Latour, Kristeva, Derrida, Baudrillard, etc

**Papewaio** · 06-16-2013, 20:54

In a war where are the philosophers deployed and do the winning nations spirit them away?

**The Stranger** · 06-16-2013, 21:08

... what does that have to do with anything?

**Papewaio** · 06-16-2013, 21:22

It's a utility argument. Which of course assumes that utility exists.

Essentially when push comes to shove how valuable are philosophers in a war? Does the opposing side value them enough to assassinate them or spirit them away post war?

**The Stranger** · 06-16-2013, 23:23

i know its an utility argument but do you seriously believe everything should have utility?

also in line with what you say you should rephrase to "how useful are philosophers in a war?" i believe it has value, just as art and literature, happiness and glory. it is about as useful as shakespeare and tolkien or george martin would be in a war, but what else would men be fighting for? sure, the big bosses may all do it for greed and power but not the enlisted soldier.

and it is my sincerest hope, perhaps in vain, that philosophy will help avoid war in which case your question would be rendered obsolete. every intelligent soul in the western world has in one way or another been influenced by the products of philosophy, and i think in many ways we are better of for it. the same is true of science, but i have never seen them as things that oppose each other.

anyway i think were trailing off topic now. this was never about philosophy in general, just a certain wave.

**Papewaio** · 06-16-2013, 23:53

Numbers are a concept. Not all numbers have a tangible physical counterpart. For instance imaginary numbers are an idea.

Now having said that. It doesn't mean that all numbers do not have a physical counterpart or that concepts cannot have a concrete counterpart. Money, and the value of it is a concept.

But I'm pretty sure that those who argue that there is no physical analog to numbers can quickly be tested and found wanting.