Not sure what you’re arguing against here. Temperature and pressure are explicable in terms of “molecules drunkenly bumping into each other.” Or have I misunderstood?
The “Nothing But” argument claims that the things explained by materialistic reduction are explained away. In particular, the “Nothing But” argument claims that materialistic reduction, by explaining love and morality and meaning thereby explains them away, destroying them.
The flaw I see in the “Nothing But” argument is that materialistic reduction also explains temperature and presssure. If to explain is necessarily to explain away then the “Nothing But” argument is not merely claiming that materialistic reduction is trashing love and beauty, the “Nothing But” argument is also claiming that materialistic reduction is trashing temperature and pressure. That is a silly claim and shows that there must be something wrong with the “Nothing But” argument.
I think that there is a socially constructed blind spot around this point. People see that the “Nothing But” argument is claiming that materialistic reduction destroys love, beauty, temperature, and pressure. However claiming that materialistic reduction destroys temperature and pressure is silly. If you acknowledge the point then the “Nothing But” argument is obviously silly, which leaves nothing to discuss, and this is blunt to the point of rudeness. So, for social reasons, we drop the last two and let the “Nothing But” argument make the more modest claim that materialistic reduction destroys love and beauty. Then we can get on with our Arts versus Science bun fight.
In brief, I’m agreeing with you. I just wanted to add a striking example of a meaning above the base level of atoms and molecules. You do not have to look at a pointillist painting to experience the reality of something above the base level. It is enough to breath on your hand and feel the pressure exerted by the warm air.
I think that there is a socially constructed blind spot around this point. People see that the “Nothing But” argument is claiming that materialistic reduction destroys love, beauty, temperature, and pressure. However claiming that materialistic reduction destroys temperature and pressure is silly.
Yes! Excellent point. I’m not even sure what “explaining away” means, for that matter. It seems to be another one of these notions that comes with a value judgment dangling from it.
Not sure what you’re arguing against here. Temperature and pressure are explicable in terms of “molecules drunkenly bumping into each other.” Or have I misunderstood?
The “Nothing But” argument claims that the things explained by materialistic reduction are explained away. In particular, the “Nothing But” argument claims that materialistic reduction, by explaining love and morality and meaning thereby explains them away, destroying them.
The flaw I see in the “Nothing But” argument is that materialistic reduction also explains temperature and presssure. If to explain is necessarily to explain away then the “Nothing But” argument is not merely claiming that materialistic reduction is trashing love and beauty, the “Nothing But” argument is also claiming that materialistic reduction is trashing temperature and pressure. That is a silly claim and shows that there must be something wrong with the “Nothing But” argument.
I think that there is a socially constructed blind spot around this point. People see that the “Nothing But” argument is claiming that materialistic reduction destroys love, beauty, temperature, and pressure. However claiming that materialistic reduction destroys temperature and pressure is silly. If you acknowledge the point then the “Nothing But” argument is obviously silly, which leaves nothing to discuss, and this is blunt to the point of rudeness. So, for social reasons, we drop the last two and let the “Nothing But” argument make the more modest claim that materialistic reduction destroys love and beauty. Then we can get on with our Arts versus Science bun fight.
In brief, I’m agreeing with you. I just wanted to add a striking example of a meaning above the base level of atoms and molecules. You do not have to look at a pointillist painting to experience the reality of something above the base level. It is enough to breath on your hand and feel the pressure exerted by the warm air.
Oh, I see, sorry for the misunderstanding.
Yes! Excellent point. I’m not even sure what “explaining away” means, for that matter. It seems to be another one of these notions that comes with a value judgment dangling from it.
http://lesswrong.com/lw/oo/explaining_vs_explaining_away/