in the shell

You’re either very close to having realized something important or you just did. Anyway, remember that we are masters, we created words, and we should never let them rule over us. We possess things, unfortunately rarely used, called creativity, ambition and will allowing us to devise anything that ...

This doesn't mean we should abandon ethics, but that we should acknowledge, that all results our ethical analysis brings depend on what our cultural and individual premises are. Some models of ethics, like those of Immanuel Kant's are completely impossible to use in real world, because of their per...

At any rate you're example is kind taking the people who are just offended about their customs concerning their prophet being violated (something which the upholding of does not by most standards harm others), and lumping them with the people whose beliefs and customs do hurt others. I don't think ...

Well, there's no problem there if the new form of life has an identical mind to a human mind, or if it has been created by reverse engineering and reconstructing a facsimilie of the human mind. But the way we treat people (and animal life) is based on the way their minds work. What if this new life...

I believe there are such things as natural rights. They may never be able to be real in the same sense as natural laws or things in the objectively physical universe, but they exist nonetheless, and are the same regardless of what anyone thinks of them. This is not to say mine or anyone else's idea ...

Finland. No capital punishment (a wonderful euphemism, BTW) and imprisonment "for life" means approximately 14 years, after which the pardon is guaranteed by law. No underage prisoners, either (that's something that seriously disturbs me in American judical system). It seems to function p...

I've always wondered how much of Saito's story was true. A lot of stuff doesn't make sense, especially the part where the major recruits him instead of killing him or taking him captive. In a lot of ways he is still an enigma. On a related note, I wonder if he and the other less prostheticized membe...

Lightice: Ofcourse in my country it's impossible to end up in prison for the rest of your life, anyway, so the question isn't as effective to me, as it might to be to an American. Where are you from again? I ask because I live in the U.S, where we have the death penalty and "three strikes you'r...

Funny isn’t it? Or perhaps not, this is after all a serious matter. They claim to see when they blindfold themselves willingly. In wanting to have something to oppose they blind themselves of its greatness. Irony Somehow they fail to understand a concept greater than anything they could ever concei...

I'm wondering if anyone here ever played the silent hill series, especially the first one for the PS 1. I'm working through the third game now. Awesome atmosphere.

So which are you doing? Defending your idea or not? It's a bit difficult to make sense of you, when your first sentence says one thing and second the complete opposite. And you've so far defended the idea that it's OK to spread a lie, if it makes the people feel good - contributes the "unity&q...

If you don't want to read books about BDSM fantasies, don't. That's your prerogative. Just like it is the author's prerogative to write and publish her material, and the right of others to read it if they wish. You saying that it's wrong for them to be expressing their love for their particular sex...

If anyone's interested, they should take a good look at just how evil and destructive of human freedom, life, and happiness blind faith can be. Read "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris.

Also, check out www.infidels.org.

Woah I never heard about the background of the American Empire, and this is the first I heard of the Russian/American alliance. Where is that info found? Douyang's post was great. I think more people would watch 2nd GIG if they could get a decent primer before going in... instead most people give u...

I don't know what episode you're on, as I don't have the DVDs. I'll tell you what I know without trying to spoil things. Side note: Please learn to spell correctly and take your time posting so that you make sense. Otherwise, many people might not even bother reading. I only answer because I see thi...