Fed up with frivolous bitching

“Let’s start a new topic of high calibre and deep philosophical import.” Good Dog Molly

An excellent suggestion Good Dog. I also have noticed the dearth of topics containing any observable intellectual content. After a while symptoms of intellectual asphixiation began to become noticeable, gradually culminating in conceptual indigestion and imaginative flatulence, two attributes which perenially mark the bitches and the comments on this site. The question, of course, is how to get such a topic off the ground, so to speak. For one fairly familiar with topics of high calibre and deep philosophical import, let me offer a primer on a way this matter might be addressed.

Step 1. Look at the topic of the bitch itself, in this case, “Fed up with frivolous bitches.” To borrow a title from one of Orwwell’s essays, the answer to your question is “Right Under Your Nose.” In other words, you ask the first question, that is, what is to be understood by the term “frivlous?” This leads to Step 2.

Step 2. According to The Concise Oxford Dictionary, “frivolous” is to be understood as being paltry, trumpery, trifling, futile, not serious and silly. I think we have a glossary of descriptors here which might give us a handle on the concept. This leads to Step 3.

Step 3. This is a crucial step. It involves “the deontological move,” that is, finding an upper-level principle which informs and unifies the various descriptors. The COD defines a “principle” as being a fundamental source, the primary element. So, how do we go about the fundamental source or primary element of “frivolous?” This leads to Step 4, that involving the contrast theory of meaning.

Step 4. The contrast theory of meaning maintains that something is of a paricular sort because it is not something of another particular sort. For example, an orange is an orange because it isn’t an apple. What then, provides a suitable contrast, the appropriate antonym if you like, for “frivolous?” A general knowledge of terms will prompt the word “serious.” But what is to be understood by “serious?” This leads to Step 5.

Step 5. The COD defines “serious” as thoughtful, earnest, sober, sedate, or responsible. So there we have it, Good Dog. In order to avoid being fed up with frivolous bitches and comments we must implement a rule whereby only those which are thoughtful, earnest, sober, sedate or responsible are to be entertained.

A pleasure as always.

Cheerio!

RSVPs

: Good dog Molly (07/31, 9:23PM)

“descartes should never go before the hoarse.”

Excellent Good dog, excellent. I’ve never heard that one before but it’s not suprising. If anyone came out with that in a graduate philosophy seminar we would all, well, I’m not sure what we would do. I suspect that we would look for extended, possibly metaphorical, meaning in the assertion. What, for example, would the speaker have meant by the “descartes” in lower-case lettering? And what about the Cartesian “hoarse?” In addition to the substantive or denotative sense conveyed by the two terms, there is the relational problem to which the speaker gestures by using the term “before.” On the one hand it initially looks to be a positional relationship – the cart should never be positioned or placed before the horse – but a temporal or diachronical relationship should not be ruled out. The cart should never come before the horse in time. And then there is the problem of the speaker himself. What, if any, is his relationship to Descartes? Is he, like Marlowe was to Shakespeare, perhaps the real but concealed author of the Cartesian “Cogito?” As you can see, Good dog, our graduate philosophical seminar would have made a meal out of this one. I’m giving you a “like.”

: Starring Biscuit as Lisacunt (08/01, 1:36AM)

Yes Biscuit, I always try an keep on top of things. As a matter of fact I have been reflecting on the name “Lisacunt” lately. I realize that the name was bestowed by PK in a disparaging sense during an acrimonious dispute about Lisacunt being a small-c conservative to which she (Lizacunt) took exception. However, I find the name “Liza” to be quite attractive and the suffix “cunt” to enhance rather than diminish that attractiveness. After Xeno’s departure – for rehab I suppose – I began to fantasize about Liza and her cunt. I hope she doesn’t mind. A “like” for you as well, dear friend.

A pleasure as always.

Cheerio!