I live in Boulder, Colorado, USA and I just got home from work, taking a bike the whole way. It doesn't get as cold here, or (I would imagine) quite as snowy as Norway. But it's still pretty bad and a lot of fun.
scooter - I can only assume you're joking. but since you can never tell on the internet... I've got a friend who is at McMurdo station, on Antarctica. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMurdo_Station and http://www.coolantarctica.com/Community/mcmurdo/mcmurdo_base_antarctica.htm
not that photos really tend to convince the crazies...
I've sen a lot of sides posting this video, and if you look in the comments of the original one he says "don't watch this there's too many logical fallacies" he instead points you to one he made a while later, called "how it all ends" It's a much better version of this same argument and avoids the Pascal's Wager bit.
Here's a Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg
creepy and uncomfortable, I would imagine. I would be the guy on the other side of the room, wanting to get some snacks but not wanting the paid-to-converse woman in the table to talk to me.
animal. most scientist actually do agree that global warming is a serious threat. I'm too lazy to get the study for you, and i know you're going to see this as an incredibly biased source, but Al Gore covers that in his movie/book. I'm not suggesting you take that at face value, but go look at his works cited list and check some of those studies out before you make claims like that.
A bit late getting back to the party, let's see if anyone's still around:
On the question of hurting versus helping I'm speaking in a utilitarian sense. Applying this to the whole group of living beings on a net "pleasure/pain" scale. If we can test a few mice, which have limited levels of self-awareness (if any) in order to help all human schizophrenics for the rest of human history live better lives I would say it is probably worth it.
And on anthropology: Actually, I have done a lot of reading on different cultures. I know and understand that hearing voices is a good thing in a lot of cultures, but as I said, "it is neither normal nor desirable in many cultures". This would include many modern western cultures, and many more I'm sure you can think of. notice I said many, not all or most.
That being said, I am not a fan of cultural relativism. it is too easy of an answer to a much more complex question, and also allows for some startling holes in "common sense" morality. Unfortunately, it seems that for people who understand and study other cultures (like myself) but don't blindly accept their beliefs as true (via cultural relativism) are often told that they need to "broaden your horizon".
Terry : hearing voices is neither normal nor desirable in many cultures. I for one know that I would not like to hear voices. Smoking is normal and desirable in some cultures, but that doesn't mean that we should stop looking for a cure to lung cancer.
Ben : What would constitute complaining? speaking in proper English and asking kindly to be let go? would this apply to all mice or just the one?
I think seeing animals in pain due to testing is a good sign that they would ask to be let go if they could.
That being said, if it helps more than it hurts (hurrah utilitarianism)
@ Kevin
Jesus sounds like a pretty loving guy if he's ok with saying "oh I'm sorry you repented one day too late. eternal damnation for you"
not that photos really tend to convince the crazies...
Here's a Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg
Even "Piss Christ" was more interesting than this.
On the question of hurting versus helping I'm speaking in a utilitarian sense. Applying this to the whole group of living beings on a net "pleasure/pain" scale. If we can test a few mice, which have limited levels of self-awareness (if any) in order to help all human schizophrenics for the rest of human history live better lives I would say it is probably worth it.
And on anthropology: Actually, I have done a lot of reading on different cultures. I know and understand that hearing voices is a good thing in a lot of cultures, but as I said, "it is neither normal nor desirable in many cultures". This would include many modern western cultures, and many more I'm sure you can think of. notice I said many, not all or most.
That being said, I am not a fan of cultural relativism. it is too easy of an answer to a much more complex question, and also allows for some startling holes in "common sense" morality. Unfortunately, it seems that for people who understand and study other cultures (like myself) but don't blindly accept their beliefs as true (via cultural relativism) are often told that they need to "broaden your horizon".
Ben : What would constitute complaining? speaking in proper English and asking kindly to be let go? would this apply to all mice or just the one?
I think seeing animals in pain due to testing is a good sign that they would ask to be let go if they could.
That being said, if it helps more than it hurts (hurrah utilitarianism)