Stephen Hicks, Ph.D.

Philosopher

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Income inequality and broken families — a modest proposal

I have taken to heart all the left-leaning outrage at the unequal distribution of wealth — 1% versus 99% !!! — as well as all the social conservative angst over the breakdown of the traditional family. Sobering stuff.

In all modesty, however, I believe that I have hit upon a totally awesome solution that will satisfy both groups at once:

Let’s ban women from the workplace.

The leftish will love that all those double-income couples will find their income halved. women-not-allowedAnd the newly-vacated jobs can be filled by unemployed family men, thereby increasing the wealth of those currently poorer. A giant step towards income equality!

The socons will applaud that more women will now devote more energy to their families. And without independent income, the womenfolk will have more incentive to stay married, so divorce rates will plummet. A giant step towards family stability!

Brilliant, or what? Two birds, one stone, and there will be peace in the land. No need to thank me, since that’s just the kind of guy I am — always thinking: How can I arrange other people’s lives to make everybody happy?

Our only obstacle: Those stuck thinking that unbridled economic freedom trumps benevolent social planning.

Posted 1 week, 4 days ago at 8:26 pm.

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Classic philosophical Monty Python

The humor of my youth, worth revisiting regularly.

Posted 1 week, 4 days ago at 3:31 pm.

2 comments

Philosophicalish Humor

Ending the year on a lighter note — my humor posts collected below and into one page:

athens-lost-warWhat I Have Learned about the History of Philosophy from My Students.

Existentialism meets high-tech .

From the Office of the Reproducer-General.

Professor Walsh gives an “A” to a Jain monk.

Computing’s environmental impact.

blazek-loose-partsThe best footnote ever.

Sinistromanualism.

Zach Weiner’s cartoon metaphysics.

On affairs with older women.

The most philosophical state in the union.

Religion in America, 2009.

chicken-road-cartoonShoes and wisdom.

Facial hair and philosophers.

Artistic slogan generator.

Syphilis and friendly ethnic relations.

Angst, the void, and cuisine.

Schopenhauer’s sense of humor.

treefallPhilosophers’ Christmas carols.

W. K. Clifford on philosophical writing style.

Dueling billboards, Oklahoma style.

Grumpy grammar guy.

How to insult like an Elizabethan.

Philosophy’s longest sentences: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Coexist or Uncoexist?

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parrotphilosophermoral-relativisthardin-eat_survive_reproducenietzsche-nothinggps-fulfillmentphilosophy-degree

Posted 1 month, 1 week ago at 9:22 am.

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The medieval help desk

This classic is making the rounds again.

Posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago at 4:58 am.

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Philosophers’ Christmas carols

‘Tis the season for Christmas carols, revised for philosophical accuracy, with explanatory links, just for fun.

mistletoe-65Sigmund Freud:
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
But with therapy I think that I
Should recover and become all right.
.

angel-65William James:
Angels we have heard while high.
.
.
.

jingle-bells-65Jean-Jacques Rousseau:
Jingle Bells, Santa smells,
And he’s got bad breath.
Oh, what fun it is to ride
Nude the sleigh of death.

.

gent-salute-65St. Augustine:
God damn ye merry gentlemen.
.
.
.
.
.

Suggestions?
More philosophicalish humor?

Posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago at 6:45 am.

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A Student History of Philosophy (updated)

A Brief History of Philosophy

know-thyself-235x100

Humor alert: Being a compilation of student research, gently edited by Stephen Hicks, Rockford College (updated: December 2011).

Is philosophy a waist of time?

Ethical debates have been around for a long time, but nobody seems to have any answers. Ethnics are very important. Basically, what you do with your life comes down to your personal ethnics. For the world to be good means having strong Altruistic people to help the society survive in this doggy dog world.

socrates-lysippus-100x121Socrates started democracy in Greece so he is a democrat. When Socrates was in court he was blamed for piety and disturbing the youth. Melekus is the accuser in the case of Socrates. Another charge brought up against him was pity. Socrates argues that the son is not a god but simply a burning rock in the sky. So Socrates was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

To Socrates, having a good life meant dying. Socrates was completely opposed to the Sophists. Not only did the Sophists not have reasons, they also did not have reasons. Sophists felt that there were no real reasons.

aristotle-bust-100For Aristotle, the virtuous person can be known as temperature, someone who is under complete control. Aristotle thinks the Principle of Noncontradiction is an axiom is because it is one.

God is known for many things. In the Bible, God created the heavens and the universe in seven days, so there are seven planets.god-100 (Seven is a big thing in the Bible.) The Bible has many commandments such as thou shalt not murder and honor thy mother and father.

The existence of God is questionable since evil does have some good points to make. The greatest gift is to be in God’s presents, but when we are in God’s presents we should not think about ourselves. John Hick rebukes the concept that God would not allow suffering if he existed in the third paragraph of his essay. Because of evil there is said to be another force in the universe—a dark force. His name is Satin.

Mysticism is the direct and immediate experience of the scared.

knight-armor-100Under feudalism, a few at the top benefitted from power and everyone else was a pheasant. The aristocrats were trained for war and succeeded through their marital skills: swordsmanship, strategy, and self-defense. In feudal times, jobs were passed on from fathers to sons. For example, if your father was a priest, you would probably become a priest too.

monktonsure-100Priests vow poverty and while money isn’t everything a priest should be able to have a little of life’s enjoyments just like every other human bean. Priests also take the vow of celibacy. On the conventional view, sex without the possibility of recreation is immoral. Priests want to sustain themselves from sex so they can have eternal childhood in the Lord’s eyes. One thing religions teach is that you should prey regularly.

Does man need religion? Yes, and we need religion a heck of a lot more than it needs us. Though some people base their life solely on religion, which may be perceived as silly, but imagine how lost they would be if they didn’t have something so vital. That would be like me going without coffee.

descartesr-100In modern times Decarrt explains why reason is wrong. He shows that I am a real thing but what kinda of thing? Descartes proved that God exists in Medication III. The argument is sound, me being from the South and a firm believer in the Lord.

galileo-galilei-100Galileo was on trial for his blasphemic saying the Earth is the center of the universe. With his huge telescope, Galileo noticed that the earth moved. Galileo had people follow his exact word, and those people were called the people of Galilee. Galileo also worked with gravity, which is what causes the cause and effect effect.

Basically, we need to decide what’s best for society as a hole. That is the purpose of laws. Some states have laws that if broken cause one to be a criminal. Power definitely corrupts; both power and corruption are all too often abused.

justice-100Justice is really a double bladed sword: at times it is a warm blanket keeping you safe and at other times an uncontrollable juggernaut ready to mow you over.

In our country, the Deceleration of Independence sets the basic rights and laws. Some people have the right to liberty, but are unable to exorcize it. Shall I go against the laws put forth by my four fathers, who wrote, “All men are entitled to certain unalienable rights”?

constitution-100Capital punishment is the death penalty for a crime that dates back to the beginning of civilization. Some people believe in capital punishment because of the “eye for an eye” theory: for instance, if you kill me, I should be able to kill you. Capital punishment is mostly about whether persons who have been executed will commit further offenses if and when released. Cruel and unusual punishment is included in the Constitution. But Capital Punishment violates the Eighth Amendment because it makes people feel like they are less of a person.

But really, the death penalty is not necessary because it is not needed.

milljs-100In modern times, Utilitarianism is the doctrine that we should all strive to pleasure our neighbors. John Stuart Mill said that even if what is being said is true, it is still wrong to censor it. Of course, we cannot take it for granite that all of Mill’s assumptions are true.

freud-cigar-100x132According to Freud, the USA became a frightened country after the terrible events of 9/11. Freud opposes the tabula razor theory of human nature. According to Freud, the child has lust during the breast-feeding stage. Eventually his mother stops, and his lust is suppressed until his adultery stage.

marxkarl-100Marx says the broughers who employ the workers can and do enslave the proliterate workers. So Marx promoted socialism, which operates the production of products produced by the society. Marx believed socialism was the best form of government for the world after World War II. Communist Russia failed because of Mises and Hayek’s lack of knowledge. Socialism is an ideal, but come on now! Let’s be realistic!

randayn-100Against Marx, Rand advocates free enterprise and self interest. The rich are able to create new jobs and hand them out to the poor, which takes many poor people out of poverty and also gives the rich something to do. She said that minimum wage increases raise the cost of labor, so workers may lose their fridge benefits. But her philosophy is sort of controversial, in a sense. She commits the fallacy of hoc poc der doc.

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Posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago at 8:43 am.

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The twelve days of Christmath

Two fun versions of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song, one for math geeks and one for your inner accountant.

Vi Hart’s clever doodle Gaussian Christmath song:

And PNC Bank’s charming calculation of the cost to send your true love all of the gifts — partridges, pear trees, dancing ladies, the whole works.

(For my part: Please hold the rest of my true love’s order, and just send me the five gold rings.)

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Posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago at 8:36 am.

1 comment

A scholarly publication on writer’s block

writers-block

Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 11:20 am.

2 comments