Disgust With Philosophy
From Huben's Wiki
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* [https://philosophynow.org/issues/46/Newtons_Flaming_Laser_Sword Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword] | * [https://philosophynow.org/issues/46/Newtons_Flaming_Laser_Sword Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword] | ||
* [https://s12k.com/2016/08/19/nozick-on-philosophy/ Nozick on Philosophy] | * [https://s12k.com/2016/08/19/nozick-on-philosophy/ Nozick on Philosophy] | ||
| − | * [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/12/24/the-courtiers-reply/ The Courtier’s Reply]: the classic stand on dignity of most philosophers, borrowed from religion. | + | * [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/12/24/the-courtiers-reply/ The Courtier’s Reply]: ridicule of the classic stand on dignity of most philosophers, borrowed from religion. |
Philosopher: "What color is the sky?" <br>Student: "Blue." <br>Philosopher: "Let us then proceed from the fact that the sky is blue to reason thusly...." <br>If only the student would observe that the sky is not always blue: it can be gray on a cloudy day, it can be black at night, and sun, moon, stars, clouds, birds, etc. can all make it different than plain, solid blue. If we say the sky is blue, that is not a fact: it is a vague observation or generalization, ignoring the many exceptions, ignoring the scientific explanation of scattering of sunlight and privileging daytime over nighttime conditions. It is not a valid premise that philosophy can be built upon. Most philosophy actually starts with such invalid premises, and it is not too difficult to spot them. | Philosopher: "What color is the sky?" <br>Student: "Blue." <br>Philosopher: "Let us then proceed from the fact that the sky is blue to reason thusly...." <br>If only the student would observe that the sky is not always blue: it can be gray on a cloudy day, it can be black at night, and sun, moon, stars, clouds, birds, etc. can all make it different than plain, solid blue. If we say the sky is blue, that is not a fact: it is a vague observation or generalization, ignoring the many exceptions, ignoring the scientific explanation of scattering of sunlight and privileging daytime over nighttime conditions. It is not a valid premise that philosophy can be built upon. Most philosophy actually starts with such invalid premises, and it is not too difficult to spot them. | ||
