Breif Thoughts on Abolishing The Philosophy Forum

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

It would seem to me as though this philosophy section is, essentially, a waste of space - because the primary concern of revolutionists is not the abstract, but the concrete. While there are certainly worthwhile posts in the philosophy section, they are primarily those which might more accurately be placed in "theory" or "science" - they concern themselves with the actuality of situations, and approaches to them, rather than flakey questions about the existence of situations, the "morality" of situations, etc.
As revolutionaries, we start from the common understanding of the material, and from there, we need to build and test practical questions to (a) further understand the material and (b) change the material. The abstractions of philosophy, conversely, serve to obscure and distract from these ends, by making room for the sort of anachronistic poppycock which belongs, certainly, to wanderings of the imagination (perhaps writing fairy tales while stoned?) and not to the debates of serious socialists.

[Monty Cantsin]

Brief notes of on abolishing theory as a separate forum and placing it as a subset of philosophy… philosophy according to some is the creation of concepts. when we create theories about the world we are creating concepts that define it from our perspective thus the theory forum is superfluous and should be abolished redirecting all relevant discourse into the philosophy forum.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

On the contrary, popular perception of philosophy, and, particularly, as expressed on these forums takes a view of it in a very specific sense - questions concerning various non-materialist "philosophies" (as in ideas attributed to specific philosophers as taught in a typically "safe" philosophy course) or flakey questions like "Are you dead?" (a similar post in the science forum, would, thankfully, probably be deleted post-haste).

[Gnosis]

It would seem to me as though this philosophy section is, essentially, a waste of space

I disagree.

[ComradeOm]

You’ve got to remember that everything Marx thought was built on philosophic foundations by a philosopher himself. The roots of all Marxist theory lie in philosophy, even if it is materialist. You may not understand it all - I know I don’t - or care about it - I certainly don’t – but its there. So philosophy’s role in Marxism is just as vital as that of political or economic thought.

[TC]

Philosophy is at least as relevant as the science, chit-chat, graphics, literature, and website forums.

Marxist theorists like Sartre, Russel, Marcuse, and of course Marx himself have always been philosophers by methodology rather then strict political scientists or sociologists.

Marxism has both academic and practical aspects; it has to understand society in order to change it.

[Postteen]

I disagree, not all philosophers are like Plato, not all of them talk about abstract things!Science,psychology,sociology etc were first just philosophy before they were separated.Philosophy makes you think more deeply.It increases your critical spirit, and you can talk about a big variety of things if you have studied some philosophers.And of course there are many materialist philosophers.Well it's true that every single man can say what he wants and then he becomes a philosopher, but i insist that we need philosophy in order to Think.

[Hegemonicretribution]

Philosophy as both a subject and an act is fundamental to everything you and I do. Philosophy is a subject that is vital to the creation of accepting and open minds that would be essential in anarchism or the later stages of communism.

As Marxists, we should be questioning authority, be it actual or intellectual, the latter battle is the harder one to win and this is what prevents the material revolution from happening.

If only forums that contribute to a revolution are allowed then the board is in trouble, because as far as I know that wasn't an immediate aim specifically. chit chat, history, OI....actually everything but practice should be closed down. This is daft. Philosophy rules :P

[drain.you]

Philosophy may not be directly related to the revolution. But who cares? Its fun and keeps me thinking

[Mujer Libre]

I think philosophy is extremely useful because it allows us to interrogate our ways of thinking or knowing. It's fairly Whiggish to say that a certain thing, viewed a certain way, is "reality." (not that I think there aren't some things that are definite) What I mean to say is that we need to question these ways of knowing and thinking, and philosophy is one of the ways to do that. Don't worry, I'm not one of those people who lives completely in the abstract; I just believe the abstract has a place in leftist thinking... *hopes the above makes sense*

While I think it can often turn into what I find to be useless waffle, that doesn't justify closing the forum.

[BANANARAMA]

Originally posted by Virgin Molotov [email protected] 23 2005, 09:06 PM
It would seem to me as though this philosophy section is, essentially, a waste of space - because the primary concern of revolutionists is not the abstract, but the concrete. While there are certainly worthwhile posts in the philosophy section, they are primarily those which might more accurately be placed in "theory" or "science" - they concern themselves with the actuality of situations, and approaches to them, rather than flakey questions about the existence of situations, the "morality" of situations, etc.
As revolutionaries, we start from the common understanding of the material, and from there, we need to build and test practical questions to (a) further understand the material and (b) change the material. The abstractions of philosophy, conversely, serve to obscure and distract from these ends, by making room for the sort of anachronistic poppycock which belongs, certainly, to wanderings of the imagination (perhaps writing fairy tales while stoned?) and not to the debates of serious socialists.
the very thought of your post no matter how logical or dielectical your idealism my appear your very argument which is sparking this mere debate proves that indeed this section "The Philosophy Forum" does have a reason for being here, and it may flow well with other philosophical ideals of thought and reason.

yo dats my budie from america, dis here be bananarame ya

[Axel1917]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25 2005, 11:13 PM
Philosophy may not be directly related to the revolution. But who cares? Its fun and keeps me thinking
Dialectical Materialism, the philosophy of Marxism, is very relevant to this aspect!

[Xvall]

Getting into this forum would only push philosophical threads to the other sections of the board. You may as well keep this here so that anyone who does not care for philosophy threads (or does care about philosophy threads) and just avoid this section of the board (or come here). The Philosophy Forum is no more pointless than Chit Chat, anyways. If you don't like the philosophy forum then don't come here, there's no need to ruin it for everyone else who enjoys it, though.

[Quota 76 denial]

The philosophy section is unaviodable it is the only reason why I joined, but hey it is not like I matter. Of course that also means that my nieghbor does not matter. If they do not matter then how are we going to surmount a revolt? I guess one person who matters will eventually come along and never read philosophy and then boom revolt, revolt without even discussion, energy and only energy. Alright so we should not even worry about that because it will never happen, Marx would not of ever wrote the communist manifesto without critique of Hegel. Lenin would not of got the idea of Communism without Marx. But it is okay i understand this does not explain anarchy the pure choas of existence, but this would not matter either because it is always described as sociological movement with an underlying philosophy, but hey that does not matter. And the question concerning Death is an essential problem in justifying any cause. It does not matter because these words will be eternalized, just like the fact that I do not matter also. If you really feel apathetic and want to destroy your revolution before it starts then you should get rid of the philosophy section otherwise your climb to power will only be a manufactured position in capitalism, most likely ignored thus playing a part in civilization that does not matter. But why should that matter you have no language left to describe this apathy. In nihlism you are willing to reduce your world and those who partake in your world, but of course this does not matter either.

[apathy maybe]

I think that any poll asking to delete this forum will fail. Now I could be wrong, but people wanted this forum.

It used for discusing thing other then theories of revolution. It is used to describe colour (though science and enviroment could try that too), it is used to discuss the feel of wind on your cheek, it is used to question if anyone actually cares.
It should not be closed.

[Monty Cantsin]

Originally posted by Virgin Molotov [email protected] 24 2005, 03:42 AM
On the contrary, popular perception of philosophy, and, particularly, as expressed on these forums takes a view of it in a very specific sense - questions concerning various non-materialist "philosophies" (as in ideas attributed to specific philosophers as taught in a typically "safe" philosophy course) or flakey questions like "Are you dead?" (a similar post in the science forum, would, thankfully, probably be deleted post-haste).
If you have problem about the way in which people articulate and exercise philosophical investigation within the forum join the debate and point out were you think their wrong. To question philosophy implicitly gives rise to a definition of philosophy within the particular discourse. Therefore to define and debate the definition of philosophy is practicing meta-philosophy which should be debated in the philosophy forums. Your shitstirring against philosophy is actually a valid course but one that affirms the very thing you rage against.

[drain.you]

Virgin Molotov Cocktail, in all honesty, I think you're quite outvoted. This thread in itself has became 'a waste of space'.

[Commie Rat]

Theory and Philosphy are to polar oppisites, a kind of binary oppostion for thought
theory is thought on action, dialetical and scientiffic
philosphy is thoughts on the meta-physical, the abstract concepts, must be approached with and openmind
to have theory is to have philosphy
to theroise is to phlisophise just on differnt matter