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Author | Topic: Thank You Adam Smith. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Brian Member (Idle past 4990 days) Posts: 4659 From: Scotland Joined: |
Where else but Scotland could you get a batter coated deep fried Mars bar? Adam Smith born in Fife, deep fried Mars bar invented in Scotland, you are on to something. Did Smith (indirectly of course)have anything to do with training Russian linesmen in the 1960's? Brian.
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Phat Member Posts: 18351 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
prophex writes: I'll tell you one thing! If nothing else, in order to respond to your topic I had to go and read about Adam Smith again. I DO have a fairly decent philosophy book by Louis L. Snyder that summerizes the impact of many of the philosophers in history. I didn't want to revise the OP, I think I would ruin it's highly controversial nature, and taint it's original qualities. It is what it is you know? Snyder writes of Smith: quote: Apparantly, Adam Smith was highly influential in shaping the economic policy of many future learned thinkers and leaders and by extension the foreign policy of their nations. I had an interesting philosophy discussion with the clerk at the gas station the other day. My question was this:If Henry Ford had never invented the Model T, would automobiles later have been invented anyway, and would they have turned out to eventually "evolve" the same way? The point that I was trying to impress and elaborate on was the idea of whether or not humanity ever has an original thought. In other words, do we actually create things that never would otherwise exist? (This includes ideas as well as tangible goods) Back when I was a staunch Biblical Literalist, I could defend my personal philosophy simply by quoting the Bible. I no longer idolize the Bible itself, and am unafraid to question anything about my beliefs that comes up---but I still believe that Christ is the origin of all creativity, truth, and love. If Adam Smith had not influenced the course of history, would another man have merely stepped in his place? Is history predestined to arrive at a logical (or illogical) philosophical conclusion, and are humans simply doomed without Christ? Im bringing this up because I want to see if your opinions and beliefs have changed in the past three years.
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CK Member (Idle past 4158 days) Posts: 3221 Joined: |
quote: What is it that you think Adam Smith "invented"?
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Phat Member Posts: 18351 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
I don't think he invented anything, really. I do think that he stimulated popular thinking and conclusions that shaped foreign policy.
Any idea that has ever formed influences future ideas, don't you think? Darwin certainly influenced the thinking of many scientists. It was said of Isaac Newton at one point that "Newton was Science." Are you suggesting that if a person were never ezxposed to educational ideas that they would never form their own internal prejudices and beliefs? Or would the predestination of the individual evolve into a similar outcome? Experience is the best teacher, right? Would you be the same had you never been a soldier? Edited by Phat, : spelling
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CK Member (Idle past 4158 days) Posts: 3221 Joined: |
what popular ideas and conclusions?
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Phat Member Posts: 18351 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Forcing me to show my hand, eh?
Charles, I have never read Adam Smiths entire book. Smith did say that consumption was the sole end and purpose of all production. Lets get back to ideas. If you were a teacher, you would be a producer of ideas. Would you expect your class to be obedient little clones who internalized your ideas and went forth attempting to win converts?or Would you expect your class to study diligently, comparing and contrasting your ideas with those of others whom they had read? Would you insist that your students questioned everything?
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CK Member (Idle past 4158 days) Posts: 3221 Joined: |
quote: Why? The thread is about Adam Smith - why do I want to have some wooly conversation about "ideas" in such a thread?
quote: And who and what was Adam Smith talking about when he said that? If you don't know, frankly you don't understand enough about Smith, his work or how the historical context framed his work to have a productive conversation on the matter. Edited by CK, : No reason given. Edited by CK, : No reason given.
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Brian Member (Idle past 4990 days) Posts: 4659 From: Scotland Joined: |
On a serious note, wouldn't prophex need to lay some blame at the feet of the wonderful John Nash, of Beautiful Mind fame?
After all he did point out an error in one of Smith's theories. Brian.
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robinrohan Inactive Member |
Would you insist that your students questioned everything? There are certain ideas that a student has to accept; otherwise we can't proceed with the course.
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CK Member (Idle past 4158 days) Posts: 3221 Joined: |
check your email when you get a moment.
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Phat Member Posts: 18351 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Wow, Brian! Thats a great link, and it shows me the unique thinking capabilities of John Nash. If Nash had never existed, could his theories have evolved through other human vessels?
Moreover---what is the source of Nash's genius??
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joshua221  Inactive Member |
It's going good.
When I put in on my schedule, I didn't really realize what it was going to be like, it's basic logic. arguments, premises, claims, etc... Critical thinking. So it's not the best course, it's like sunday school lol. I wanted a course on philosophy that taught about the philosophers, but it's not a bad course.
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Phat Member Posts: 18351 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
RR writes: There are certain ideas that a student has to accept; otherwise we can't proceed with the course. Does a serious student of Adam Smith have to understand everything that Smith wrote? I certainly don't feel the need to. My interaction is with prophex and with the rest of you---not in defending or attacking Adam Smith.
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Brian Member (Idle past 4990 days) Posts: 4659 From: Scotland Joined: |
Good to hear that it is going well.
How is it affecting your personal beliefs? For example, take the current topic, do you think it is a reasonable argument that if God created Smith then ultimately it is God who we should thank for your list, or should we be thanking Eve for eating that fruit? Also, don't you think that you need to look at the influences on Smith's life and also the people that have improved Smith's original ideas? brian.
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Brian Member (Idle past 4990 days) Posts: 4659 From: Scotland Joined: |
If Nash had never existed, could his theories have evolved through other human vessels? I have no idea. This is why I prefer history to philosophy, because philosophy has no real answers.
Moreover---what is the source of Nash's genius?? Deep fried Mars bars. Brian.
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