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Co-signed, especially the idea that studying the humanities is useful even though (in fact because) the conclusion they give is often that these problems are ha
by bbctol 9y ago
Co-signed, especially the idea that studying the humanities is useful even though (in fact because) the conclusion they give is often that these problems are hard and complicated. The most common reason I find myself wishing people approaching these problems in tech formally studied humanities is not because the humanities have "the answer" but because if you think you have an answer, it's almost certainly been thought of before, and analyzed for decades.
Not reading admittedly boring and often inane philosophical books and instead trying to build your philosophy from first principles... tends to lead to whatever philosophy was created 50 years ago and has now permeated culture. Like how for a while, every geek I knew trying to re-invent moral philosophy ended up at utilitarianism, only to find out that the good counter-arguments had been made a long time ago; these days, people thinking about the internet, social pressure, and the nature of reality seem to be slowly re-inventing Foucault and Baudrillard without daring to touch the confusing French texts.
- cirgue 9y agoThis is unfortunate, because Foucault and Baudrillard are both really entertaining once you get the hang of their writing style, especially compared to other philosophers.
- geoffreyhale 9y ago"every geek I knew trying to re-invent moral philosophy ended up at utilitarianism, only to find out that the good counter-arguments had been made a long time ago" And kudos for overall quality post.