Cogito Ergo Sum
Descartes had it right for himself and a handful of other philosophers throughout history whose job it was to think about stuff, like how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but for most of the people in the world it always was and still is drag your butt out of bed in the morning, work all day, and drop back into bed exhausted at night. No time for thinking. The human being was never really intended to think. Can you imagine cave people sitting around the campfire at night discussing the day's events and expressing opinions? Did serfs and helots spend time arguing who might be a better king, or whether their enemies should be banned from developing weapons of mass destruction like the catapault? Neanderthal Man didn't think. And by the way, scientists are now debating whatever happened to the Neanderthals, and did he, before his ultimate demise, crossbreed with Homo Sapiens, our antecedents? Well, of course he did, and I'm willing to bet they're going to discover Neanderthal genes all over the place. What puzzles me is why so many people nowadays, in their aversion to thinking for themselves, have taken that function away from smart guys like Machiavelli and turned it over to Neanderthals.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:24 AM
7 Comments:
U nailed it, my all time favorite!
W
fell off chair laughing after reading the comment, did not expect that punch line. Great cartoon. Love the wine glass and beer stein. I thought that B.O'R. did all our thinking? That is why I hang on each word of wisdom falling from his lips. Should I change to Rush, oh, dear, won't B. be upset if I do? I, for one, am certainly too BUSY to think for myself!
It is convenient not to think and let someone else do it for us. That is, if you have no mind to use yourself.
Katherine
"Cogito, ergo sum," Descartes said. “I think, therefore I am.” I say “I am, therefore I think.” I think this is a thoroughly absurd world when Bill O’Reilly, a real live talk show host, can be a guest on the Stephen Colbert’s fake talk show on Comedy Central. Yesterday Colbert accused O’Reilly of being bellicose; O’Reilly replied, “I’m effete This is all an act,” to which Colbert countered, “If you’re an act, then what am I?”
Great observation, prof. It's an upside down world. Scientists predict the day is coming when suddenly the north and south poles switch polarity. What will become of us when the same thing happens with liberals and conservatives. And thanks everyone for the comments. Keep 'em coming. I love it when this is a dialogue.
When Republicans switch positions and agree with Democrats or when Democrats switch agendas and act like Republicans that’s called Bi-Partisanship. But when the North Pole switches with the South will that br called Bi-Polarity?
I dunno, prof, but will the water swirl down the toilet the opposite direction?
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