Layman vs. Philosopher
The following bit of foolishness was brought to my attention by the HWIC: A Non-Philosopher’s Guide to Philosophical Termsutilitarian
Layman’s definition: almost precisely cubical and made of concrete, probably a multi-storey car park
Philosopher’s definition: one who believes that the morally right action is the one with the best consequences, so far as the distribution of happiness is concerned; a creature generally believed to be endowed with the propensity to ignore their own drowning children in order to push buttons which will cause mild sexual gratification in a warehouse full of rabbits
Locke
Layman’s definition: thatte whyche prevents rogues and arrant knaves from burgling Ye Olde English Tea Shoppe
Philosopher’s definition: a dead philosopher of politics, language and mind
classical
Layman’s definition: Helen of Troy, Beethoven, Corinthian architecture and similar things
Philosopher’s definition: a stodgy, old-fashioned logic which produces wildly implausible results: for example, according to classical logic, no proposition is both true and false
posted by Robert @ Friday, November 04, 2005
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