Mackie argued that objective value (both moral and aesthetic) does not exist. His argument stems from the idea that if these values did exist they would be so strange because they would supersede on other events and would be unlike any other property we know of.
This doesn't seem to be a conclusive argument. Plato contested that beauty was transcendental and 'visited' the world through different events and objects. This idealist view holds that there are universals and this is what we experience when we find beauty in different events and objects. It seems to me that this would be at least a consistent theory for objective values, which Mackie's argument does not discount.
(Just some quick notes in response to Mackie's Error Theory, Plato's Transcendentalism, and Roger Scruton)
Sunday, 9 February 2014
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Houses, houses, houses. Where is the sustainability?
In Britain, politicians seem to be talking about one thing: houses.
Apparently, we have a massive housing shortage in the UK at the moment and it only going to get worse because of our growing population.
Labour are talking about building new garden cities in the South East and the Conservatives are are thinking of giving bonuses to councils who build more houses.
However, there is a massive elephant in the room. We cannot keep building houses forever, as we will run out of country to build on.
We clearly need to build more houses, but when we do we really need to see more sustainable design being fundamental to the process.
Apparently, we have a massive housing shortage in the UK at the moment and it only going to get worse because of our growing population.
Labour are talking about building new garden cities in the South East and the Conservatives are are thinking of giving bonuses to councils who build more houses.
However, there is a massive elephant in the room. We cannot keep building houses forever, as we will run out of country to build on.
We clearly need to build more houses, but when we do we really need to see more sustainable design being fundamental to the process.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Art and Context
I think that art can be different things.
You can see a painting or a sculpture and have an immediate emotional and/or intellectual response to it and you label it as art.
However, with more 'modern' art, if we saw it in the street, then we wouldn't perhaps consider it as art, but it can still be classified as such because context can give meaning to an otherwise everyday object. Hence, when people deride modern art as having no artistic value by citing examples in which people have mistaken water fountains or some other such thing in a museum as a piece of art (thus suggesting that people cannot tell the difference), they are wrong because the water fountain is not art....Wait maybe it is....What if the fountain was particularly beautiful? Then, one might say that it is a piece of art?...Are it's all subjective and vague!!
You can see a painting or a sculpture and have an immediate emotional and/or intellectual response to it and you label it as art.
However, with more 'modern' art, if we saw it in the street, then we wouldn't perhaps consider it as art, but it can still be classified as such because context can give meaning to an otherwise everyday object. Hence, when people deride modern art as having no artistic value by citing examples in which people have mistaken water fountains or some other such thing in a museum as a piece of art (thus suggesting that people cannot tell the difference), they are wrong because the water fountain is not art....Wait maybe it is....What if the fountain was particularly beautiful? Then, one might say that it is a piece of art?...Are it's all subjective and vague!!
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Happiness
I think for humans to be happy, we need to create meaning. Lack of meaning can make us unhappy. Creating gives us meaning and therefore creating can make us happy. If that be running a club, being part of a company, thinking of solutions to problems, teaching, or training....etc. I think creativity is key, or at least being able to see the fruits of your labour in full fruition. Isn't this what Marx is talking about when he talks of alienation?
Anyway, this meaning may be subjective, but it is all we can know. Camus pointed out that even if there was ultimate and objective meaning we could never know it, and the realisation of this absurd state of affairs could 'strike any man in the face on any street corner'. I like the idea that people can be walking around and then suddenly be struck in the face with a sudden sense of the meaningless of it all. I would hope their face would look something like this... http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/imgur_9CUtI.gif
Honestly, though, I think this realisation can be quite freeing. If ever I'm feeling really tense about stuff I like to remind myself of how I am just a collection of atoms on a random rock in a universe that is bigger and older than I can even comprehend, and that my existence is a blip and eventually all of human history will be completely and inevitably destroyed forever (assuming a presentist theory of time) and the universe will continue just as it has always done. If I get this job or this grade or I sleep with this person or I go to Uruguay or go to the pub tonight or I tell someone what a dick they are or I buy this sandwich or I die tomorrow, ultimately and objectively it doesn't matter. It is all meaningless and realising this makes me feel calm and free.
My friend has a tattoo on his arm that reads, 'I too shall cease to be', which he says that he got to remind him of the very insignificance of his own existence and, as sayings on ones arms go, I think it is rather good. I once had a watch which had Sisyphus pushing a rock as a second hand, that served very much the same purpose.
I feel like I'm just writing what sounds like some airy-fairy pseudo philosophy, but I do honestly think the key to being happy as a human is to find subjective meaning through creating (or for want of a better word, a job - or actually maybe occupation is better, something to occupy yourself) and also through relationships with other people.
Friends and creative occupations. I believe this is the key.
Anyway, this meaning may be subjective, but it is all we can know. Camus pointed out that even if there was ultimate and objective meaning we could never know it, and the realisation of this absurd state of affairs could 'strike any man in the face on any street corner'. I like the idea that people can be walking around and then suddenly be struck in the face with a sudden sense of the meaningless of it all. I would hope their face would look something like this... http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/imgur_9CUtI.gif
Honestly, though, I think this realisation can be quite freeing. If ever I'm feeling really tense about stuff I like to remind myself of how I am just a collection of atoms on a random rock in a universe that is bigger and older than I can even comprehend, and that my existence is a blip and eventually all of human history will be completely and inevitably destroyed forever (assuming a presentist theory of time) and the universe will continue just as it has always done. If I get this job or this grade or I sleep with this person or I go to Uruguay or go to the pub tonight or I tell someone what a dick they are or I buy this sandwich or I die tomorrow, ultimately and objectively it doesn't matter. It is all meaningless and realising this makes me feel calm and free.
My friend has a tattoo on his arm that reads, 'I too shall cease to be', which he says that he got to remind him of the very insignificance of his own existence and, as sayings on ones arms go, I think it is rather good. I once had a watch which had Sisyphus pushing a rock as a second hand, that served very much the same purpose.
I feel like I'm just writing what sounds like some airy-fairy pseudo philosophy, but I do honestly think the key to being happy as a human is to find subjective meaning through creating (or for want of a better word, a job - or actually maybe occupation is better, something to occupy yourself) and also through relationships with other people.
Friends and creative occupations. I believe this is the key.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Haircuts and Barbershop Loyalty
I went to the barbers for the third time this week and I've still not had my hair cut.
The first time it was closed, the second time there was going to be too long of a wait, and the third time - 5 minutes ago in fact - it was closed again.
'Why not go to another barber?' I hear you say and indeed I have asked myself this very question. The answer is quite simple really. I have become too fond of this barbershop to go anywhere else. It is small, friendly, unpretentious, and perhaps most importantly, I have never walked out of the place with a bad haircut.
The barber, although now receding, once had the same hair as me so he knows exactly how I like mine cut. My follicle arrangement is quite a weird one so this really is an important point. At some time in my teens the hormones running riot in my blood stream decided that it would be an excellent plan to make my hair wavy, which was perfectly fine with me, except they didn't stop there. They decided that the very best thing for my mane would be to make the fringe curlier than all the rest. This has resulted in a constant battle not to have a hairstyle that looks like a mullet because the curly nature of my fringe means that it can be twice as long as the rest of my hair, but still appear to be shorter. Many people who have cut my hair never took this into account because as they measure it out before they snip they don't seem to realise what it looks like when it is not being pulled straight. Anyway, you see, the fact that the barber at this particular barber shop has been through the same strange hair experience as myself, means that he knows exactly what I desire in a hair cut and delivers it to a T and all for a mere £7.
The first time it was closed, the second time there was going to be too long of a wait, and the third time - 5 minutes ago in fact - it was closed again.
'Why not go to another barber?' I hear you say and indeed I have asked myself this very question. The answer is quite simple really. I have become too fond of this barbershop to go anywhere else. It is small, friendly, unpretentious, and perhaps most importantly, I have never walked out of the place with a bad haircut.
The barber, although now receding, once had the same hair as me so he knows exactly how I like mine cut. My follicle arrangement is quite a weird one so this really is an important point. At some time in my teens the hormones running riot in my blood stream decided that it would be an excellent plan to make my hair wavy, which was perfectly fine with me, except they didn't stop there. They decided that the very best thing for my mane would be to make the fringe curlier than all the rest. This has resulted in a constant battle not to have a hairstyle that looks like a mullet because the curly nature of my fringe means that it can be twice as long as the rest of my hair, but still appear to be shorter. Many people who have cut my hair never took this into account because as they measure it out before they snip they don't seem to realise what it looks like when it is not being pulled straight. Anyway, you see, the fact that the barber at this particular barber shop has been through the same strange hair experience as myself, means that he knows exactly what I desire in a hair cut and delivers it to a T and all for a mere £7.
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
Is there any point voting Green?
Just watched the following video, solely to hear Nick Clegg speak Dutch -the man can speak 5 languages!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vZMMH1GEaU
However, this launched my house into a debate about if you're pro European, whether or not you should vote Lib Dem over Green, purely because the former better chance of winning seats than the latter do.
If the EU is essential to getting round the good old 'tragedy of the commons' problem, then it is quite essential for solving environmental problems and creating a more sustainable world. On this view, it can be argued that we should vote Lib Dem as they are more likely to have an impact on government policy by getting more seats and therefore bringing the UK and other European countries closer together, thus having a better chance at solving world wide environmental issues, even if the Green have more progressive policies.
In the first past the post British style of democracy, should we vote pragmatically or by ideals?
If you really want to impact policy, then I think pragmatism may be the answer, although it is not 'ideal' (ha).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vZMMH1GEaU
However, this launched my house into a debate about if you're pro European, whether or not you should vote Lib Dem over Green, purely because the former better chance of winning seats than the latter do.
If the EU is essential to getting round the good old 'tragedy of the commons' problem, then it is quite essential for solving environmental problems and creating a more sustainable world. On this view, it can be argued that we should vote Lib Dem as they are more likely to have an impact on government policy by getting more seats and therefore bringing the UK and other European countries closer together, thus having a better chance at solving world wide environmental issues, even if the Green have more progressive policies.
In the first past the post British style of democracy, should we vote pragmatically or by ideals?
If you really want to impact policy, then I think pragmatism may be the answer, although it is not 'ideal' (ha).
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Are Tesco sexist?
I recently had a conversation about whether or not Tesco's soon to be implemented facial scanning advertisement boards are sexist, and whether or not this should be seen as a feminist issue as well as a personal privacy one.
Basically Tesco are going to introduce advertising boards in their shops which scan you and then show you advertisement on something they think is relevant to you. Here is an article about it...
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/03/privacy-tesco-scan-customers-faces
It was argued to me that this is blatant sexism, as they will advertise things like celebrity magazines to anyone they deem to be a female and they will work this out by seeing who has long hair.
However, I don't Tesco aren't making any judgements by advertising like this and therefore aren't being sexist. They are simple trying to makes as much money as possible (I'm not going to get into whether this is something that is good for society or not). Tesco aren't thinking; 'all women have long hair and want to buy a fashion magazine', they are thinking 'if we want to make as much money as possible, then looking at statistics, we can judge that we are going to increase our sales by advertising fashion magazine to women and most women have long hair. Even if this isn't relevant to 40 per cent of the people who are scanned, we are still going to see increased sales'. If they could statistically see that 60 per cent of all bearded people bought were interested in Brazillian coffee, then they would advertise that to everyone with a beard, not as a judgement that everyone with beards loves Brazillian coffee, but because this is the best way to make a sale, even if it misses the target 40 per cent of the time. Equally, if they advertise celebrity gossip magazines to females, they are not saying that all women read them, they are just trying to appeal to that percentage that do in the best way possible. If society changed, so overweight makes started reading Hello magazine, then they would advertise to them.
Ultimately, my point is that these face scanners won't be judging every single woman to fit a subjective version of womanhood, they are just trying to sell people things and the the best way for the facial scanners to do this is cast out the nets, as it were, over a large demographic, so they can catch a few fish.
Criticism welcomed.
Basically Tesco are going to introduce advertising boards in their shops which scan you and then show you advertisement on something they think is relevant to you. Here is an article about it...
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/03/privacy-tesco-scan-customers-faces
It was argued to me that this is blatant sexism, as they will advertise things like celebrity magazines to anyone they deem to be a female and they will work this out by seeing who has long hair.
However, I don't Tesco aren't making any judgements by advertising like this and therefore aren't being sexist. They are simple trying to makes as much money as possible (I'm not going to get into whether this is something that is good for society or not). Tesco aren't thinking; 'all women have long hair and want to buy a fashion magazine', they are thinking 'if we want to make as much money as possible, then looking at statistics, we can judge that we are going to increase our sales by advertising fashion magazine to women and most women have long hair. Even if this isn't relevant to 40 per cent of the people who are scanned, we are still going to see increased sales'. If they could statistically see that 60 per cent of all bearded people bought were interested in Brazillian coffee, then they would advertise that to everyone with a beard, not as a judgement that everyone with beards loves Brazillian coffee, but because this is the best way to make a sale, even if it misses the target 40 per cent of the time. Equally, if they advertise celebrity gossip magazines to females, they are not saying that all women read them, they are just trying to appeal to that percentage that do in the best way possible. If society changed, so overweight makes started reading Hello magazine, then they would advertise to them.
Ultimately, my point is that these face scanners won't be judging every single woman to fit a subjective version of womanhood, they are just trying to sell people things and the the best way for the facial scanners to do this is cast out the nets, as it were, over a large demographic, so they can catch a few fish.
Criticism welcomed.
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