[lit-ideas] Re: Mike and Schopenhauer
- From: "Andy Amago" <aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "lit-ideas" <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 21:37:24 -0400
> [Original Message]
> From: Eric Yost <eyost1132@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 5/23/2006 3:51:57 PM
> Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Mike and Schopenhauer
>
> Andy: Even without Dawkins, however, it's evident that
> plants and animals are simply biochemical machines. They can
> be nothing else.
>
>
> A machine is a tool that is used for a human purpose.
>
Yes, a machine is a tool used for a human purpose. If you prefer, plants and
animals are biochemical factories. Wait, factories are used for a human purpose
as well. If you don't like machine and you don't like biochemical factory,
kindly tell me what plants and animals are. They are life, yes, but what does
life mean? What distinguishes the living from the nonliving? A kind of 'we know
it when we see it' thing?
> But rather than argue with that strange statement, I suggest
> that we examine the motive for making it. Calling plants and
> animals "simply biochemical machines" is a way of presenting
> oneself as a no-nonsense tough-minded realist.
And/or that's what living things are. I invite you again to steer me in the
right direction and give me a preferred nomenclature.
Instead of
> saying anything about the world, it discloses information
> about the speaker. Better to watch a dog dream.
>
Another decoy, not a problem. Regarding presenting myself as a realist, I am a
realist. I don't know what this quarrel is about anyway except that I recently
said that warmongers are optimists, in keeping with mankind's perversities.
What's the big deal? There are lots of warmongers out there. They're in
control in fact. It's the perfect time to be one.
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