Thank You Adam Smith.

God, for creating Adam Smith.How's the philosophy course going?Brian.

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.

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.

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.

I have no idea. This is why I prefer history to philosophy, because philosophy has no real answers. Deep fried Mars bars. Brian.

I think you are correct, for once. Philosophy is an extremely difficult subject, especially for a young person. History is more concrete, although the abstract is in there it isn't the main feature.I think everyone would benefit from taking a history course, especially one about what history actually is.If someone is a deep thinker, and dwells on the ills of the world, then taking a philosophy course could lead to real psychological problems.Please note that I am in no way suggesting that this relates to prophex, but I have seen at first hand some very messed up students on philosophy courses.Brian.

Problem is though, in regard to philosophy, very few young people have had the life experience to fully appreciate some of the issues under discussion.I remember a class on suffering where we were talking about the death of a close relative, I was 30 and I was the only one who had lost a parent, I had lost both of them (I know it was careless ), but it did mean I really engaged with the material, and I think this applies to other issues as well. Having your heart broken, or realising that you will never fulfill a dream are things you need to go through to appreciate. I think I would have went to uni ten years earlier, got the qualifications, then work and travel abroad.Still time for that though.Brian.

Surely a Christian theocracy is the answer? Brian.

From a philosophy student????????I hope your philosophy prof doesn't read that.The problem here is that others are not going to agree with you about Smith just because you say so, you need to convince others with reasoned arguments. I think others get frustrated because some of them know a lot about Smith and are probably very interested in discussing him. But, when you demonstrate that you perhpas don't know a great deal about Smith they become frustrated.Think about how frustrated you feel when someone doesn't really get what you are putting across to them, although you understand it very well, they struggle and you are amazed that they cannot see what you are on about. Well, that's how people are feeling about this topic. You need to help them understand, if you cannot then it really isn't their fault.Brian.