Affirmative Action for Conservative Professors

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by skywalker
You just mean determinism then. There's nothing particularly "atomic" about it

Well, at its root, this would mean that the universe as we know it could never have been different. I was calling it "atomic" to clearly differentiate it from genetic, etc.

He's BSing you. It is possible that the universe is deterministic underneath, but so far all evidence points to it actually being random (not just our perceptions). Here's an example (a very famous quantum physics experiment):

Take an opaque sheet of some material, and poke a hole in it (a very, very small hole). Set up a screen behind it that measures the number of photons that impact each part of the screen (basically a photographic plate). One of the properties of a wave is that when it travels through a hole that has a width of a certain relation to its wavelength, it turns into a "new" wave - that is, it propogates from that point. If you shine a beam of light at the hole, it will do this and you will get an expected pattern on the photographic plate - a circle fading at the edges. Now, wouldn't you think that if you put a second hole, you'd get more light? Wrong! If you add a second hole, the waves end up cancelling each other out, and you get a patten of stripes. This happens even if you send the light one photon at a time. This means that each photon is actually going through both holes, and is interfering with itself.

I don't see how this would prove anything about determinism.

How is my version of free will "half-assed"? It's the only one that can POSSIBLY exist.

I have never contested that we indeed make our own decisions. I'm saying half-assed because, in fact, what you are describing is not really free will. It's a modified version used to 'repair' the damage dealt to the Kantian conception of free will.

You shoud read this:

http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/V014SECT1

[Ned]

Whaleboy, I think it is charateristic of the left to have no respect for the rule of law. Otherwise they would strongly oppose any form of dictatorship, particular the totalitarian forms of communisim.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
I don't see how this would prove anything about determinism.

Sorry, I forgot that part. The light wave is also the probability function for where the photon "actually" is - that is, if you measured where the photon was, it would have a certain chance of being in that location.

Oh, and it turns out that if you put a sensor on one of the holes that detects if the light goes through, the light only goes through one hole.

I have never contested that we indeed make our own decisions. I'm saying half-assed because, in fact, what you are describing is not really free will. It's a modified version used to 'repair' the damage dealt to the Kantian conception of free will.

Well, since I came up with that definition before reading about a bunch of philosphers who came up with their own definitions, I wouldn't call it "damage control".

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by skywalker
Well, since I came up with that definition before reading about a bunch of philosphers who came up with their own definitions, I wouldn't call it "damage control".

I do agree with most of your statements; the problem is that I don't believe what you are describing is free will in its essence.

Have you read my link? I think it can offer a better explanation than my half-detailed ramblings. Besides, I've got a huge paper to work on, I should not have been posting today.

[Odin]

Originally posted by Ned
Whaleboy, I think it is charateristic of the left to have no respect for the rule of law. Otherwise they would strongly oppose any form of dictatorship, particular the totalitarian forms of communisim.

We hate Stalinism, you dumbass.

[Kuciwalker]

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Upbringing is everything after conception.

Surely you don't honestly believe this?!

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
As for restrictions on conservative groups on campus, go here.

http://www.abortionviolence.com/VIOL-BC.HTM

On November 23, 1999, pro-abortionists physically attacked pro-life students as they stood peacefully beside their display tables at the University of British Columbia. The Pro-life students were participating in a University approved display when three pro-aborts came up to the tables and began to tear the posters and shred the literature, demolishing the presentation. The violence was all captured on video tape and was given to police, but, of course, no charges were filed against the pro-aborts.

We has a similar experience last week here at the University of Colorado. A conservative group held an anti-affirmative action demonstration and a group of counter demonstrators sallied forth and tore down their posters, causing a row. The administration then shut down both demonstrations. There has been no action on the part of the administration to deal with the intimidation of the counterdemonstrators, which IMO was a direct affront to the rights of the original group to peacefully assemble and speak.

I'm shocked that Agathon is against AA. I guess when it only has an effect on other people he is all for it, but when his job is on the line is suddenly transformed into a champion of the marketplace of ideas.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
*Surprised that history and poli sci have nothing to do with the "real world".

You've obviously never seen the poli sci department at my school. Preston Manning teaches some classes, and Stephen Harper is one of the graduates.

Left-wing, it is not.

[Dr Strangelove]

I am of the opinion that academics in the sciences, business, agriculture, engineering, and the health sciences do not tend to be liberals, and are often quite the opposite.

[Ben Kenobi]

[quote]
Ben: Please elaborate.
[/quote}

I did, in the sentence immediately afterwards. You are right, that one of the factors that can be used to assess whether someone is an intelligent conservative, is how well he knows the arguments in opposition to his own. By demonstrating such ignorance of conservatives, and their underlying philosophy, you show that you have been coddled in your liberalism, through contact with only liberal intellectuals.

I don't know all the manifesto, but I do know the weak points. It is only by knowledge of your enemy, can you effectively defeat them.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Odin


We hate Stalinism, you dumbass.

So you say.

But, then you defend Castro.

Which only cements my point.

[Ned]

Originally posted by skywalker

Another retarded post from the person who, according to his padded resume, represents all Americans, particularly the American right, and who is entiled by his personal coronation of himself as the sole enlightened American conservative (who btw, hates Bush and likes Kerry) to unrinate on fellow Apolytoners with whom he disagrees.

[Ned]

BTW, it seems to me that if everything is determined by conditions, there is no right and wrong.

Seems I see the liberal philosophy of moral relativism emerging in another form.

[Zylka]

Here's to both whining sides trying to create a conflict out of nothing: Conservatives run the respected, high qualifying and real-world important programs.

End of f*cking story