Aha. A new metaphysical theory. Stupid Design. Awesome.
The very expression of "mother nature" is absurd. We obviously aren't the sons of nature.
@niko-schach said in #1:
> Fact #1: The most significant difference between humans and animals is absolute freedom of action.
"Man's distinguishing trait is not logic, but imagination, and, more precisely, unbridled imagination, defunctionalized imagination." -- Cornelius Castoriadis
> Fact #1: The most significant difference between humans and animals is absolute freedom of action.
"Man's distinguishing trait is not logic, but imagination, and, more precisely, unbridled imagination, defunctionalized imagination." -- Cornelius Castoriadis
@Cassiodorus1, know this: squirrels have imagination.
It becomes obvious, when you try to separate the squirrels from the bird seed.
First, you hang the bird seed in a bird feeder. Squirrels get to the seed effortlessly.
Next, you stick the seeds in a clear plastic bird feeder, stuck (with suction) high up on a plate glass window. Far above the ground.
Squirrel is stymied, for about two days. Then one day, you find squirrel running down a rail, bounding off a table, soaring up, up, up and NOTHING BUT NET. Fat squirrel sits in feeder. Which is barely bigger than squirrel. Squirrel snickers. Eats its fill.
Then you decide to get new bird feeder. Designed (with the precision of the inventive, human mind) to SNAP SHUT when squirrel places weight on feeder.
Squirrel slides down suspending cable, lands on feeder. Feeder SNAPS SHUT. Squirrel is puzzled.
For about three days.
Then one day, squirrel hangs from cable and SPINS bird feeder, scattering out seeds from trap which is still absent squirrel weight, and so not snapped shut.
Squirrel descends, eats scattered and fallen seed from the ground. Squirrel snickers, as squirrels silently can.
Then inventive human mind hangs an empty plastic coffee container at the top of the cable, so squirrel can no longer hang from top and spin the feeder. Squirrel is puzzled.
Soon, the squirrel comes from a different angle. Bounds and flies and impacts feeder at an angle, before landing gracefully. Feeder swings and spins. Seeds fly out and fall to the eating floor. Squirrel feasts again.
Yes, squirrels, too, have imagination.
Have no pride humans. Squirrels don't have to commute or pay taxes. Their life is a series of interesting puzzles that they enjoy solving. They are, frankly, smarter than cats. And much smarter than some voters. Who shall remain unidentified by kindly Noflaps.
It becomes obvious, when you try to separate the squirrels from the bird seed.
First, you hang the bird seed in a bird feeder. Squirrels get to the seed effortlessly.
Next, you stick the seeds in a clear plastic bird feeder, stuck (with suction) high up on a plate glass window. Far above the ground.
Squirrel is stymied, for about two days. Then one day, you find squirrel running down a rail, bounding off a table, soaring up, up, up and NOTHING BUT NET. Fat squirrel sits in feeder. Which is barely bigger than squirrel. Squirrel snickers. Eats its fill.
Then you decide to get new bird feeder. Designed (with the precision of the inventive, human mind) to SNAP SHUT when squirrel places weight on feeder.
Squirrel slides down suspending cable, lands on feeder. Feeder SNAPS SHUT. Squirrel is puzzled.
For about three days.
Then one day, squirrel hangs from cable and SPINS bird feeder, scattering out seeds from trap which is still absent squirrel weight, and so not snapped shut.
Squirrel descends, eats scattered and fallen seed from the ground. Squirrel snickers, as squirrels silently can.
Then inventive human mind hangs an empty plastic coffee container at the top of the cable, so squirrel can no longer hang from top and spin the feeder. Squirrel is puzzled.
Soon, the squirrel comes from a different angle. Bounds and flies and impacts feeder at an angle, before landing gracefully. Feeder swings and spins. Seeds fly out and fall to the eating floor. Squirrel feasts again.
Yes, squirrels, too, have imagination.
Have no pride humans. Squirrels don't have to commute or pay taxes. Their life is a series of interesting puzzles that they enjoy solving. They are, frankly, smarter than cats. And much smarter than some voters. Who shall remain unidentified by kindly Noflaps.
"Is mother nature stupid?"
You can try two things:
- Find a way, and a language of course, in which to ask her yourself.
- Prove that she's stupid. In such a language and in such a way, that everything agrees with you.
You can try two things:
- Find a way, and a language of course, in which to ask her yourself.
- Prove that she's stupid. In such a language and in such a way, that everything agrees with you.
Help!! The subject of my original thread has been abducted! It was supposed to be about human sexuality. In a sense, I just chose the headline 'Is nature stupid?' as a kind of click bait.
And I named 'freedom of action' as the most important difference between humans and animals because it has the greatest impact on humanity – given that humans cannot only eat when they are not hungry or have sex when they are not in heat, but also destroy their species and their environment and – in the extreme – all life on earth.
So please, if you want to discuss nature's IQ or name dozens of other differences between humans and animals ...
And I named 'freedom of action' as the most important difference between humans and animals because it has the greatest impact on humanity – given that humans cannot only eat when they are not hungry or have sex when they are not in heat, but also destroy their species and their environment and – in the extreme – all life on earth.
So please, if you want to discuss nature's IQ or name dozens of other differences between humans and animals ...
@niko-schach -- looking back to #10 above -- please avoid coming to @MrPushwood and trying to limit his response.
The pithy Wisdom of Pushwood, as we have come to know and respect it, flashes forth with brevity and spontaneity. It is like the wild stallions of Argentina -- los baguales -- in that it should not be tamed but should be allowed to frolic freely.
One does not dam the falls of Niagra, nor still the wild winds of winter, merely to render the season more temperate but inevitably less beautiful.
The pithy Wisdom of Pushwood, as we have come to know and respect it, flashes forth with brevity and spontaneity. It is like the wild stallions of Argentina -- los baguales -- in that it should not be tamed but should be allowed to frolic freely.
One does not dam the falls of Niagra, nor still the wild winds of winter, merely to render the season more temperate but inevitably less beautiful.
Is it actually possible to limit a 10 word answer even further? As much as I respect Mr. Pushwood's pithy wisdom, he seems to have forgotten to include at least a grain of it in his answer. Furthermore, neither he nor any member of his fan club has yet found it worthwhile to suggest better answers to my key questions.
And by the way, talking about the 'wild stallions of Argentina' – I think your text contains a Freudian misprint, as it should probably read 'One does not dam the falls of Viagra' ...
And by the way, talking about the 'wild stallions of Argentina' – I think your text contains a Freudian misprint, as it should probably read 'One does not dam the falls of Viagra' ...
Surely you jest, @niko-schach! Viagra? For a chessplayer? That seems unlikely to be necessary.
#32:
> The very expression of "mother nature" is absurd. We obviously aren't the sons of nature.
In fact the phrase “son of” means “has the nature of.” Hence constructions like “son of a b!7¢h,” insinuating that someone has the nature of a dog that won’t stop barking. ^_^
But after all, whether man was created or evolved (or both), it’s certainly true that he is a product of nature. As Alan Watts put it, “We are not born into this world, but grow out of it. In the same way an apple tree apples, the Earth peoples.” Selah.
Consider that you could not exist without air, water, sunlight, gravity, etc.; therefore you are a mere extension of your environment, in which all your substance is to be found. You are a tiny part of something much larger than yourself, which vastly predates you, and will persist long after you are gone. To call this process your “mother” may be to use some poetic license, but it’s a very astute name for the relationship you have to the world.
> The very expression of "mother nature" is absurd. We obviously aren't the sons of nature.
In fact the phrase “son of” means “has the nature of.” Hence constructions like “son of a b!7¢h,” insinuating that someone has the nature of a dog that won’t stop barking. ^_^
But after all, whether man was created or evolved (or both), it’s certainly true that he is a product of nature. As Alan Watts put it, “We are not born into this world, but grow out of it. In the same way an apple tree apples, the Earth peoples.” Selah.
Consider that you could not exist without air, water, sunlight, gravity, etc.; therefore you are a mere extension of your environment, in which all your substance is to be found. You are a tiny part of something much larger than yourself, which vastly predates you, and will persist long after you are gone. To call this process your “mother” may be to use some poetic license, but it’s a very astute name for the relationship you have to the world.
This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.