Perplexed intended to contrast science—where it is not respectable to take a position in advance of evidence (pace Karl P.) - with philosophy—where it is the taking and defending of positions which drives the whole process. Last philosopher left standing wins. You can’t win if you don’t take a stand.
Perplexed intended to contrast science—where it is not respectable to take a position in advance of evidence (pace Karl P.) - with philosophy—where it is the taking and defending of positions which drives the whole process
Thanks for clarifying. Is that true though? If so, I’d suggest that that might be a problem about how we do philosophy more than anything else. If I don’t have evidence or good arguments either way on a philosophical question I shouldn’t take a stand on it. I should just acknowledge the weak arguments for or against the relevant positions.
There are no specifically philosophical truths, only specifically philosophical questions. Philosophy is the precursor to science; its job is to help us state our hypotheses clearly enough that we can test them scientifically. ETA: For example, if you want to determine how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, it’s philosophy’s job to either clarify or reject as nonsensical the concept of an angel, and then in the former case to hand off to science the problem of tracking down some angels to participate in a pin-dancing study.
Perplexed intended to contrast science—where it is not respectable to take a position in advance of evidence (pace Karl P.) - with philosophy—where it is the taking and defending of positions which drives the whole process. Last philosopher left standing wins. You can’t win if you don’t take a stand.
Thanks for clarifying. Is that true though? If so, I’d suggest that that might be a problem about how we do philosophy more than anything else. If I don’t have evidence or good arguments either way on a philosophical question I shouldn’t take a stand on it. I should just acknowledge the weak arguments for or against the relevant positions.
There are no specifically philosophical truths, only specifically philosophical questions. Philosophy is the precursor to science; its job is to help us state our hypotheses clearly enough that we can test them scientifically. ETA: For example, if you want to determine how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, it’s philosophy’s job to either clarify or reject as nonsensical the concept of an angel, and then in the former case to hand off to science the problem of tracking down some angels to participate in a pin-dancing study.