Forum: The Classroom
Topic: Come with me...
started by: Phaedrus

Posted by Phaedrus on Jan. 25 2001,02:19
...and we will build a city with towers that reach to the sky. We will draw all people together, and unify the world under one government and for one purpose. The time has come for us to recognize that the world is changing. It is no longer enough to just revise our old culture; we must build a new society from the ground up, based on the right foundation: science, and the scientific world view. Humankind is poised on the brink of an understanding of the world and of the universe deeper than ever before. Soon we will know in its entirety how the universe came into being, and what laws have guided it up until this day. Soon there will be nothing beyond the reach of our technology.

Human beings are the peak of evolution. We are the mind and the voice of this planet. For a long time we have been divided, but soon the path of progress will bring us together again. Once we are united, there is nothing that we cannot do. Once we are united, death and suffering will become a thing of the past. We will abolish pain, and instead every moment of our lives will be one of unimaginable pleasure. Through medical science and genetics, we will remake the human race, rid ourselves of our imperfections.

We are alone on this planet; we are the only ones with consciousness, the only ones with power to act. If we are going to be saved from our past, we are the ones who must act. We must forget the old superstitions of the past. We must escape from the old and restricting notions of absolute right and wrong. We must hunt down and sweep away the old cobwebs that the light of science has not yet swept away. WE can do this. WE have the power to change this world. WE have the strength, when we are united, to do anything, to reach to the farthest corners of this world and beyond into space, to spread ourselves so far and develop our technology to such a strength that nothing, no natural disaster, no environmental catastrophe, will ever threaten our species.


Posted by solid on Jan. 25 2001,02:26
Have a nice time trying to do all that.
I'll be damned amazed if you can take down the american system among all of the rest of the systems and then convince the people we need a new one, build it, AND be successful.

Hey you're not gonna mutagenically fuse all humans together are you?


Posted by whiskey@throttle on Jan. 25 2001,03:34
quote:
...and we will build a city with towers that reach to the sky.


Not a good idea to start your manifesto with an allegory to the Tower of Babel.

quote:
Soon we will know in its entirety how the universe came into being

"Soon," he says.

Take a look around the galaxy. We know nothing.

quote:
Human beings are the peak of evolution.

What makes you so sure the peak won't be 500 years from now?

quote:
Once we are united, death and suffering will become a thing of the past.

End suffering? Conceivable. End death? Uhhm...okay.

(BTW, if you have any of that acid left, I'll buy some.)

quote:
Through medical science and genetics, we will remake the human race, rid ourselves of our imperfections.

Step 1: Kill all the Jews.


Posted by Phaedrus on Jan. 25 2001,04:05
quote:
Originally posted by whiskey@throttle:
Not a good idea to start your manifesto with an allegory to the Tower of Babel.

Yes indeed, the Tower of Babel: an excellent example of the sort of stupid superstition that I’m talking about. I mean, even if science hadn’t just about proved that god doesn’t really exist, who would want to believe in that sort of god? A god who tells a man to go sacrifice his son just to test his faith. A god who condemns the whole human race and casts them out of Paradise on account of one person. And a god who decides to scatter mankind and make them unable to live together in piece just because they want to make a name for themselves and build a kingdom of their own. I mean, seriously...


Posted by CatKnight on Jan. 25 2001,04:51
quote:
Take a look around the galaxy. We know nothing.

speak for yourself. you know nothing. we know quite a fuck load about the universe.

quote:
What makes you so sure the peak won't be 500 years from now?

or 100 years ago? due to medicine, the evolution of humans has slowed/stopped, except for very rare instances.

quote:
End suffering? Conceivable. End death? Uhhm...okay.

cryogenics.

quote:
Step 1: Kill all the Jews.

you motherfucking piece of shit. you are a cocksucking pathetic little nothing. don't post shit here anymore. ever.

This message has been edited by CatKnight on January 25, 2001 at 11:54 PM


Posted by kuru on Jan. 25 2001,04:59
tell you what kiddo. go get an island. start your little country with your big time dreams. find your utopia.

and remember that hundreds of years ago people in europe thought that the 'new world' was gonna be that utopia.

it doesn't exist. nowhere, not ever. you can dream all you want about a society where greed, suffering and death won't exist, but remember that you're dreaming. those things are not REAL.

you'll start your little island nation, and some big superpower country will show up to take it over... and then what?

shit, not even the buddhist monks in tibet could be left alone by the government of china. they finally had to flee or be killed.

------------------
kuru
'dancing is the vertical expression of horizontal desire.'
-robert frost


Posted by Michael on Jan. 25 2001,06:03
quote:
Originally posted by Phaedrus:
...who would want to believe in that sort of god? A god who tells a man to go sacrifice his son just to test his faith.

Yes, and also the God who provided a Lamb for the sacrifice.

quote:
A god who condemns the whole human race and casts them out of Paradise on account of one person.

And also a God who, on account of one man, forgave the sins of the whole world.

quote:
And a god who decides to scatter mankind and make them unable to live together in piece just because they want to make a name for themselves and build a kingdom of their own.

And also a God who, not so that mankind would make a name or a kingdom for themselves, but for the sake of His name and His kingdom, allows those boundaries of language to be crossed:

quote:
When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
-Acts 2:6-11

This message has been edited by Michael on January 26, 2001 at 01:05 AM


Posted by Sithiee on Jan. 25 2001,08:46
human evolution slowed/stopped? evolution is a slow process. you dont notice it. you cant judge its speed. but i agree with you about the anti jew comment...except i think he was being sarcastic.
Posted by cr0bar on Jan. 25 2001,12:41
quote:
speak for yourself. you know nothing. we know quite a fuck load about the universe.

If by "we" you mean "humans on planet Earth", then your conception of "quite a fuck load" must be similar to my conception of "absolutely nothing". I'm not joking here. We don't know shit about very much of anything, forget about the nature of reality (the 'universe').

I should add that it's not possible for our soft, human brains to come close to comprehending anything remotely like the nature of the universe (although there are a variety of interesting drugs out there that can make you feel like you do). So don't reply to my post with a lengthy physics dissertation about string theory or wave-particle duality you copied off some website.


Posted by Greasemonk on Jan. 25 2001,13:26
Ooppss bad idea Phaedrus, save posts like this for when you have over 200 posts and you wont get flamed as much.


As for the bible stuff. You think of all the places on the whole planet there is for fighting and war, the one place where shit is happening recently is close to where Jesus was (supposedly) born....

------------------
All that I know there was no God for me
Force that shatters all, absence of mortality


Posted by CatKnight on Jan. 25 2001,13:42
i meant we as in scientists, etc.

i don't have to copy it from some website i know it myself. if you read "a brief history of time" and "the elegant universe", you will understand a lot about the universe just from these two books (which are not complicated at all).

what makes you think that the human brain is not capable of comprehending the universe? einstien was able to comprehend space-time and relativity. the guys who developed string theory we able to atleast fathom the idea of 11-dimensions.

what in particular do you think we have little/no knowledge about? i'm not exactly disagreeing with you...it's just a matter of the degree of our understanding.


Posted by CatKnight on Jan. 25 2001,13:44
oh also, we may not know the exact quantum mechanics at 1*10e-10 seconds after the big bang, we might not know the exact speed that the universe is increaseing at, we can't calculate the motion of every single electron in the sun, but my point is that we know a little about a lot of different things, hence a fuck load.

This message has been edited by CatKnight on January 26, 2001 at 08:45 AM


Posted by darksol on Jan. 25 2001,15:13
gee.....yeah......it only took einstein and someone from the human race only.....how long?? since we've been around which is quite a long while just to understand that space is 4 dimensional, to realize that "all" things are relative? so how long will it take us until we do something good again? everything we know now would not be as it is without einstein. so if theres no other "einstein for maybe another 8000 years then we wont jump again. gee, yeah.....i can see how so many people understand a fuck load about the universe.

------------------
Estuan interius
ira vehementi


Posted by whiskey@throttle on Jan. 25 2001,15:16
quote:
speak for yourself. you know nothing. we know quite a fuck load about the universe.

You know, I had the word “relatively” in my original post, but I deleted it at the last second. I figured people would infer my meaning.

Relatively, we know nothing about the universe.

Sure, by human standards, we know “a fuck load,” as you so eloquently conveyed. However, in the grand scheme of things, we are but ignorant specks in a seemingly infinite universe. There is far too much complexity and abundance out there for our puny human minds to comprehend.

Maybe in a thousand years, when someone discovers a method to physically reach the galaxies past Alpha Centauri, Phaedrus’ perspective will seem more feasible.

For now, I think it’s a bit farfetched.

quote:
you motherfucking piece of shit. you are a cocksucking pathetic little nothing. don't post shit here anymore. ever.

quote:
but i agree with you about the anti jew comment...except i think he was being sarcastic.

Thank you, Sithiee.

Just wanted to sardonically reference the last person who wished to rid our world of "imperfections".

Remember him?

Personally, I favor imperfections. I’d rather be a flawed, organic entity than a synthetic amalgamation of laboratory science. A lab rat, in other words.

“Soon, there’ll be nothing natural/everything will be artificial/in the future, I say.” – Brad Nowell, Sublime.

p.s. – I agree with Kuru. Man’s consistent folly has been the futile search for a perfect world. The utopia is an unattainable goal that only results in destruction and chaos…and those who ignore the past are condemned to repeat it. Rent The Mosquito Coast for more...

...or just pick up any history textbook.


Posted by cr0bar on Jan. 25 2001,15:40
quote:
Originally posted by CatKnight:
i meant we as in scientists, etc.

i don't have to copy it from some website i know it myself. if you read "a brief history of time" and "the elegant universe", you will understand a lot about the universe just from these two books (which are not complicated at all).

what makes you think that the human brain is not capable of comprehending the universe? einstien was able to comprehend space-time and relativity. the guys who developed string theory we able to atleast fathom the idea of 11-dimensions.

what in particular do you think we have little/no knowledge about? i'm not exactly disagreeing with you...it's just a matter of the degree of our understanding.


I completely understand where you're coming from--I read books like that myself all the time. They are fascinating, informative, and as you pointed out, not too difficult to understand. However, this doesn't mean that you're spectacularly smart, it just means that people have written theories that other people can understand. The idea that an entity can comprehend the nature of the reality it believes that it exists in is terribly farfetched. How can you believe yourself to be a collection of electrons, atoms, and molecules, and at the same time allow for concepts like 'consciousness' let alone 'comprehension (of the universe)'?

Think about that, if you dare.


Posted by Phaedrus on Jan. 25 2001,16:13
OK, first of all, I don't see what's wrong with human bengs being "just" a collection of atoms, etc. Human beings evolved over a long period of time to be what we are today, but our thoughts can just as well be seens aas a higher-level survival mechanism and not anything supernatural or trnascendant about humans. Your "mind" is a product of your brain, which is a product of evolution.

And as for evolution having stopped, it has indeed. Why? Because medical technology has reversed survival of the fittest, and other sorts of technologies ensure that those who survive are not those with the highest survival value. Technological evolution has taken the place of biological evolution.

And as for all that Christian bs, just because they told you that in Sunday School doesn't make it true, Michael. I mean, you Christians are just a pathetic bunch of weaklings who think that you can somehow get things done by sitting around and praying and reading your Bile rather than actually doing something. God helps those who help themselves, for the simple reason that the only way you can get something done is by doing it yourself.

So here's what we will do, with no help from anything suernatural: We will fly up into space and to other planets. We will spread our civilization to those planets. We will build a government for the whole world, and perhaps turn your "holy" cities into the center of that government. We will build cities that reach to the sky, and if there is a god out there, we will be able to face him on his own turf, as equals.


Posted by Phaedrus on Jan. 25 2001,16:52
Oh, and you said I shouldn't go out and quote some website on string theory to prove my point, but I don't have to. The proof is much simpler than that: Nuclear energy. The moon landing. Genetic engineering. Antibiotics. Computers. All the great accomplishments of our species, indicating that we can indeed do anything, that there is nothing beyond the reach of science.

And since someone mentionted The Elegant Universe anyways, I might as well quote the last sentence of it to you: "As our generation marvels at our new view of the universe - our new way of asserting the world's coherence - we are fulfilling our part, contributing our rung to the human ladder reaching to the stars."

THAT is the attitude of all truly intelligent men in this world.


Posted by darksol on Jan. 25 2001,17:15
Phaedrus, meet me in 5 years and i'll form a partnership with you to achieve that goal. Im still trying to get smart and lots of money.

------------------
Estuan interius
ira vehementi


Posted by ic0n0 on Jan. 25 2001,18:33
I’ll miss Mexican food in this new world; I refuse to accept your plan based on my love of Mexican food!!!! I WILL FIGHT AGANST YOU. You are pretty conceded there Phaedrus don’t you think some one else could lead?
Posted by Sithiee on Jan. 25 2001,18:50
VIVE LA RESISTANCE!
Posted by Greasemonk on Jan. 25 2001,18:50
Forum template from now on.
Quote, copy, paste, type a line or 2.

Quote, copy, paste, type a line or 2.

Quote, copy, paste, type a line or 2.

Rinse, repeat

------------------
All that I know there was no God for me
Force that shatters all, absence of mortality


Posted by Phaedrus on Jan. 25 2001,19:26
quote:
Originally posted by Michael:
And does the name Phaedrus make you a wolf...?

You would be one to talk about names... Let's see... Michael.. would that be the archangel, as in: "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise," and "No one supports me against them except Michael..." Now who's got delusions of grandeur? I didn't say I would have to be the leader - I'm just telling you all what direction to go in.

Oh, and those quotes were from the book of Daniel, 10:21 and 12:1 I believe. You see, I can quote scripture too when I want to.


Posted by cr0bar on Jan. 25 2001,19:27
quote:
Originally posted by Phaedrus:
The proof is much simpler than that: Nuclear energy. The moon landing. Genetic engineering. Antibiotics. Computers. All the great accomplishments of our species, indicating that we can indeed do anything, that there is nothing beyond the reach of science.

Sorry, I'm not impressed. Humans didn't invent nuclear energy, we learned how to control it. Genetic engineering isn't like in the movies--we can't build new creatures like tinker toys. The moon landing? It was a big accomplishment for humans, yes, but on what scale? A bunch of pouches of meat inside a special meat container hurled at a chunk of rock not too far away--let me know when we succeed in sending humans to other galaxies, and then I'll agree that humans are like Gods instead of just rather curious aspects of entropy designed to squirt DNA at eachother.

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"Everyone's favorite implement for any task"
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Posted by CatKnight on Jan. 25 2001,20:04
whiskey i thouht i told u not to post here any more. anyways,

quote:
Maybe in a thousand years, when someone discovers a method to physically reach the galaxies past Alpha Centauri, Phaedrus’ perspective will seem more feasible.

alpha centauri=STAR haha
besides just because we are tiny specks in the universe, who won't be able to escape from the confines of our solar system, let alone galaxy, for hundres/thousands of years, doesn't mean we don't know anything about the universe. relatively speaking of course.

quote:
However, this doesn't mean that you're spectacularly smart,

sez u! < http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v32n3/head2000/114.htm >

its one thing to read those science books...it's another to write them

This message has been edited by CatKnight on January 26, 2001 at 03:06 PM


Posted by Michael on Jan. 25 2001,20:30
quote:
Originally posted by Phaedrus:
You would be one to talk about names... Let's see... Michael... archangel ...
Now who's got delusions of grandeur?

Indeed. I wonder what my parents were thinking, naming me that...

The fact is, I'm one of few people here using their own name. That wasn't because I couldn't think of a better one, it was because I really am trying to "be myself" here and represent my own thoughts and personality as accurately as possible. That is, I'm trying to be a real person, where as you, Phaedrus, are nothing but a persona, a fake identity, a mask worn by someone else who may or may not resemble it in any way. I'm on the side of truth, here.

And as for your great goals for science, I won't even ask that humans travel to other galaxie to prove how great science is. If science just allowed us to manage this one planet intelligently, and to reverse the damage we've done so far, I would be far more impressed than by some intergallactic flight.


Posted by whiskey@throttle on Jan. 25 2001,21:26
Amen, Michael...good closing point about our own planet.

quote:
whiskey i thouht i told u not to post here any more.

Aw, what’s wrong? Is baby testy because he didn’t catch the sarcasm until after blowing up in an unwarranted rage?

Never fear. I’ll make my posts more remedial from now on.

quote:
alpha centauri=STAR haha

Thank you for the astronomy lesson, Copernicus.

Still, I admit that I did fuck up, and should have written “planets past...” instead of, “galaxies past...”

quote:
...just because we are tiny specks in the universe who won't be able to escape from the confines of our solar system, let alone galaxy, for hundres/thousands of years, doesn't mean we don't know anything about the universe. relatively speaking of course.

I never said we know nothing. And as you mock my use of the word “relative,” you continue to miss the point.

Everything to know about the universe, if quantified and divided by how much humans actually know about it, does not (and will never) equal 1. That’s the root of my argument.

In fact, we (as a species) know nothing more than a trifling fraction about planets outside our solar system. Just think about how many other planets probably exist...do you really expect to know all about them any time soon?

You only think you know a lot about the universe because human comprehension is based on such a miniscule subsection of all reality. The Earth - hell, our entire solar system - is nothing but a grain of sand in the entire existing universe. You may recall that people of old refused to accept the heliocentric model of the universe, touting their ignorant ways as fact. We laugh at their naivety, but who’s to say people from the next century won’t do the same when studying our version of scientific truth?

You need to read up on Kant: he has some good arguments on the nature and limitations of human cognition. Jostein Gaarder presents a very interesting parallel to Kant's philosophy that I continually enjoy: when a person wears a pair of red lens glasses, everything they see exists between pink and crimson. If you were born with such limited eyesight, and had no frame of reference, would you ever become conscious of the fact that other colors exist? Who is to say that the human brain is not a deficient vessel akin to the red glasses?

The point is, you have to understand that there are things that currently exist in nature that you may not even conceive, nor ever be able to.

Heck, we can’t even get a rover to work correctly on Mars, yet my opposing side in this discussion is confident about pioneering the entire universe in our lifetime.


Posted by Spydir Web on Jan. 25 2001,21:47
(Disclaimer - some if this is serious thoughts, some parts are small jokes. If you can't tell the difference, then go call your mother cuz I don't want to hear it.)

well, "history" does also show that when a society reaches it's "peak", it normally dies out due to it's own advances. I would almost believe we are to that point. Now, I doubt we'll be dying out by the masses anytime soon, but I wouldn't be to surprised if in 4073 (not to far away in aspects of universe/creation/big bang/whatever you want time) humans are nothing but bones roaches like the ones in Mimic (to tired to spell it right, sorry) are picking out of the ground. I'd hate to bring apocolypse (again, spelling) theories into this, but a lot of dead societies have predicted the end pretty soon (my favorite being the Mayan's, supposedly December 23, 2012).

And no, we don't understand JACK SHIT about our universe. Sure, we can control atoms a little, and we can splice DNA, but can I transmit my pet elephant to my girlfriend's house, who lives out in... oh, let's say Finland, while I'm living in North Carolina, USA, with the simple push of a button and making sure the elephant's on a special platform? nope. In theory, yes, we have the potential to know a whole freggin' lot, but asof no one knows everything and no one ever will. If you want to wait for aliens to land and give us their knowledge, then wait. But when we land on Zigadola out in some galaxy 945 trillion light years away, and they want our "oh so extensive knowledge", I'll be the first one to laugh in their face (or ass, which ever they may talk out of out there on Zigadola).

Sure, we know what atoms are made of and we can make monkeys that glow in the dark cuz of their jelly fish genes (what, can't find your monkey at 2am or something?), but I'd like to remind you all of my favorite saying "we used to think the world was flat, but look at it now". 300 years from now, they'll be laughing at our 5GHz Intel Pentium 5's and our "huge" 120GB harddrives. They'll wonder what the fuck we were thinking with blackholes and wormholes. It's simple. We're dumb idiots. We're human. If you seriously want to be able to lift a 30 ton tank with your pinky, or be able to find the square root of 9,457,132,940,731,209,481,234 with out need of anything but your brain and 5 seconds, be my guest, just stay the hell away from my genes you sick bastard. I like me for who I am.

And, I actually agree with Micheal's last paragraph there. I don't care if we sent some robot to Mars to find bacteria, I want my god damned water to be pure H20! You know we know more about the moon then we do about our own oceans?

If you want Earth at it's sheer perfection, do like those losers in Rainbow Six (the book, good read if you haven't), just kill off *every human*. Let mother nature turn this beautiful ball of dirt back into something good that aliens might actually want to inhabit... I'm sick of being the alabama of the universe just cuz we exist

------------------
Spydir Web - spydirweb@techie.com
Core Arctic - < http://welcome.to/CoreArctic/ >

This message has been edited by Spydir Web on January 26, 2001 at 05:06 PM


Posted by darksol on Jan. 25 2001,21:59
catknight, just sit down and dont talk. as seen in many many other topics whiskey has shown his intelligence level is at a much higher point than you could even possibly concieve of. phaedrus, im not even sure what to say except......get a life and try to learn things with an "open" (keyword is open, open, or havent i said it yet? open) mind.

------------------
Estuan interius
ira vehementi


Posted by Jynx on Jan. 25 2001,22:03
So, um, Phaedrus, where do you get these delusions of grandeur? This towering arrogance? Should I bow to your Grand Vision? I think not.

You think that you know everything, when you know nothing. You quote theories and try to pose them as fact. There is a word that describes your attitude: sophomoric.

You say "we" know so much about the universe. Well, just to put a little perspective on things, once upon a time not too long ago, everyone knew that the world was flat.

You want to abolish all current societies. You want to destroy culture and build a new one? What about diversity? What about the folks who enjoy their current system? What will you do about them? Whiskey made a very good comment about this, that went right over some folks' heads, so I'll spell it out--didn't Hitler try the same thing?

You think that we dominate this planet? We are a fragile form of life that can be felled by a tiny fragment of errant DNA. We are constantly getting sick and dying from new diseases--we can't catalogue them all, much less cure a tiny fraction. All we need is one plague, and our way of life will be done for. I truly hope that this isn't the peak of our evolution, because that means that the human race is on the brink of extinction.

You demean all forms of religion and faith. You discard the foundation of all current moral codes and societies. You want to do away with "absolute right" and "absolute wrong". What for? Some things, such as murder and torture, are absolutely wrong. Should that be changed? You know, the whole idea behind the New Testament is love. Is that a bad thing? Considering your dismissal of Michael's arguments, I would assume that you believe so.

Some advice: learn humility, learn acceptance. Have respect for things besides yourself. After you do that, come back and then maybe people will listen to you.


------------------
--Jynx

We do not make software "releases" -- our software escapes, leaving a bloody trail of desginers and quality assurance people in it's wake...


Posted by DjSokol on Jan. 25 2001,23:58
quote:
Originally posted by whiskey@throttle:
Step 1: Kill all the Jews.

i really hope this was sarcastic, or else its going to get ugly.


Posted by DjSokol on Jan. 26 2001,00:09
quote:
Originally posted by darksol:
gee.....yeah......it only took einstein and someone from the human race only.....how long?? since we've been around which is quite a long while just to understand that space is 4 dimensional, to realize that "all" things are relative? so how long will it take us until we do something good again? everything we know now would not be as it is without einstein. so if theres no other "einstein for maybe another 8000 years then we wont jump again. gee, yeah.....i can see how so many people understand a fuck load about the universe.


Actually, though you are correct in your analysis of how often such a brilliant genious comes along, you are incorrect in your assumption that einstein was the only one in our era. There are a hell of a lot of things we as a society take for granted. The computer, for instance. This is a formidable invention. We have come a long way from the first counting beans used in asia. Over the past 50 years, think of all of the technology we have deveoloped. And before that, what do you think we based all this tech on? We based it on little discoveries one at a time. "Where one man of supreme genious creates something, a thousand lesser men can apply it." (i dunno the source of this offhand, but its a true quote from my debate case). Einstein was very brilliant, but not at all the most brilliant. The only reason his name pops up in many peoples' heads is because of the field in which he excelled.


Posted by darksol on Jan. 26 2001,00:18
but, do you admit that without Einstien things would still be a little less nifty then they are now?

------------------
Estuan interius
ira vehementi


Posted by kuru on Jan. 26 2001,02:24
they'd still be nifty, we'd just understand less of them.

and remember, without einstein, there would've been no atomic bomb.

nagasaki and hiroshima would still be alive and well, because without einstein, nuclear technology and fission bombs never would've been figured out. or at least, not by 1945.

------------------
kuru
'dancing is the vertical expression of horizontal desire.'
-robert frost


Posted by CatKnight on Jan. 26 2001,03:47
quote:
In fact, we (as a species) know nothing more than a trifling fraction about planets outside our solar system. Just think about how many other planets probably exist...do you really expect to know all about them any time soon?

You only think you know a lot about the universe because human comprehension is based on such a miniscule subsection of all reality. The Earth - hell, our entire solar system - is nothing but a grain of sand in the entire existing universe. You may recall that people of old refused to accept the heliocentric model of the universe, touting their ignorant ways as fact. We laugh at their naivety, but who’s to say people from the next century won’t do the same when studying our version of scientific truth?


we are talking about two different things. i am talking about our understanding of physics, you are talking about raw data. remember the last episode of star trek:TNG? Q said something like "you (humans) mapped stars and charted galaxies, but you have yet to explore the unknown" (or something to that effect). although this may sound contrary to the point i'm making, it's actually the reverse. just because we havn't mapped out planets, stars, galaxies, etc, doesn't mean we don't know about the universe in terms of how it works.


Posted by CatKnight on Jan. 26 2001,03:50
quote:
And no, we don't understand JACK SHIT about our universe. Sure, we can control atoms a little, and we can splice DNA, but can I transmit my pet elephant to my girlfriend's house, who lives out in... oh, let's say Finland, while I'm living in North Carolina, USA, with the simple push of a button and making sure the elephant's on a special platform? nope. In theory, yes, we have the potential to know a whole freggin' lot, but asof no one knows everything and no one ever will.

thats the difference between engineering and physics. i am talking about our understanding of the universe's workings, not our ability to do fantastic things.


Posted by CatKnight on Jan. 26 2001,03:53
quote:
and remember, without einstein, there would've been no atomic bomb.

nagasaki and hiroshima would still be alive and well, because without einstein, nuclear technology and fission bombs never would've been figured out.


einstein was only one of many physicists who first worked out the mathmatics to nuclear physics. besides, if he didn't someone else would have. astronomers would eventually see the curvature of space and einstien crosses and theorized why they occur. he was a genious, no doubt to that. i'm just saying that he wasn't the only conscious being in the history and future of humanity capable ot figuring out relativity.

oh, and as for:

quote:
catknight, just sit down and dont talk. as seen in many many other topics whiskey has shown his intelligence level is at a much higher point than you could even possibly concieve of.

i am sitting down and not talking. im typing anyways you are an idiot. if you can't contribute to the 'discussion' then fuck off.

oh yeah and the seriousness of the profanity in my first reply is inversely proportional to the amount of sarcasm of whiskey's first reply.

This message has been edited by CatKnight on January 26, 2001 at 11:00 PM


Posted by Michael on Jan. 26 2001,05:54
quote:
Originally posted by Phaedrus:
THAT is the attitude of all truly intelligent men in this world.

There's a word for that attitude: hubris. It's generally not a good idea to believe that, and historically, those who have usually end up wishing they hadn't been so proud of themselves or so overconfident.

And does the name Phaedrus make you a wolf (as in the Greek word "hybridos") a Sophist (Plato's interlocutor by the same name) or just plain insane (Pirsig's "former self" in _Zen in the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance_) or all three?


Posted by whiskey@throttle on Jan. 26 2001,09:21
First of all, I suggest everybody reread the last three paragraphs of Jynx's post.

Oh, Darksol, regarding your post before last: I wouldn't go that far. I post a lot of b.s. sometimes.

quote:
i really hope this was sarcastic, or else its going to get ugly.

Yo, DJ. Generally, people read a thread before posting a reply.

quote:
we are talking about two different things. i am talking about our understanding of physics, you are talking about raw data.

On its face - yes.

At its root - no.

You think that we, as a species, know "a lot" about our universe, in terms of physics, structure, and operation. I think you are mistaken.

Why? Because you, like everyone else, are a limited being. In a sense, I prioritize philosophy over science, and said philosophy convinces me that the human mind cannot conceive everything that exists...see my last post for details.

Don't believe it? Then tell me how to replicate cold fusion. Tell me every detail about how the core of the sun operates. Construct a perpetual motion machine. Create a small, miniature star in my backyard so I can use it to power my house. Give me conclusive, proven data about the inner workings of a black hole. Make an economical electric car that accelerates like a Porsche. Build a rover that will work on Mars. Make gasoline obsolete. Tell me about things we're certain travel faster than light.

I like that last one the best, and something tells me that's the one that bothers you the most. But seriously think about it, and tell me that you don't think it's possible that something travels faster than light. And I'm not talking about Cherenkov effects/slowing light down. I'm talking about things we don't know about, but are commonly accepted as "absolute truth." I recall being told, "nothing travels faster than light."

Perhaps that claim has already been refuted, or perhaps some of the things I listed have already been accomplished. I'm no scientist; I don't know.

quote:
anyways you are an idiot. if you can't contribute to the 'discussion' then fuck off.

You know, if you would just take deeper breaths, more oxygen could reach your brain.

I forgot what else I was going to write. I'm too sleepy. Good nite.


Posted by kuru on Jan. 26 2001,09:44
'all joy wants the eternity of all things, wants honey, wants dregs, wants intoxicated midnight, wants graves, wants the consolation of graveside tears, wants gilded sunsets.'

- friederich nietzsche

what he's talking about here is that a person can really only live a fulfilled, happy life if they find that joy and happiness from within, and would welcome the 'eternal repitition' of today.

also, i find it interesting that we as a species have chosen to explore space in a scientific kind of way, as if new discovery and catalogued fact is the only thing that matters. sooner or later, there is going to have to be some philosophy added to that, or we will lose our balance and become nothing more than scientific zealots.

------------------
kuru
'dancing is the vertical expression of horizontal desire.'
-robert frost


Posted by Dark Knight Bob on Jan. 26 2001,13:23
lol this sounds so like my film i'm writing in philosophical terms its untrue. the age old question of do we know everything or do we know nuthin. it all epends on your frame of reference. well we know everythingt there is to know about how to bake a cake so to a bakery's point of view we know everything. from a drugged up junkie who's been watching too much fight club i think he knows less about the universe and more about what his interpretation of how it should be

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*This post has been thoroughly checked by highly trained professionals and has been found to be free of alcohol or any other mind altering substance*


Posted by PersonGuy on Jan. 26 2001,14:36
Danny Boy!!! Danny!!! Danny Boy!!!

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<P:\>erson\Guy.exe -PersonGuy *pERSONgUY.cfg
< http://www.personguy.com >


Posted by CatKnight on Jan. 26 2001,16:43
heh thats the point i was tryin to make earlier bob.

quote:
there is going to have to be some philosophy added to that, or we will lose our balance and become nothing more than scientific zealots.

sounds good to me


Posted by darksol on Jan. 26 2001,17:34
catknight, your just a lost cause already. it would be a lot better for the world if you just commenced and gave yourself double crosses right now.

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Estuan interius
ira vehementi


Posted by kuru on Jan. 26 2001,20:09
a lot of things sound good to me.

when i sit around in the lab after 72 hours straight of working on some damned digital design though, it becomes a lot easier to realize that what really matters in life are hot showers and comfortable beds.

and sex. but this is the wrong forum for that.

------------------
kuru
'dancing is the vertical expression of horizontal desire.'
-robert frost


Posted by whiskey@throttle on Feb. 06 2001,15:21
I just stumbled on a quote that reminded me of this thread:

"Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the universe."

-Kurt Vonnegut


Posted by PersonGuy on Feb. 07 2001,04:58
Just because one hand is down my pants, that doesn't mean that I'm masturbating.

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<P:\>erson\Guy.exe -PersonGuy *pERSONgUY.cfg
< http://www.personguy.com >


Posted by CatKnight on Feb. 07 2001,05:43
just because a bunch of italians stuck a flag in the ground and slaughtered a bunch of woman and children doesn't mean we deserve to own half a continent

or does it? hmm...


Posted by Sithiee on Feb. 07 2001,08:39
quote:
Originally posted by PersonGuy:
Just because one hand is down my pants, that doesn't mean that I'm masturbating.


EXACTLY!!!!


Posted by kuru on Feb. 07 2001,09:42
ok, so his name's not jeep. it's al. al bundy.

no offense there jeep, er al, er whatever.

------------------
kuru
'dancing is the vertical expression of horizontal desire.'
-robert frost


Posted by PersonGuy on Feb. 07 2001,14:40
Well... I can't exactly slouch back... I use a little wooden chair that I sit in when I watch TV, not a couch.

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<P:\>erson\Guy.exe -PersonGuy *pERSONgUY.cfg
< http://www.personguy.com >


Posted by whiskey@throttle on Feb. 07 2001,14:52
Dude, you know what you need?

Prop this baby up and you can jerk off anytime, anywhere. In fact, I'm jerking off right now!

edit: just realized the title of this thread is starting to carry a whole new meaning

This message has been edited by whiskey@throttle on February 08, 2001 at 04:13 PM


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