Philosophyspeaking topic
Civilization depends on people accepting valid arguments even when they hate the conclusion.
— LessWrong
practice with this topic
Set the timer (5-30 min), take 20 seconds of prep if you like, start talking. Jot your thoughts onto the sticky-note board.
similar topics
- The utility monster: if a being existed that got a hundred times more pleasure from everything than you do, would it be right to hand it all our resources in the name of maximizing happiness? Does the greatest happiness principle drive itself into absurdity?
- The liar paradox: someone says 'this sentence is false'. Are they telling the truth or lying? If it is true it is false, and if it is false it is true. Why does logic short-circuit the moment language turns back on itself?
- We consider euthanasia humane for a suffering animal but deeply controversial for a suffering human. What explains the difference?
- At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.
- Suppose you learned you would live this exact life, every pain and every joy, over and over for eternity. Would the thought crush you or set you free? Is a life only truly good if it is worth living infinitely many times?