What if the socratic philosophers were alive today? - General

[QUOTE=VagueWisdom;25336978]Even though I can agree with the whole self-absorbed society part to an extent, Facebook isn't a bad thing seeing as it's useful for business and a whole load of other crap. [editline]09:13PM[/editline] Majority? You're acting as if you've met every person in the whole world.[/QUOTE] Probably basing it on the people he see's at school talking about things he doesn't like

Im sure that they would be appalled at things like justin bieber, reality tv, and iphones as they are things of "earthly desires" , but what about shit like the current state of the government? what would they think about our "democratic" state

LOL, you all think people who lived in a society where they ate until they were sick, then threw up to eat again, would be disgusted at our hedonism?

They'd probably sit around and philosophize like they always did.

Also there are plenty of great philosophers today, you just won't hear about them until they're dead and can be considered "classic".

[QUOTE=Chilean;25337419]LOL, you all think people who lived in a society where they ate until they were sick, then threw up to eat again, would be disgusted at our hedonism?[/QUOTE] You've got a point. They will also probably be horrified that we condone homosexuality...

oh yeah that too they also had gay sex constantly, even with teenagers if anything they'd be calling us uptight repressed weirdos

They'd be really, really old.

Then they'd probably be the crazy hobo wearing the crazy hobo hat ranting on the street corner till a cop tazes them till they piss themselves

They'd be interested by the fact that 12 year olds on opposite corners of the globe are talking about them through glowing boxes

They would have blogs nobody visited and real jobs.

[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;25332230]They'd lose their will to live after seeing Twitter, Facebook, Justin Bieber, furries, and our ever more hedonistic and self-absorbed soceity.[/QUOTE] It's funny because you think society 2500 years ago wasn't worse

[QUOTE=Dirf;25333411]I don't think of the Socratic Philosophers, I think of the inventive minds of hundreds of years ago. Just think if they were alive today. Like Tesla, for example. It would be amazing.[/QUOTE] People like these exists today as well you know. The only difference is that there are so many of them that there's nothing extraordinary. Tesla was awesome back when he lived, but if he lived today... There would most likely be nothing extraordinary about him. People seem to forget that there's been more technological advancement the last 50 years than the last 2000 years.

I'm reading The Republic in school. I though about making a thread about this kind of thing but realized that nothing good could come of attempting to talk about philosophy on facepunch. That being said the book itself is a massive mindfuck.

I'd really like to hear what Marquis de Sade and Comte de Lautréamont have to say about modern society...

Just because they were smart for there time doesnt mean they would be helpful in todays time

The catholic church would try to stopo him from doing anything that would go against their beliefs.

[QUOTE=Chilean;25337419]LOL, you all think people who lived in a society where they ate until they were sick, then threw up to eat again, would be disgusted at our hedonism?[/QUOTE] This is the first time I've seen that misconception applied to the Greeks. Usually I see it attributed to the Romans. Anyway, it's incorrect.

I like this new Facepunch, it looks sleek, and I'm sure it handles well as well

[QUOTE=ThePuska;25348192]This is the first time I've seen that misconception applied to the Greeks. Usually I see it attributed to the Romans. Anyway, it's incorrect.[/QUOTE] ssh, it's the only example I could think of at the time even if it is fake my point still stands, Greeks were wild yo [editline]06:41PM[/editline] [QUOTE=imasillypiggys;25347307]Just because they were smart for there time doesnt mean they would be helpful in todays time[/QUOTE] I don't think you know what a philosopher is

[QUOTE=Chilean;25349527]ssh, it's the only example I could think of at the time even if it is fake my point still stands, Greeks were wild yo [editline]06:41PM[/editline]are you saying times have not changed in ways were there ideas would be considered out dated I don't think you know what a philosopher is[/QUOTE] you don't think times have changed in ways were ideas would seem outdated

[QUOTE=imasillypiggys;25350734]you don't think times have changed in ways were ideas would seem outdated[/QUOTE] First of all philosophy hardly even works that way, most philosophical ideas are timeless. Second, if they're good at thinking then why are they magically bad at thinking now. Everyone knows the theory of relativity, that doesn't mean Einstein in today's times wouldn't be able to think of anything new.

[QUOTE=imasillypiggys;25350734]you don't think times have changed in ways were ideas would seem outdated[/QUOTE] Actually, from what i've read, it's still surprisingly relevant. [img]http://imaletyoufinish.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/kanye-interupts-athens.jpg[/img] my american government teacher has that poster up in her classroom. Except without the kanye west meme crap.

[QUOTE=Chilean;25351010]First of all philosophy hardly even works that way, most philosophical ideas are timeless. Second, if they're good at thinking then why are they magically bad at thinking now. Everyone knows the theory of relativity, that doesn't mean Einstein in today's times wouldn't be able to think of anything new.[/QUOTE] Well einstein would need time to catch up just like the philosophers

[QUOTE=imasillypiggys;25351853]Well einstein would need time to catch up just like the philosophers[/QUOTE] you're clearly reading too far into this

The modern West rejects their philosophy nowadays, believe it or not. They are seen as delusional idealists. They were definately influential, but we don't really adhere to their beliefs 100(or even 50%), considering Plato believed in dictatorships. Believe it or not, Socratic philosophy did continue after the fall of Rome in the Islamic World. But then a man by the name of Ghazili wrote a book called the Incoherence of Philosophers which pretty much summed up that although the Socratics have made great strides in Philosophy, it isn't realistic within the real world. A better analogy is: Post-Socratic Philosophy : Socratic Philosophy, as Chemistry : Alchemy

They'd be appaled when they discoverd just how litterally people are taking philosophical works like the Bible, Tora, Quran and so forth. I don't think they could survive the ignorance that plagues this age... the ignorance that's been around since the catholic church was founded.

[QUOTE=Nahyan;25352150]The modern West rejects their philosophy nowadays, believe it or not. They are seen as delusional idealists. [/QUOTE] What modern west are you talking about? Go to school and take any general philosphy class, chances are your studying about a socratic philsopher at least once