Re: CHAT Cartesian parataxis (was: ANNOUNCE: First longer sentence in S7)

 --- Philippe Caquant <herodote92@...> wrote:
> My own ultimate point of view... but I shouldn't
> tell
> it, especially on the Web... it's outrageous, not
> politically correct, not correct anyway... basta!
> I'll
> tell it nevertheless: Philosophy is just as
> pointless
> and useless as theology. Its only possible use is as
> a
> hobby, like bicycling or making Eiffel towers out of
> matches. It allows you to spend your time pleasantly
> if you like it. That's all.
I can't see how that makes it useless. If you claim
that theology is useless, can I assume you don't
particularly care for any religion, and prefer to
think that your death might as well be the end of the
universe for all it matters to you? (I realise this is
a somewhat large assumption: I take comfort in the
expectation that my existence will stop when brain
dies, but I would be study theology if I had the time
and money to do so. I see no reason why the opposite
couldn't be true. But your general attitude makes me
more confident with it. I apologise if it's untrue.)

But if my assumption is right, and you would think
life ends at death, then wouldn't philosophy, like
conlanging, or building Eiffel Towers with matches, be
very useful in letting you enjoy yourself? Surely you
don't suggest we do nothing in our lives that's only
purpose is to make ourselves happy? Should we only
build the economy or buildings? Or even if we must,
wouldn't someone in a good mood because they'd done
things they liked doing work better? and so conlanging
and philosophising, for people who like conlanging and
philosophising, would actually build the economy or
build buildings or do whatever functional thing it is
our lives are meant for? (That seems to be a pragraph
composed entirely of questions, doesn't it?)

(BTW: Riding bikes is more than just a hobby; it's a
way of exercising and transport too. Though many
hobbies (including, I would suggest, philosophy)
exercise the mind, and a fit mind is just as important
as a fit body. But riding still takes you places, even
if most riding I've done recently has been an ends of
itself.)

> Aaaaah, I feel better already :-)
--
Tristan.

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