mathmystic

This came to mind:

Learning, children would also forget.
Would what they would learn
be worth as much as what they forget?
I should like to ask you: can one learn this without forgetting that,
and is what one learns worth what he forgets?
— Cheikh Hamidou Kane

I agree that there can be no alignment without a continuity of values. But it seems to me that your case for continuity rests substantially on the assumption that there is a continuity of values within humanity. But what if this is untrue? Please bear with me for a moment:

I agree with you in effectively... (read more)

Thanks, enjoyed this a lot! Had one thought though:

It seems to me that the question of a definition being good or bad seems downstream of what a definition is. This, in turn, is downstream of prior philosophical commitments. Classically a definition gives genus and differentia, which assumes a kind of essentialism. If instead a category is just a set, i.e. if someone has nominalist commitments, any collection counts and 'arbitrariness' ceases to mean much (at least in extreme cases). Was wondering where you land on this issue...

I want to apply; however, I am wondering whether I need to have a long track-record of publication. Like do I need to have a blog already with a bunch of posts that I have been publishing? Or would I be judged on the essays that I submit without reference to previous 'clout' online or lack thereof?

Would truly appreciate any comments from you on this. thanks!