For those who like Modern Philosophy.

[L.Hu]

I like "social constructionism" in sociology. Its facinating, and it explains many social views and practices. But I do not like its leftist bent (I am not a fan of the left). Still its now orthodoxy in sociology and social psychology, with all other approaches being judged with its standard conception.

[Stani]

I don't know if I have any preferences, but I'd like to learn more about "ancient" philosophy...I only hope to reach a point of intellectual capability in evaluating the more challenging of philosophical concepts and theories....so long as it excludes mathematics..God, I hate that subject. 

Btw, as for modern philosophy, I like the topic of direct realism.

[L.Hu]

Ancient philosophy is very facinating. I love Heraclitus's views and also those of the very diffrent Zeno of Elea. When it comes to realism I do not really like it. I do not have any genuine philosophical reasons for this. My thinking is just more oriented towards phenomenological understandings of the external world. In fact I do not accept the subject/object distinction. In this regard I respect Husserl and Brentono's conception of "intentionality". Also I find realism niave. If the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis demonstrates anything it demonstrates that common-sense is relative to ones cultural position. On math I agree with you fully. I hate math.

[Stani]

Ancient philosophy is very facinating. I love Heraclitus's views and also those of the very diffrent Zeno of Elea. When it comes to realism I do not really like it. I do not have any genuine philosophical reasons for this. My thinking is just more oriented towards phenomenological understandings of the external world. In fact I do not accept the subject/object distinction. In this regard I respect Husserl and Brentono's conception of "intentionality". Also I find realism niave. If the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis demonstrates anything it demonstrates that common-sense is relative to ones cultural position. On math I agree with you fully. I hate math.

I almost wasn't sure you were replying my post until you said you hate math haha.

Heraclitus eh...I don't know much about his area of expertise (e.g. metaphysics), but don't you think his philosophical concepts seem almost poetic? Maybe I'm just seeing things...

As for realism, I wouldn't have much to contribute on the subject...just another interesting doctrine to read and ponder on. I hadn't heard of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis before but it seems reasonable enough and I'll definitely consider it.

[L.Hu]

Yes he (Heraclitus) was influenced by eastern philosophers (thats why he has a mystical quality to his ideas). Are you familar with Zeno of Elea? His ideas were very diffrent. To the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, heres a few links that might explain it better

http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4110/whorf.html

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/language/whorf.html

http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Sapir-Whorf_hypothesis

http://cogling.wikia.com/wiki/Sapir-Whorf_Hypothesis

The hypothesis is facinating. Nowadays Chomsky's linguistic theorys are more popular. Still I prefer the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.

[Stani]

Yes he (Heraclitus) was influenced by eastern philosophers (thats why he has a mystical quality to his ideas). Are you familar with Zeno of Elea? His ideas were very diffrent. To the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, heres a few links that might explain it better

http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4110/whorf.html

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/language/whorf.html

http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Sapir-Whorf_hypothesis

http://cogling.wikia.com/wiki/Sapir-Whorf_Hypothesis

The hypothesis is facinating. Nowadays Chomsky's linguistic theorys are more popular. Still I prefer the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.

I love Eastern Philosophy! I once randomly chose Avicenna for a report in my philosophy class and was amazed with what I learned about this man and his accomplishments. There was literally too much to cover so I focused on the highlights of his legacy. I think the fact that he was both Muslim and interpreted Islamic elements into (some) of his work made him all the more extraordinary.

I'm not familiar with Zeno of Elea, but I was just reading about him and found this quote amusing: Zeno's paradoxes have puzzled, challenged, influenced, inspired, infuriated, and amused philosophers, mathematicians, physicists and school children for over two millennia.

Thanks for the links! A worthwhile and interesting read. I didn't realize there was a cogling and psychology wiki! Search: Narcissism  lol

[L.Hu]

"Thanks for the links!"

You welcome! I too admire Avicenna. He was a genius at combining many tendencies into his work. His metaphysics are quite facinating as well. My other favorite Muslim Philosopher is Ibn Arabi. I like his ontology. Besides these two Ibn Khaldun is excellent too.

[L.Hu]

Is anyone familar with "relativism". I like moral relativism but not the way it is usally thought of as. My version is more moderate and digestable.

[L.Hu]

My version of moral relativism states that every culture views morality and whats right and wrong diffrently. Thus no eternal moral rule can be found.

[L.Hu]

I was reading Of Grammatology by Jacques Derrida. His views are truly fascinating. But his writing style is very abstruse. I can say of Derrida, what Hegel, said of Schelling, "All this is a tangled mass of abstractions". But still his views are uniqe and valuable. I now want to read his Writing and Difference.