Well since we don't have a philosophical forum this will have to do...

[Hayabusa Rider]

Is there a question you've heard asked that struck you as being uncommonly profound?

The one that I consider most is from everyone's favorite book, the Bible

When Jesus was on trial he said to Pilate ""To this end was I born, and for this came I into the world, to bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice."

To which Pontius Pilate responded:

"What is Truth?"

To me that is as profound a question as can be asked. It touches on the nature of reality and our ability to reconcile it with our world views. Is there an objective truth in an non trival sense? Why is it that we equate truth with beauty when at times the truth is a very ugly bastard indeed.

That's mine.

Yours?

 

[her209]

Mine.

Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was drowning. One monk immediately scooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung. He went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in. The monk saved the scorpion and was again stung. The other monk asked him, "Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion when you know its nature is to sting?"

"Because," the monk replied, "to save it is my nature."

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

What is the average air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

What is the average air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Didn't King Aurthur have to answer that one?

 

[Mucho]

Since there is no absolute truth then truth is relative.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Truth stands on its own. Why do you ask?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Er, this isn't intended to be a critique of my question, but for others to post what's struck them.

 

[yllus]

That's a good one.

There are two song verses that I consider incredibly interesting. The first, from Unkle - Lonely Soul:

There's no secret to living, just keep on walking; There's no secret to dying, just keep on flying...

The other I'll keep to myself.

 

[Moonbeam]

Why do we suffer?

A Zen master wrote this on the death of his son:

This little dew drop world

It may be only a dew drop

And yet, and yet

 

[lothar]

What is the average air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

African or European?

 

[Zebo]

I once answered "why?" (thats it) on a philosophy essay and got an A

 

[cwjerome]

"Man's only alternative is whether the philosophy guiding him is to be chosen by his mind or by chance." - Ayn Rand

I'm not some Objectivist but I tend to believe most people don't think philosophically and are driven in large part by a subconscious mongrel of cliches, generalizations, and propaganda.

 

[IronWing]

I like Pilate's reply/question to Jesus in JC Super Star:

We all have truths, are mine the same as yours?

 

[Fenixgoon]

stolen from someone's sig:

the death rate is 100% - 1 per person.

 

[rchiu]

stolen from someone's sig:

the death rate is 100% - 1 per person.

That depends on if there is life after death and if there is, if you consider death "real death".

 

[Ozoned]

Why did John insist that we go to our posts early that day? See my sig.

 

[Carmen813]

Truth is a harsh mistress.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Since there is no absolute truth then truth is relative.

How can you have a subjective truth?

 

[shira]

I once answered "why?" (thats it) on a philosophy essay and got an A

And let me guess: The question was, "What is the 25th letter of the alphabet?"

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

How can you have a subjective truth?

A couple of points:

1.) "Relative" is not the same thing as "subjective."

2.) Lots of truths are subjective. Basically any and every opinion is a subjective truth. "Lilacs are the prettiest flowers" is true to me, but may be false to others, for example.

 

[Zorkorist]

"Man's only alternative is whether the philosophy guiding him is to be chosen by his mind or by chance." - Ayn Rand

I'm not some Objectivist but I tend to believe most people don't think philosophically and are driven in large part by a subconscious mongrel of cliches, generalizations, and propaganda.

Hard to go wrong when Ayn Rand speaks on a subject.

Truth is the belief you are right, (or true.)

-John

 

[Moonbeam]

Hard to go wrong when Ayn Rand speaks on a subject.

Truth is the belief you are right, (or true.)

-John

Which, of course, truly makes you an idiot.

 

[Red Dawn]

[Jack Nicholson] You can't handle the truth [/Jack Nicholson]

 

[zsdersw]

"so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens"

 

[totalnoob]

If God made the universe, what made God? And if there was "nothing" before the universe, where was God sitting? How can anything exist within nothing?

The first time these questions struck me as a kid..I sat there like "woah....woah.....woah..."

of course I have since come to the conclusion that there can't be a complex first cause (God), but the question of what might be "outside" space and time still blows my mind.