tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post114704806861816118..comments2023-12-26T00:08:21.129+13:00Comments on Brain Stab: Opinion NationJoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12428777233351272669noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147227971601135072006-05-10T14:26:00.000+12:002006-05-10T14:26:00.000+12:00This is only vaguely relevant, but I like it:It is...This is only vaguely relevant, but I like it:<BR/><BR/>It is not bigotry to be certain we are right; but it is bigotry to be unable to imagine how we might possibly have gone wrong. -- G. K. ChestertonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147170585939609272006-05-09T22:29:00.000+12:002006-05-09T22:29:00.000+12:00Altruism would only be appropiate as a term if you...Altruism would only be appropiate as a term if you were doing good, not evil, Jack.That Morthos Starehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03631902183661240588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147161232049768962006-05-09T19:53:00.000+12:002006-05-09T19:53:00.000+12:00" You Are All Wrong and You Need To Be Told That Y..." You Are All Wrong and You Need To Be Told That You're Wrong"<BR/><BR/>That's not exactly what I said - the proles don't <B>need</B> to be told they're wrong; that would imply an obligation on my part. I point out their frailties as a <I>favour</I> to them. Pure altruism.Apathy Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04665899730591411188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147138741684014782006-05-09T13:39:00.000+12:002006-05-09T13:39:00.000+12:00What's for dinner? Truth.What's for dinner? <B>Truth</B>.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428777233351272669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147129914817789522006-05-09T11:11:00.000+12:002006-05-09T11:11:00.000+12:00Yep, starved beyond belief, which is why I am goin...Yep, starved beyond belief, which is why I am going to point out that your two definitions are, if not incompatible, contrary. Which irks me. Still, if you tell me what is for dinner on Friday night I'll let it go.That Morthos Starehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03631902183661240588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147129721560365452006-05-09T11:08:00.000+12:002006-05-09T11:08:00.000+12:00Jesus Christ, you have been starved of Philosophy ...Jesus Christ, you have been starved of Philosophy for too long, haven't you? Let me put it another way:<BR/><BR/>A belief is a proposition to which we may attach a truth value. Opinions are similar, but nobody fucking cares what the truth value actually is.<BR/><BR/>Or:<BR/><BR/>A belief can be True or False; opinions are Just Plain Wrong.<BR/><BR/>Now let's have no more epistemology out of you, young man.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428777233351272669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147125353945389052006-05-09T09:55:00.000+12:002006-05-09T09:55:00.000+12:00Yes, but that's patently untrue or you have been a...Yes, but that's patently untrue or you have been abusing the term 'opinion' in your original post. Either you mean that there is no truth-value to opinions (a far cry from saying that they are wrong) or that opinions are statements to which we can say 'True' or 'Untrue' to but we find ourselves saying 'Untrue' to. The former position is certainly the more plausible but at least one of your examples shows that either you do not mean that or you are as confused by the concept of the opinion as I am. The second position (possibly Missionary) will be shown to be untrue just by engaging with the world; many opinions are true in that they accord with a verifier ('I don't know whether the Trotsky Trial was a government cover-up or not (thus denying having a belief on the matter) but if you ask me my opinion then, yes, I do think it might have been a conspiracy (thus expressing an opinion that turns out to accord with History)'). Or are we talking at opposite ends of the cauldron now?That Morthos Starehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03631902183661240588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147123903324375602006-05-09T09:31:00.000+12:002006-05-09T09:31:00.000+12:00A belief is a proposition to which we may attach a...A belief is a proposition to which we may attach a truth value. Opinions are similar, only the truth value is always Wrong.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428777233351272669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147089610905982362006-05-09T00:00:00.000+12:002006-05-09T00:00:00.000+12:00I am of the opinion that my opinions matter whethe...I am of the opinion that my opinions matter whether they be right or wrong because I'm such a marvellous specimen of Homo Sapiens Argumentus. Not at all shop-worn and elegant to boot.<BR/><BR/>Joking aside; I share some of Jack's concern (although as he holds opinions-that-are-clearly-wrong he falls into the camp of 'those-that-must-undergo-the-re-edumacationisation'); some opinions must be corrected (admittedly, we may want to hold distinguish attitudes from opinions and hold attitudes to a different standard to that of opinions; opinions may not inspire actions whilst attitudes most probably will)... Actually, it would be handy to have a distinction here from the original poster as to the difference between an opinion and a belief. I think I may be about to make a mountain out of a molehill.That Morthos Starehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03631902183661240588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712793.post-1147071643101140942006-05-08T19:00:00.000+12:002006-05-08T19:00:00.000+12:00It's reassuring to discover I wasn't the only one ...It's reassuring to discover I wasn't the only one to recognise a poor return on time & effort invested - thanks for the thought.Psycho Milthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00779500926576047736noreply@blogger.com