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Philosophy is the smile on the dog
by anna at 09:18 AM on June 26, 2004
My philosophy professor took me aside on the last day and confirmed what I already knew: He despised me. But then he added that he felt I had a real gift for incisive if needlessly provocative writing.
Here's an example of what riled him so:
Stipulations: 1) Population growth and its imminent threat to mankind's very survival is a problem of such magnitude that it takes precedence over all other concerns. (Cite various alarmist tomes to include The Population Bomb. Also delve into measure in effect in China and India, such as one-child rules, mandatory abortions and sterilizations.) 2) Facing extinction, all other matters are rendered moot. (See the wanton violations of basic human rights that go on in pursuit of the War on Terror.) 3) Illegal parking too is a huge problem facing society. (Witness the extraordinary number of man-hours police and courts spend to combat the scourge.)
Logical Conclusion: We should institute the death penalty for parking violations.
Logic is such a funny and devious thing sometimes.
comments (3)
I'd have been killed a long time ago...
by Linz at June 28, 2004 1:51 PM
I think had I been your philosophy professor, I would have killed you.
Of course, you can't derive a 'should' from an 'is.' While the 'is' may be that such a penalty would decrease overpopulation and the incidence of parking violations, you can't get a 'should' from that.
Sorry, I know it was supposed to be a funny, but the philosophy major in me took over. ;)
by snaggle at June 29, 2004 11:19 AM
At the beginning of the class he said there were no wrong answers. But obviously, there are. This is one of them.
by anna at June 29, 2004 6:03 PM