Hiya Bob Ross
No I cannot. The model which I have of experience is that I represent the world, and those representations are imperfect. — Bob Ross
In that case, your models are not much different from imaginations either. Because you are rejecting metaphysics under the ground of the imperfect knowledge which is beyond your experiences, which you think as imagination.
I think all scientific knowledge, absent metaphysical claims, are perfectly compatible with my view. For example, I should expect that my body is made of cells (as this has been empirically verified plenty enough), but takeaway my possible forms of experience, and the possible forms of other people’s experience (which is similar to my own), and it is not clear at all that we have any reason to believe there are cells at all, let alone bodies, let alone space and time, etc. — Bob Ross
Your body is made of cells? I am not sure if it is a scientific knowledge. It is a commonsensical knowledge. Just because you have empirically verified knowledge doesn't mean it is scientific knowledge.
It is like saying "I know the wall is made of bricks.", "I know bread is made of flour." "I know cheese is made of milk." I bet you know that because you read it somewhere. But it seems clear that your limiting the scope of knowledge to what you can only observe and verify, and it narrows and limits the depth and amount of knowledge you could get. Because you would reject any more complicated and deeper knowledge under the excuse of not observable, non verifiable metaphysical knowledge.
I don’t think they just use pure imagination to determine stars, they use empirical evidence and hypothesized predictions. — Bob Ross
I never said they are
pure imaginations. They are conjectures and imagination in nature.
Could you please define what you mean by “metaphysics”? — Bob Ross
My definition of Metaphysics is not far from the traditional definition. I would advise you to read the writings ``What is Metaphysics?" by Kit Fine. I will not go into the definition of Metaphysics because you can find them on the internet. But if I point out just one or two points, Metaphysics is about Ontology just like Fine said in his writing. It is conceptualised ontology. For instance, I can ask, discuss or investigate anything about any object as a metaphysical object without having to be concerned with the ins and outs of Biology or Physics or Ethics or a person .... because they are all Beings. In other words, they are Things. (Read Heidegger, What is a Thing?") When an object is viewed as a Being or a Thing, I can ask anything - the meanings, functions, origins, types... and why and how without having to use laboratory instruments. Metaphysics uses mental analytic and reasoning capability of the human mind. I will stop there, because it might get too long.
I didn’t follow the relevance of this part: could you please elaborate? My point was that logic pertains to the form of an argument (of reasoning): not the content. There is no such thing as a valid theory of logic that provides its own content as well as the form of that content. — Bob Ross
Your comments on Logic seem to be limited to the classic and symbolic logic. The formulas in different types of logic are replaced with the variables and contents for them to be the main operating logic in the microprocessor of devices or political movements. The details of this topic would be out of scope of this thread. You better create a new thread for this topic.
So metaphysics is the long history of people thinking about such things which go beyond empirical reality; and so I can easily define it that way without knowing anything (in truth) about that which is beyond experience. — Bob Ross
Again, I feel you are limiting and restricting on what metaphysics do in terms of going beyond the reality. The vast area of Philosophy of Mind, Language, Logic, Ethics are metaphysical in nature. It is the nature of questions they ask, and the methods it uses which is different from the other subjects, and it deals with all things existing in the universe.
I would say ‘experience’ is that first-person immediate knowledge that one has, which includes their mental life, such as things which only are immediately apprehended in time (as opposed to space). — Bob Ross
For you using the term, and accepting the fact that you have your own "mental life" proves you are using a Metaphysical concept. Because your mental life is an entity that is beyond possibility of experience by another person, from the rest of the population in the universe points of view it is a Metaphysical entity.
Without knowing that you are accepting and using it, while at the same time vehemently denying the legitimacy of metaphysical knowledge, is absurd.