What are some things that can't exist without their opposite?
“Opposite” only has objective meaning in mathematics, where we can create a testable definition. For instance, you could define “opposite” as (-1 times the entity) or as (1 divided by the entity). And then you can test the hypothesis “X is the opposite of Y.”Outside of math, “opposite” is a subjective, symbolic term. Is good the opposite of evil? Up vs down? Strong vs weak? Depends on your definition - which is subjective and arbitrary.For instance: You could say that good and evil are both strong ethical perspectives, so maybe “apathy” - lack of ethical perspective - is the opposite of both of them.
Is religion the polar opposite of science?
Science deals with following the evidence. It's not concerned with what you want to be true or what you feel should be true. In fact science is completely agnostic towards your feelings. Science deals with objective observations and testing to uncover the truth and science will realign it's views accordingly. Religion deals in faith. It's concerned with what you want to be true or what you feel to be true. It's not concerned with evidence and will not realign it's views based on evidence that might contradict it's claims. So with that said, is science and religion the polar opposites of one another on how it uncovers and discerns truth?
Is Science the polar opposite of religion?
Yes.
What's the opposite of existentialism?
Existentialism really has two primary notions. The first is that there is no inherent meaning in things. No essence or purpose which pre-exists. And further, that if you want to find purpose or meaning you can (and will have to) create it yourself. The opposite of this would suggest that there IS a pre-existing purpose for all things. A plan and meaning. And to counter the other component, it would have to be one that you were completely unable to affect or alter. Your desire would be irrelevant. This sound so far like fatalism. The other major component of existentialism is that reason is not necessarily supreme. The universe is a chaotic, irrational place, so attempts to nicely categorize everything or be objective are to some extent missing the point and ultimately doomed to fail or be useless. The opposite of that would be a very strict rationalism that only only put reason as the highest thing but perhaps which suggested that anything other the reason was pointless. In philosophy, this viewpoint would be a kind of rationalism and perhaps outright idealism. And many have observed that existentialism is to postmodernism as rationalism is to modernism. Put those two together and we get something very close to Plato. To him, the real world was the world of ideas; it was those which created physical reality in their image. But weighing both aspects, I think a kind of deterministic fatalism fits the bill even better as the 'opposite' of existentialism, especially when combined with some kind of theistic 'purpose'. Everything is, it can all be worked out, and it was inflexibly set out from the very beginning and the choice was made by someone other than you. Hope that helps!
What is the polar opposite of Ayn Rand's philosophy?
I'm inclined to agree with 'Cogito', regarding Rand. She is a philosopher like Michael Jordan was a baseball player. Perhaps Kant. His notions of a 'categorical imperative' and 'universal law' are fairly socially-oriented. Or Aristotle, given his 'body politic'. Besides, I don't think that TRUE objectivism is necesarily anti-social. In short, the 'immunization' would be most effective through their accrual of logic (and ethics, of course).