MB: Yeah, I know - it's a perennial favourite, innit
is that the definition of a philosopher. A head-banger?

So, if a philosopher is someone who likes to ask questions - do you think the average person likes to ask questions?
Does it depend on the type, purpose and context of the question - the tone of Voice, the Nature of the girl on the bus?

Ansiktsburk wrote:An average person would have answered "yes" or "no" by now in a conversation like this. Most people want answers, not questions. Or so i find people around me.

I'm not so sure about that. I consider myself an average person. I think many would have asked PhilX what the hell he's talking about, and has he got nothing better to do ? What does it matter...

Philosophy Explorer wrote:It could be answered yes or no, but I tend to think not.

PhilX

Why do you tend to think that a philosopher is not like the average person?

marjoram_blues wrote:MB: What's a philosopher?

PhilX : I asked this question a long time ago.
It could be a very inquisitive person.

MB: Yeah, I know - it's a perennial favourite, innit
is that the definition of a philosopher. A head-banger?

So, if a philosopher is someone who likes to ask questions - do you think the average person likes to ask questions?
Does it depend on the type, purpose and context of the question - the tone of Voice, the Nature of the girl on the bus?

From experience, in a classroom, most people don't ask inquiring questions about things they'd be curious about because of fear of looking foolish. In my daily walk of life, I find most people don't ask questions (maybe they're silent philosophers).

Can you clarify what you mean by "the Nature of the girl..."?

PhilX

marjoram_blues wrote:

Philosophy Explorer wrote:It could be answered yes or no, but I tend to think not.

PhilX

Why do you tend to think that a philosopher is not like the average person?

Experience. Philosophers like to ask probing, inquiring questions to get at the truth which most people don't e.g.

PhilX