Editing 220: Philosophy
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | In all of {{w|philosophy}}, perhaps the most important | + | In all of {{w|philosophy}}, perhaps the most important question considers the {{w|meaning of life}}, and can be expressed as "Why are we here?" or "What does it all mean?" Many philosophers and theologians have attempted to answer the question over the course of human history and every religion claims to have some sort of answer. |
| − | [[Megan]] has been considering that the question is essentially meaningless. However, if that is true, she can't understand why it continues to be in her thoughts. This might feel frustrating for Megan. | + | [[Megan]] has been considering that the question is essentially meaningless. However, if that is true, she can't understand why it continues to be in her thoughts. This might feel frustrating for Megan. Her friends (both looking like [[Cueball]]) notice that she is seemingly stuck in this existential question and have a short-term solution for her. One friend reaches for a {{w|Super Soaker}} 50, a powerful toy squirt gun, which he intends to use to spray water at Megan while she is having her {{w|existential crisis}}. (Megan uses this soaker later against Cueball in [[517: Marshmallow Gun]] and later yet, in [[625: Collections]], she has another one of her crises.) |
The title text refers to the {{w|operant conditioning}} technique (a form of behavioral modification) commonly used with house cats. If they start scratching the furniture, many people spray them with a squirt bottle (since they hate water) to discourage that behavior (though it seldom works). It may also allude to the idea of hitting a break key where a program is stuck in a logical loop. | The title text refers to the {{w|operant conditioning}} technique (a form of behavioral modification) commonly used with house cats. If they start scratching the furniture, many people spray them with a squirt bottle (since they hate water) to discourage that behavior (though it seldom works). It may also allude to the idea of hitting a break key where a program is stuck in a logical loop. | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:[Megan sits on a chair for two panels without moving.] | :[Megan sits on a chair for two panels without moving.] | ||
| − | :[In the third panel | + | :[In the third panel Megan has still not moved but makes the following comment to no one in particular.] |
:Megan: If the question of what it all means doesn't mean anything, why do I keep coming back to it? | :Megan: If the question of what it all means doesn't mean anything, why do I keep coming back to it? | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
| − | *[[Randall]] himself uploaded the strip's fourth panel to {{w|Wikimedia Commons}} ([http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xkcd_philosophy.png here]) for use on {{w|xkcd|''xkcd's'' Wikipedia article}}. xkcd is licenced under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ this] {{w|Creative Commons license}}, which is incompatible with [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ this] CC license that Wikipedia uses, because the latter allows commercial use. Randall says {{w|Talk:Primer (film) | + | *[[Randall]] himself uploaded the strip's fourth panel to {{w|Wikimedia Commons}} ([http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xkcd_philosophy.png here]) for use on {{w|xkcd|''xkcd's'' Wikipedia article}}. xkcd is licenced under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ this] {{w|Creative Commons license}}, which is incompatible with [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ this] CC license that Wikipedia uses, because the latter allows commercial use. Randall says {{w|Talk:Primer (film)|here}} that he is willing to unlock more strips to Commons for similar purposes. |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
