Philosophy
Let's try something new, something completely different. I've had this idea for a while and wasn't sure if it would fly, but what the heck. It'll be called "The Kind of Person" and the idea is that I will sketch an archetype and in the comments we try to come up with sentences of the form "S/He's the kind of person who _________" that perfectly capture the archetype.
Let's start with that person we all know who is simply too perfect. I had a friend in high school who for an entire summer shaved half his face because his girlfriend was going away and he was so good looking he wanted to cut down the temptation of getting constantly hit on. You wanted to hate the guy, but he was so kind, so much fun, so talented, such a Mensch that you just couldn't.
So,
She's the kind of person who can draw a perfect circle on an etchasketch.
He's the kind of person who can wear khakis and never get "the spot."
She's the kind of person who trips on a crack in the sidewalk and looks like she's dancing.
He's the kind of person who can call a wrong number and get asked to call back.
Yours?
Best comment gets a year's free subscription to Philosophers' Playground.
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Philosophy
The Kind of Person: An Experiment
Let's try something new, something completely different. I've had this idea for a while and wasn't sure if it would fly, but what the heck. It'll be called "The Kind of Person" and the idea is that I will sketch an archetype and in the comments we try to come up with sentences of the form "S/He's the kind of person who _________" that perfectly capture the archetype.
Let's start with that person we all know who is simply too perfect. I had a friend in high school who for an entire summer shaved half his face because his girlfriend was going away and he was so good looking he wanted to cut down the temptation of getting constantly hit on. You wanted to hate the guy, but he was so kind, so much fun, so talented, such a Mensch that you just couldn't.
So,
She's the kind of person who can draw a perfect circle on an etchasketch.
He's the kind of person who can wear khakis and never get "the spot."
She's the kind of person who trips on a crack in the sidewalk and looks like she's dancing.
He's the kind of person who can call a wrong number and get asked to call back.
Yours?
Best comment gets a year's free subscription to Philosophers' Playground.
- Tax Ethics
If someone donates all of the proceeds from some work, say an author donates his royalties from a book or a chef donates a meal, to a worthy cause, we think it is surely a good act. Suppose the person then claims the donation on their taxes. does that...
- Name That Ticket
O.k. prognosticators, time to pull out the crystal ball. Who will be the Democratic and Republican nominees for President and Vice President (that is, President in charge of vice), who will win, and, as a tie-breaker, what percentage of the popular vote...
- When Is Thoughtfulness Morally Necessary?
Ethicists use the term "supererogatory" for acts that are above and beyond the call of duty, that is, acts that are good, but not morally required. I've been thinking lately about how we draw this line. You're standing in line at the grocery...
- The Two Door Dilemma
Etiquette question: You walk up to a building slightly behind someone. There are two consecutive sets of doors. The person after walking through the first door holds it open for you. Being polite, you say, "thank you." The person then walks through and...
- Why Have Children Of One's Own When One Could Adopt?
From an early age, most of us simple assume that we will have children. ("I'm never going to make my kids wear sweaters they don't like!"). And this assumption continues to influence our thought in early adulthood ("Well, I think when I have...