Philosophy Now Forum

I count myself as optimistic due to technology and other reasons. How about you?

PhilX

In between. The medium term future is looking increasingly terrible. However, barring unstoppable asteroids or supervolcanoes etc the long term future should be amazing and, potentially, life (here or elsewhere) could become something truly incredible.

I'm optimistic about the human race until i read PhilX's posts.

Hobbes' Choice wrote:I'm optimistic about the human race until i read PhilX's posts.

Which made you more optimistic.

PhilX

Philosophy Explorer wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:I'm optimistic about the human race until i read PhilX's posts.

Which made you more optimistic.

PhilX

This is exactly what I mean; not knowing the use of the phrase "am... until".
If I gave a damn, I'd tear my hair out.

You must have a brain in there somewhere. Why not try to use it?
"I count myself as optimistic due to technology and other reasons"
This statement is moronic. It hides an unstated and ill considered assumption about what being "optimistic", should be, as if it were incontestable. I know I'm wasting my times saying this, but I live in hope.

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

Philosophy Explorer wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:I'm optimistic about the human race until i read PhilX's posts.

Which made you more optimistic.

PhilX

This is exactly what I mean; not knowing the use of the phrase "am... until".
If I gave a damn, I'd tear my hair out.

You must have a brain in there somewhere. Why not try to use it?
"I count myself as optimistic due to technology and other reasons"
This statement is moronic. It hides an unstated and ill considered assumption about what being "optimistic", should be, as if it were incontestable. I know I'm wasting my times saying this, but I live in hope.

Just your opinions. Yet you still respond as you respond to many posts (but as a thread starter, you don't offer anything of value).

If you don't like the way the thread is going, then start your own, then see how I'll rip it apart.

PhilX

Philosophy Explorer wrote:I count myself as optimistic due to technology and other reasons. How about you?

PhilX

Why are you Interested in the optimism, or otherwise, of others ? What does it matter how optimistic/pessimistic/realistic a person is, and in relation to what?

marjoram_blues wrote:

Philosophy Explorer wrote:I count myself as optimistic due to technology and other reasons. How about you?

PhilX

Why are you Interested in the optimism, or otherwise, of others ? What does it matter how optimistic/pessimistic/realistic a person is, and in relation to what?

I'll offer an example. Suppose you had to select a new doctor. You check the internet and it comes down to (after considering all other factors) how that doctor's patients rate him. If that doctor gets a low rating, then you have a pessimistic outlook on that doctor and probably won't use him.

Another example. The Great Depression of the US was mostly said by economists due to the pessimism of the population (until US entry into WWII ended that depression).

In general (except maybe for forums), people are interested in what others think.

PhilX

In general, people might well be interested in what others think. But that doesn't answer my question. I'll rephrase.
You posed a question to PN participants concerning how optimistic they are; also included a poll.
So, other than satisfying idle curiosity, what the hell does it matter if someone states they are one thing or another?

Your examples seem to be more about levels of confidence.
How do they relate to your request for personal information of how we 'are' psycbologically, rather than what we think, philosophically.

Is it that if we all clap hands and think positive, then the global economy will boom?
Do you think that the concepts of optimism and pessimism are useful as an explanatory force ?

We shouldn't exist, and are better off that way. Much less unnecessary unpleasantness between now and our inevitable extinction.

marjoram_blues wrote: Do you think that the concepts of optimism and pessimism are useful as an explanatory force ?

I think optimism and pessimism give a good indication of two things:
1. The state of the world.
2. The quality of ones philosophy.

I am only interested in philosophies that display the quality of optimism. I consider pessimistic ones to be self defeating and uninteresting.

Here's a reason why people would care if you're a pessimist or optimist - would-be suicide. Often in the event of a suicide, the mental cause is unknown. Many presume that suicide is preventable if it were known that a potential exists in the person who would do it. Or would you turn your head the other way?

PhilX

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Here's a reason why people would care if you're a pessimist or optimist - would-be suicide. Often in the event of a suicide, the mental cause is unknown. Many presume that suicide is preventable if it were known that a potential exists in the person who would do it. Or would you turn your head the other way?

Often, the motivations of a suicide are unknown to people who didn't know the suicide. The people who did know him have a pretty good idea why he or she did it - and they very often had a premonition. In some cases, it should not be prevented. In some cases, it cannot be prevented. In some cases, it could and should be prevented, but nobody cares enough, which is probably one of the reasons he or she does it. In some cases, it is prevented, maybe several times, before the suicide manages to succeed. You can't know a goddam relevant thing about a suicide.

I am an a congenitally optimistic personality, with a sunny disposition. Really.
And I am convinced that the world is going to hell in a handcart. Sunny disposition can't argue with observable data.

A_Seagull wrote:

marjoram_blues wrote: Do you think that the concepts of optimism and pessimism are useful as an explanatory force ?

I think optimism and pessimism give a good indication of two things:
1. The state of the world.
2. The quality of ones philosophy.

I am only interested in philosophies that display the quality of optimism. I consider pessimistic ones to be self defeating and uninteresting.

Why isn't there an emoticon for 'giving the finger'?

Dalek Prime wrote:

A_Seagull wrote:

marjoram_blues wrote: Do you think that the concepts of optimism and pessimism are useful as an explanatory force ?

I think optimism and pessimism give a good indication of two things:
1. The state of the world.
2. The quality of ones philosophy.

I am only interested in philosophies that display the quality of optimism. I consider pessimistic ones to be self defeating and uninteresting.

Why isn't there an emoticon for 'giving the finger'?

Because daleks need to say more than 'fuck off' ?