SubJeff on 17/4/2008 at 19:38
I'll reserve judgment on the use of this drug. Whilst there is seemingly a solid, and simple, basis for the action of it how that pans out in the long term remains to be seen, especially as the thing it is blocking is by no means the only factor in the development of Alzheimer's and it certainly will not reverse the damage that the disease does.
And if it IS shown to have long term effects what's the bets that TP will be linked to it somehow even though the work on it was started before he was diagnosed!
nickie on 17/4/2008 at 19:42
Thanks for that. You wouldn't be at all cynical now would you. ;)
SubJeff on 17/4/2008 at 20:19
I happen to know a little bit about the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's. It's not cynicism, I'm always hopeful, it's just that what that drug blocks isn't how Alzheimer's rolls, yo.
Thirith on 17/4/2008 at 20:27
I'd imagine that the cynicism comment was aimed more at the last line of your post.
nickie on 17/4/2008 at 20:42
Quote Posted by Thirith
I'd imagine that the cynicism comment was aimed more at the last line of your post.
Yes. In poor taste perhaps but I was just joking. I expect he'll be proved right though. On UK health matters, I very much appreciate what SE has to say.
Pyrian on 17/4/2008 at 21:57
Quote Posted by The Phenomenon
It is rather semantic, but you know, you could say that any resources you have not spent directly on your survival is selfishness not to use in directly assuring the survival of other people. I think this is absurd, but it follows along the same line of logic.
It's not absurd, it's simply a higher/wider perspective. And I don't mean anything fuzzy or metaphysical by "higher": I mean that it's what any reasonable intelligence would do if they were running the human race as a whole and trying to maximize total survival. (I might dispute that objective on several grounds, but that's a whole different discussion.)
Quote Posted by The Phenomenon
Its pretty easy to appeal to this notion emotionally, but it doesn't make it valid.
It's incredibly unrealistic and almost (but not quite) entirely against human nature, but that doesn't make it
invalid.
Quote Posted by The Phenomenon
We care for others because we get something out of it, even if its just a warm, fuzzy feeling or another installment of the Discworld saga.
Doing something materially altruistic for the internal satisfaction of doing the right thing is still altruism. But then, as a utilitarian, I think it's far more important to do the right thing than to quibble about the exact reasons... Until those reasons cause you to do the wrong thing (ah, religion, what a mixed blessing you turned out to be).
SubJeff on 17/4/2008 at 22:13
I'm a utilitarian too and that is why I disagree with you. You should do the right thing for the right reason because without a precedent for your actions you become unpredictable and therefore unreliable.
Selection for reliability is a fundamental if you are going to implement any practical utilitarianism.
fett on 18/4/2008 at 01:50
Quote Posted by Aranamarunda
Well, since this is my first post ever on this forum, let me just say that I am a HUGE Pratchett fan and can call his books art under any destinction between art and non-art that is made. If we define art as shit, then his books are among the best shit ever produced.
That said, the news of his Alzheimer took me by surprise and had me feeling quite shaken afterwards. I can't come up with another writer who's books write so accurately about human behaviour. To think that sich a mind could wither into nothingness, greatly disturbs me. So, please give if you want to give. No real reason is needed but the reason of the heart. No real argument for either altruism or egoism can be given anyway.
I agree, and welcome! I have the feeling the most TP detractors have only read the first 2-3 books. Some of the mid and late entries in the series are art by most any definition and are so much more than a fantasy spoof, specifically - The Hogfather, The Truth, Monsterous Regiment, Going Postal, Men at Arms, and Masquerade. Well written observations on everything from social science and media based communication to the illusion of justice, truth, and religion.
Queue on 22/4/2008 at 13:58
Quote Posted by nickie
Well I know you have trouble with long words Queue.
...just long lines *rim shot and boo*
