From: Steve Nichols (steve@multisell.com)
Date: Wed Dec 20 2000 - 15:50:00 MST
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 18:32:53 -0800
From: "J. R. Molloy" <jr@shasta.com>
Subject: Re: Majors was: Nanotech
>> Overall, I would recommend Philosophy as a minor to go along with another
>> subject, or do it as a double major, like Dan. Philosophy and Computer
>> Science or Philosophy and Biomedical Engineering look like great choices.
>That sounds like good advice for Nicq and Zeb and Dan. Those who want to
>build a Spiritual Machine (or who aspire to converge with artilects) might
>like to include Zen Buddhism and Robotics in their studies.
Philosophy can be a nice, cushy option as a student ... we had our (few)
tutorials in the Union bar. It is open to bullshit, unlike more rigorous
disciplines .... so if you enjoy drinking and talking cack, philosophy
might be for you. If you want to be taken seriously in the world of work
then engineering, electronics .. or almost anything else is preferable.
I have always found science courses much better organised, and
with much more valuable content. I have succeeded in getting my
philosophy encyclopedia & library as a set text for A-level over here
in the UK, but it actually contains more information than most philosophy
1st degree courses ..... so what is the point of spending three years of
your life when all the philosophy you probably are going to need can be
gotten much easier and cheaper? I don't think studying philosophy tells
you how to live your life either ..... there are some good texts like King
Asoka,
but these all pre-date academic philosophy. Lingoistic analysis doesn't add
anything much to wisdom texts! The good stuff probably isn't on the
University syllabus anyway. Quinn, Davidson, modern philosophers ...
instantly
forgettable lightweights on the whole, and their debates sterile and
circular.
I am designing a "conscious" machine based on MVT, but my neural
computing training and computer science is much more useful than much
from Philosophy .... but sure, read Copi's book on formal logic and
something
on inductive logic just to cover your bases.
Seasons greetings
www.steve-nichols.com
Encyclopaedist Philosopher
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