endsthegame (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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fandomhigh2021-07-30 04:13 pm
endsthegame) wrote in fandomhigh2021-07-30 04:13 pm
Entry tags:
Practical Philosophy, Friday
"'The first principles of the universe are atoms and empty space; everything else is merely opinion'," Ender quoted, once the last of his students had settled in on the lawn. "If you did the reading I assigned a few weeks ago, you'll know that quote from the Greek philosopher Democritus. If you didn't, for instance because you were stuck in a hole, well, I won't dock points."
He smiled briefly, then reached for a bottle of water.
"Like many of the famous old Greeks, Democritus concerned himself with many areas of study, from physics to mathematics. But he also dabbled in philosophy." His mouth curved. "Actually, they called him 'The Laughing Philosopher', because he 'laughed at humanity's follies', which should tell you a thing or two about the man."
He took a sip of water.
"Democritus believed it was almost impossible to know the truth. After all, we see the world through our senses, which he felt were innately subjective. Who's to say the color 'purple' looks the same to your eyes as they do to a friend's? He called this 'bastard' knowing: to know only through the senses. Real truth can only be attained through reason."
Another sip, then he set it down. "We're all from different universes with different rules, we're all people with different perceptions and different experiences," he said. "What's true to you can be quite fundamentally untrue to your friend from another universe where purple is a little yellow, actually. And still, here at Fandom, we manage to relate ourselves to people who are so very different from ourselves. In a way, I suppose, we collectively come together to decide on what we think is true, and we live by that."
He shrugged. "Of course, Democritus also pointed out that we can reason our way into beautiful theories about the state of the universe, but the only way to confirm those theories is to see them with our imperfect senses." He sat back. "Have you befriended anyone, or seen another universe, that made you question whether your own perceptions are true? Do you think Democritus is right, or is there such a thing as real truth?" he said. "Does it even matter?"
He smiled briefly, then reached for a bottle of water.
"Like many of the famous old Greeks, Democritus concerned himself with many areas of study, from physics to mathematics. But he also dabbled in philosophy." His mouth curved. "Actually, they called him 'The Laughing Philosopher', because he 'laughed at humanity's follies', which should tell you a thing or two about the man."
He took a sip of water.
"Democritus believed it was almost impossible to know the truth. After all, we see the world through our senses, which he felt were innately subjective. Who's to say the color 'purple' looks the same to your eyes as they do to a friend's? He called this 'bastard' knowing: to know only through the senses. Real truth can only be attained through reason."
Another sip, then he set it down. "We're all from different universes with different rules, we're all people with different perceptions and different experiences," he said. "What's true to you can be quite fundamentally untrue to your friend from another universe where purple is a little yellow, actually. And still, here at Fandom, we manage to relate ourselves to people who are so very different from ourselves. In a way, I suppose, we collectively come together to decide on what we think is true, and we live by that."
He shrugged. "Of course, Democritus also pointed out that we can reason our way into beautiful theories about the state of the universe, but the only way to confirm those theories is to see them with our imperfect senses." He sat back. "Have you befriended anyone, or seen another universe, that made you question whether your own perceptions are true? Do you think Democritus is right, or is there such a thing as real truth?" he said. "Does it even matter?"
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