Is there any philosophical question that you don't know the answer to?

[puglover]

I don't know anything in regards to philosophy. None of us do. We can rely on our senses and inferences, but how can we know they aren't lying?

Since philosophy is subjective nearly any answer is as valid an another?

Truth does exist. One answer is more valid than another. That's not the concern.

 

[Ciceronian]

Well, it would seem that I am so limited that I'm not even able to answer correctly to the poll. I meant to vote yes, there are loads of questions I don't know the answer to, though I may have a strong leaning either way (e.g. non-existence of God, derivability of ethics from a rational groundwork). There are limits to collective knowledge, god's existence being one of them, and there are limits to individual knowledge, such as me knowing whether Fifty is a girl or not.

 

[Defiant47]

I may not know the answer to every philosophical question, but I do know (to some) the correct answer to give. Just like we may not know for sure how our observable universe came to be, but the correct answer to give is the "Big Bang", since that's our best theory at the moment (bad example, but you get my point).

Since I cannot deny the logic of my argument, I naturally think that I am correct and there is no way that I could be wrong. However, I also acknowledge the fact that I am not the smartest person around, so it could be that my method of approaching problems is not optimal. For that reason, I approach debates head-first, seeking to improve my arguments and find inconsistencies in my way of thinking... how else am I going to improve?

 

[warpus]

I may not know the answer to every philosophical question, but I do know (to some) the correct answer to give. Just like we may not know for sure how our observable universe came to be, but the correct answer to give is the "Big Bang", since that's our best theory at the moment (bad example, but you get my point).

Since I cannot deny the logic of my argument, I naturally think that I am correct and there is no way that I could be wrong. However, I also acknowledge the fact that I am not the smartest person around, so it could be that my method of approaching problems is not optimal. For that reason, I approach debates head-first, seeking to improve my arguments and find inconsistencies in my way of thinking... how else am I going to improve?

By cracking open a Bible. It has all the answers you need.

 

[Birdjaguar]

(bolding mine)

So.. You've figured out all of life's mysteries, that nobody else has been able to figure out, ever.. and.. you don't have the answers.

Wait, what???

Yes, I do not know the answers to the problems in philosophy (not being a philosopher),

and

Yes, I have answers to all those tough questions philosophers have not been able to answer. Now my answers are not in the form that any self respecting philosopher demands, so they are unacceptable to them.

I never said that nobody else has figured them out. I'm sure lots of people have. It is the philosophers that don't seem to be able to figure them out.

 

[Defiant47]

By cracking open a Bible. It has all the answers you need.

I'm not sure if you're serious...

ADDED: You're not. But I would have an answer to that if someone was serious about that.

 

[Quintillus]

What is the meaning of life?

Among many others .

 

[Elta]

Yes - I don't recall any, but then again I am no Philosophy major

 

[Arwon]

Free will is deeply troubling and I have no answer.

Likewise, I suppose that, given that God doesn't exist, I really have no idea whether there's a point to life or not.

 

[brennan]

Yes of course.

...And then I read your OP.

I vote this a troll thread.

 

[warpus]

Yes, I have answers to all those tough questions philosophers have not been able to answer. Now my answers are not in the form that any self respecting philosopher demands, so they are unacceptable to them.

It's easy enough to come up with answers to these questions. Heck, I have answers to most of those questions too: "I don't know".

Your answers.. are they better than that? Why or why not?

And excuse me if I doubt your claim to have solved all of life's great mysteries That is a bit of a ridiculous claim.

 

[Mise]

I've never been asked every single philosophical question, so I don't know if I have the answer to any of the one's I've never been asked...

For the ones that I have been asked but never thought about, I like to think that the answers that I eventually give make rational sense, are reasonable, and are backed up by real world evidence.

For the ones that I have thought about, I tend to view my opinions as the correct ones to hold, for the reasons Brighteye mentioned previously -- if I didn't think my opinions were correct then I wouldn't hold them as opinions, but as mere possibilities. My opinions are (in my opinion) the most correct, at least.

From what I've read on philosophy (which is very little), once each opinion has passed the test of basic logical and intellectual rigour, the debate on which is the "correct" one is fairly open. There's no "correct" answer, AFAICT. But that doesn't mean we're not allowed to think that our opinions are correct, or that doing so is irrational or illogical.

 

[Stolen Rutters]

Ok, I didn't read the poll question right. As written, if any philosophical question exists that has more than one answer, the "yes" answer has to be true since using "the answer" instead of "an answer" means there is only one answer (making the question trivial since "any philosophical question" includes a set of philosophical questions that have more than one answer).

 

[nihilistic]

Can entropy be reversed?

(Anyway, I thought philosophical questions are not always answerable, at least in the traditional sense.)

 

[Rhymes]

The real question is : why do we need any answers to philosophical questions?

Besides entertainment for the mind, is there any real purpose to philosophy?

 

[Ciceronian]

The real question is : why do we need any answers to philosophical questions?

Besides entertainment for the mind, is there any real purpose to philosophy?

Oh come on, I know this thread isn't about the justification of philosophy, but I couldn't leave this comment unanswered. Philosophy helps us understand the human condition and our place in the world, and while we may not reach very many certain conclusions, the journey can be very educational and enlightening. And all that is saying nothing about ethics, the most important discipline imho, since it ensures we can all live in mutual peace and prosperity. Traditional religion has failed not only at metaphysical explanations, but also in matters of practical morality. If we don't morality to crumble as religions do, we must turn to philosophy (in particular Kant, may I add).

And just like philosophy, while art, literature and history give mainly pleasure, they also aid us in our reflections upon the human condition and allow us to avoid the mistakes and atrocities of the past.

 

[warpus]

Philosophy is about questions, not about answers.

 

[Ciceronian]

Philosophy is about questions, not about answers.

Warpus just summarised my rambling post in 7 words.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I wish one of the poll option would have been "I don't know".

 

[holy king]

no, i even know the meaning of life!!