All you philosophers out there...

MulletMullet Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15910Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Need some help (english paper)</div>I feel kind of weird asking a question about homework in these forums, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

So I have this 8-10 page paper due on Thursday, and I'm having some problems thinking of a topic to write about. The paper needs to be an argument or philosophy about the world that seems to be undeniably true. I had started writing my paper on the existence of God through intelligent design, but now I think it's a little too plain. Does anyone have any ideas for a good philosophy topic? Thanks!
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  • RevlicRevlic Join Date: 2006-11-04 Member: 58367Members
    Write about how much you hate Bush.

    That's trendy.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    I'm not sure this is going to help much, but the existence of God isn't undeniably true. I can deny it right now.
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  • MantaManta Join Date: 2005-01-12 Member: 35056Members
    Clarify? How is it supposed to seem undeniably true? Just by being believed by a majority of the world, or by a logical argument? In that case, are you supposed to point out how it seems undeniably true, or somehow argue that it isn't?
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  • ComproxComprox *chortle* Canada Join Date: 2002-01-23 Member: 7Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer, Subnautica Playtester, Pistachionauts
    I would say the point of the paper is to point out that nothing is undeniably true. Maybe math, that never changes?
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  • JimmehJimmeh Join Date: 2003-08-24 Member: 20173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1584555:date=Dec 5 2006, 08:52 PM:name=Mullet)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mullet @ Dec 5 2006, 08:52 PM) [snapback]1584555[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I feel kind of weird asking a question about homework in these forums, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

    So I have this 8-10 page paper due on Thursday, and I'm having some problems thinking of a topic to write about. The paper needs to be an argument or philosophy about the world that seems to be undeniably true. I had started writing my paper on the existence of God through intelligent design, but now I think it's a little too plain. Does anyone have any ideas for a good philosophy topic? Thanks!
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Write 8-10 pages on the nature of infinity.
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    edited December 2006
    Nothing in undeniable true in nature, because even if it's was undeniable true, I'd deny it anyway out of spite.

    Alternatively, write about iraq's WMD capabilities
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  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    It would seem to me that the only concept that you would be able to prove undeniably and beyond a shadow of all doubt (reasonable and unreasonable) is that you exist. Although I'm not sure how you could expand that to 8 pages.
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1584568:date=Dec 5 2006, 10:12 AM:name=AllUrHiveRblong2us)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AllUrHiveRblong2us @ Dec 5 2006, 10:12 AM) [snapback]1584568[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    It would seem to me that the only concept that you would be able to prove undeniably and beyond a shadow of all doubt (reasonable and unreasonable) is that you exist. Although I'm not sure how you could expand that to 8 pages.
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    FULL STOP, I'll deny that right away, besides, what does existing mean anyway?
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  • MulletMullet Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15910Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1584562:date=Dec 5 2006, 01:02 PM:name=Manta)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Manta @ Dec 5 2006, 01:02 PM) [snapback]1584562[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Clarify? How is it supposed to seem undeniably true? Just by being believed by a majority of the world, or by a logical argument? In that case, are you supposed to point out how it seems undeniably true, or somehow argue that it isn't?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Well, as far as philosophy goes, anything can be undeniably true to someone and have a valid point. Just forget about the undeniably true part.... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    Write about why America changed the English language to suit them. Examples are,

    The title of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to Harry Potter and the <i>Sorcer's</i> Stone/

    Z's instead of S' eg. Organisation is English. Organization is American.

    U's taken out for simplicity of spelling. eg. Colour is English. Color is American.

    'Ph' phoneme replaced by the letter 'F'. eg. Sulphur is English. Sulfur is American.

    Then explain why they seem to teach 'American-English' to non-English speaking countries and call it English when in fact it is not spelt or said that way in England, the country of which you would imagine to speak the broader version of English.

    There is more that you can take the Michael out of America for screwing up in the English language but hey, rant over <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1584570:date=Dec 5 2006, 10:15 AM:name=Mullet)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mullet @ Dec 5 2006, 10:15 AM) [snapback]1584570[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Well, as far as philosophy goes, anything can be undeniably true to someone and have a valid point. Just forget about the undeniably true part.... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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    Just for reference, I'll deny that as well.
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  • RevlicRevlic Join Date: 2006-11-04 Member: 58367Members
    Or go with how stupid it is to take a philosophy class. What is there to understand exactly? Is there any jobs in the philosophy field. Will a degree in philosophy keep me from starving to death and being raped by hobos.

    That will however piss the teacher off. Because he's haveing trouble with the hobos.
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  • AllUrHiveRblong2usAllUrHiveRblong2us By Your Powers Combined... Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11244Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1584569:date=Dec 5 2006, 04:14 PM:name=Epidemic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Epidemic @ Dec 5 2006, 04:14 PM) [snapback]1584569[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    FULL STOP, I'll deny that right away, besides, what does existing mean anyway?
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    Well that's where one can do the expanding I suppose. Defining existence has to take up at least a few pages, then proving how you yourself fit into that definition takes up the rest. That's what I would do anyways, since if you defined everything carefully it would be hard to refute as well as rather easy to write.
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    Cogito, ergo sum eh?

    write a paper about gravity. that seems pretty undeniably true, and you can back it up with 8 pages about dropping items, and orbits in the solar system and whatnot. also rather plain, but also easy to flesh out IMO =p
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  • pardzhpardzh Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1601Members
    Yeesh, that's a pretty crappy 8-10 paper.

    Tell your Professor to put some damn effort into the assignment next time.
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  • MulletMullet Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15910Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1584568:date=Dec 5 2006, 01:12 PM:name=AllUrHiveRblong2us)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AllUrHiveRblong2us @ Dec 5 2006, 01:12 PM) [snapback]1584568[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    It would seem to me that the only concept that you would be able to prove undeniably and beyond a shadow of all doubt (reasonable and unreasonable) is that you exist. Although I'm not sure how you could expand that to 8 pages.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Good idea, but that's a pretty mediocre topic for a philosophy class (<i>I think, therefore I am</i>)

    The only ideas I've come up with to write about are fate/freewill or to (not)prove the existence of god through something like good/evil, morals, and intelligent design.

    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    edited December 2006
    God must exist!

    Allow me to propose an argument by common sense that disapprove Darwin's survival of the fittest.

    Paris Hilton


    There you have it gentlemen, a living proof that only a benevolent god could have created mankind. Clearly according to darwin, such a being wouldn't be able to exist and would have gone extinct.




    Edit: I see you're <b>awestruck</b> by my <b><i>awesome</i></b> logic. Dont be shy! Just call me a genius.
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  • pardzhpardzh Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1601Members
    edited December 2006
    The word fitness, in the way Darwin used it, refers to an organism's ability to contribute to the gene pool of the next generation.

    So Paris Hilton is pretty "fit" from a genetic standpoint.
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1584588:date=Dec 5 2006, 10:45 AM:name=pardzh)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pardzh @ Dec 5 2006, 10:45 AM) [snapback]1584588[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    The word fitness, in the way Darwin used it, refers to an organism's ability to contribute to the gene pool of the next generation.

    So Paris Hilton is pretty "fit" from a genetic standpoint.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Is this your indirect way of calling me a genius?
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  • UnderwhelmedUnderwhelmed DemoDetective #?&#33; Join Date: 2006-09-19 Member: 58026Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1584584:date=Dec 5 2006, 01:29 PM:name=Epidemic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Epidemic @ Dec 5 2006, 01:29 PM) [snapback]1584584[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Paris Hilton
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Paris Hilton is perfectly adapted to her environment. Why have any job skills when you don't need them, thanks to wealthy parents? Why do you need intelligence when being stupid on TV earns you money? If anything, she is evidence against an Intelligent Designer, or at least a sane one with a sense of aesthetics.

    To OP: If you're arguing that ID and God are undeniably true, then you are sadly mistaken. I'd argue an objective truth, if I were you; something most people can agree on, like "The earth is spherical"
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  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1584600:date=Dec 5 2006, 05:22 PM:name=Underwhelmed)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Underwhelmed @ Dec 5 2006, 05:22 PM) [snapback]1584600[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    To OP: If you're arguing that ID and God are undeniably true, then you are sadly mistaken. I'd argue an objective truth, if I were you; something most people can agree on,<b> like "The earth is spherical"</b>
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Sorry to tell ya but...

    <a href="http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm" target="_blank">Some people would disagree</a>
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  • MulletMullet Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15910Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1584600:date=Dec 5 2006, 02:22 PM:name=Underwhelmed)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Underwhelmed @ Dec 5 2006, 02:22 PM) [snapback]1584600[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Paris Hilton is perfectly adapted to her environment. Why have any job skills when you don't need them, thanks to wealthy parents? Why do you need intelligence when being stupid on TV earns you money? If anything, she is evidence against an Intelligent Designer, or at least a sane one with a sense of aesthetics.

    To OP: If you're arguing that ID and God are undeniably true, then you are sadly mistaken. I'd argue an objective truth, if I were you; something most people can agree on, like "The earth is spherical"
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    lol I was just going to post the link to FES

    And I said to forget about the undeniably true part! But, from a philosophical perspective, ID and God <i>can</i> be undeniably true.

    Any other ideas for a good topic? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
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  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    edited December 2006
    Here's a topic: "Courage"

    Here's the body, all of them: "This is courage."

    Send it in.
    A friend of a friend of mine did it. Said he got B+. The ball on that guy.
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  • PetcoPetco Join Date: 2003-07-27 Member: 18478Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1584566:date=Dec 5 2006, 01:09 PM:name=Epidemic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Epidemic @ Dec 5 2006, 01:09 PM) [snapback]1584566[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Nothing in undeniable true in nature, because even if it's was undeniable true, I'd deny it anyway out of spite.

    Alternatively, write about iraq's WMD capabilities
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    <!--quoteo(post=1584569:date=Dec 5 2006, 01:14 PM:name=Epidemic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Epidemic @ Dec 5 2006, 01:14 PM) [snapback]1584569[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    FULL STOP, I'll deny that right away, besides, what does existing mean anyway?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    <!--quoteo(post=1584572:date=Dec 5 2006, 01:16 PM:name=Epidemic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Epidemic @ Dec 5 2006, 01:16 PM) [snapback]1584572[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Just for reference, I'll deny that as well.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    <b>I don't think you can do that. <!--coloro:red--><span style="color:red"><!--/coloro-->If you deny stuff that is undeniably true, then you're simply <u>lying</u> to yourself and nothing more.<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>

    I'm pretty sure his teacher/professor wouldn't allow Mullet to say "There is nothing that is undeniably true" as an answer to why he(Mullet) didn't do his essay.

    Anyway, a thing that is undeniably true for you <b>Epidemic</b> is that you can post on the forums, and I am reading your post and replying to it this moment(as I am typing anyway).

    <!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><b>If you deny this, you are lying to yourself, and shall be burned with the ash of gorges in the lake of gorge ashes and fire!</b><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
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  • 404NotFound404NotFound Join Date: 2006-10-31 Member: 58103Members
    edited December 2006
    One interesting refutation of an "undenyable truth" is that of idealism, I.E. that objects are only existing in thoughts and have no inherant existance. See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Berkeley" target="_blank">George Berkeley</a>.


    Also, you can impress your friends when Fitter Happier rolls around on OK Computer when you can say that you know what the line "pragmatism, not idealism" means.

    (Pragmatism is probably the most extreme "practical" philosophy, concerning the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James#Cash_Value" target="_blank">cash value</a>" of actions as a method of moral choice. Idealism, on the other hand, is the most "head in the clouds" form of philosophy, with the method that nothing is even undenyably in existance. The song "Fitter Happier" is describing an overly practical society, thus "pragmatism, not idealism." Bam.)
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1584678:date=Dec 5 2006, 02:11 PM:name=Petco)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Petco @ Dec 5 2006, 02:11 PM) [snapback]1584678[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    <b>I don't think you can do that. <!--coloro:red--><span style="color:red"><!--/coloro-->If you deny stuff that is undeniably true, then you're simply <u>lying</u> to yourself and nothing more.<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b>

    I'm pretty sure his teacher/professor wouldn't allow Mullet to say "There is nothing that is undeniably true" as an answer to why he(Mullet) didn't do his essay.

    Anyway, a thing that is undeniably true for you <b>Epidemic</b> is that you can post on the forums, and I am reading your post and replying to it this moment(as I am typing anyway).

    <!--sizeo:3--><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo--><b>If you deny this, you are lying to yourself, and shall be burned with the ash of gorges in the lake of gorge ashes and fire!</b><!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    But who I am? Can I trust the definition of your words_ I\ll go ahead and categorical deny that as well.
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1584600:date=Dec 5 2006, 11:22 AM:name=Underwhelmed)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Underwhelmed @ Dec 5 2006, 11:22 AM) [snapback]1584600[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Paris Hilton is perfectly adapted to her environment. Why have any job skills when you don't need them, thanks to wealthy parents? Why do you need intelligence when being stupid on TV earns you money? If anything, she is evidence against an Intelligent Designer, or at least a sane one with a sense of aesthetics.

    To OP: If you're arguing that ID and God are undeniably true, then you are sadly mistaken. I'd argue an objective truth, if I were you; something most people can agree on, like "The earth is spherical"
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yes, but her ancesters would have died out \cause there werent any manicures in the stone-age. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" />

    But, Im kidding, hope you got that >(
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  • tankefugltankefugl One Script To Rule Them All... Trondheim, Norway Join Date: 2002-11-14 Member: 8641Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    <!--quoteo(post=1584618:date=Dec 6 2006, 12:04 AM:name=Mullet)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mullet @ Dec 6 2006, 12:04 AM) [snapback]1584618[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->But, from a philosophical perspective, ID and God <i>can</i> be undeniably true.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    If it only CAN be undeniably true, then it's no longer undeniable truth, right?
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    googling 'undeniable truth' yields:

    <a href="http://www.rtis.com/nat/pol/rush/truths.htm" target="_blank">http://www.rtis.com/nat/pol/rush/truths.htm</a>

    god, what a detestable man. =p

    back on topic... I have to agree with the people who say nothing is undeniably true. one of my favorite philosophical stories is from Plato's <i>Apology</i> - here's the Wikipedia version:
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->According to the version of his defense speech presented in Plato's Apology, Socrates' life as the "gadfly" of Athens began when his friend Chaerephon asked the oracle at Delphi if anyone was wiser than Socrates; the Oracle responded negatively. Socrates, interpreting this as a riddle, set out to find men who were wiser than he was. He questioned the men of Athens about their knowledge of good, beauty, and virtue. Finding that they knew nothing and yet believed themselves to know much, Socrates came to the conclusion that he was wise only in so far as he knew that he knew nothing. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    In other words, Socrates knew that it's impossible to truly 'know' something as a truth. You can't even call something like the theory of gravity an undeniable truth, because maybe someday a conflicting theory will come out, or maybe our limited perceptions make us experience gravity but it doesn't really exist...

    I could just be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_in_a_vat" target="_blank">brain in a vat</a>, after all, and nothing I experience is 'real' or 'true'...
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  • Sephiroth2kSephiroth2k Join Date: 2002-04-21 Member: 481Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    Yeah, I think whoever started going on about Math was pretty close. Numbers may not be like physical objects, but you can ascertain(sp?) many truths from them, and know they are truths. Physics, calculus, trigonometry all different ways to use numbers to figure things out about around you that are physical objects. So truths obtained by using math could be said do be known without a doubt..

    EDIT: And with humans, survival of the fittest doesn't have much to do with being strong necesarily. It relates more to being physically attractive, intelligent, and qualities that would make you a successful person, or mate well and passing on those qualities to your offspring.. Nature tends to evolve to meet its environment, humans tend to shape their environment to suit them.
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