As the book [Life's Ratchet] describes, physical and chemical reactions may have a direction that makes life much more likely than if reactions happened purely by chance. — T Clark
which is pretty well what I've been saying since I joined this forum. — Wayfarer
ps//Oh - actually, wrong Hoffman. I was referring to Prof. Donald, you were referring to a Peter Hoffman. But I'll leave it in as it's relevant to the general subject. — Wayfarer
1. Ontology
2. Identity & Change
3. Causality
4. Space & Time
5. Necessity & Possibility
It appears that metaphysics is the study of broad conceptual frameworks with which we make sense of our world.
I guess we could call metaphysics pre-science, not proto-science. Meta-science. — TheMadFool
You made the same comment with the same list back around page 5 or 6 of this thread — T Clark
I would say conditions determine what happens, how things change. — Janus
That's why I think Wittgenstein said that believing that scientific laws are the explanations of natural phenomena is illusory. — Wayfarer
The point of metaphysics is to arrive at the terminus of explanation. — Wayfarer
Although there is "some overlap" between my worldview and New Age spirituality, I don't consider myself a New Ager. For me "Spirituality" is an outdated model of reality. But I don't cast aspersions on those who are motivated more by feelings than facts. They are free to interpret the world as they see fit. I don't practice any form of Western Esotericism, or Religion of any kind, for that matter. Yet, I do find some wisdom in both Eastern and Western Philosophy, that has stood the test of time, despite being sublimated under the communal rituals & mystical practices of popular religion, that appeal to the emotions instead of the intellect. I don't feel the need for such diversions & consolations from the raw reality of a world that seems indifferent to human needs & feelings. So, I don't burn incense at shrines, or recite mantras, or pray to any "higher beings". Consequently, the consilience between my worldview, and the traditional religions of the world, is in the ancient wisdom of rational thinkers (Philosophers), who tried to make sense of the world without the artificial sensory enhancements of modern science.Gnomon: why do you post on a Philosophy (i.e. contra sophistry, pseudo-science, woo-of-the-gaps) website instead of a site dedicated to New Age (esoteric) "theories"? :eyes: :sparkle: — 180 Proof
I think you're mistaken and have bought into the pop-science hype ofter promulgated by philosophically illiterate / negligent scientists and academic idealists and other latterday woo-woo sophists. My two bytes on 'speculative atomism consilient with QFT' .From that study I learned that Atomism and Materialism are just as outmoded as Spiritualism.
Insofar as "information" has causal efficacy, it is physical (i.e. not "immaterial" or merely abstract/formal). See David Deutsch (re: Constructor Theory).Pursuit of the holy grail of a fundamental Atom, has revealed that Physical Reality actually consists of various sensible forms of invisible immaterial Information (the power to create material things).
"Doing work" and "change ... both physical and mental" is, in my mind, a distinction without a difference. I could be wrong though – tell me succinctly, Gnomon, how "work" differs significantly from "change". :chin:You may think of that active force as Energy (E=MC^2), but I call it EnFormAction, because it is much more than just "the capacity for doing work" [ ... ] the Cause of all Change in the world, both Physical and Mental.
Materialism began to die on the vine, in the early 20th century, at the advent of Quantum Theory and Information Theory. Yet, those powerful new ideas were at first resisted, even by such wise philosophers as Einstein. — Gnomon
The point of metaphysics is to arrive at the terminus of explanation. Surely many will say that it can’t be done, but it’s worth spelling that out. — Wayfarer
Materialism began to die on the vine, in the early 20th century, at the advent of Quantum Theory and Information Theory. — Gnomon
Since it obviously can't be done that makes metaphysics, conceived that traditional way, pointless — Janus
I believe that something that is conspicuously absent in modern philosophy generally is the whole concept of necessary being, also known as the unconditioned, unmade, uncreated and so on. — Wayfarer
then this doesn't amount to saying anything much.necessary being, also known as the unconditioned, unmade, uncreated and so on. — Wayfarer
So, no, I don't agree that it is pointless or meaningless, it is mainly dismissed on the basis of incomprehension. — Wayfarer
It may have possible poetic value, but what explanatory value could it have, since it posits something about which nothing can be said, other than what it isn't? — Janus
As I already said, any explanation you give will then require a further explanation as to why it is as it is; if you were able to go down that rabbit hole there would be no end to it. — Janus
The value it gives, is to tell us that to proceed in the direction of pure chance is to go in the wrong direction. — Metaphysician Undercover
To go down the road of "there is an explanation", even if that explanation may require a further explanation, and a further one after that, is a much more reasonable route than "there is no explanation". — Metaphysician Undercover
As I already said the idea of "pure chance" is incoherent. If there is an explanation of the origin of life it will be in lawlike terms. To say something arose by "pure chance" is no more an explanation than to say it arose on account of "necessary being, also known as the unconditioned, unmade, uncreated and so on". — Janus
Well, what does it say apart fromYou reckon? :yikes: — Wayfarer
?"necessary being, also known as the unconditioned, unmade, uncreated and so on". — Janus
Since explanations concerning the cause of material being have always been incomplete, what is wrong with pursuing an explanation which would likely require a further explanation? I don't see the merit in your rejection of such a "rabbit hole". — Metaphysician Undercover
I can certainly see the appeal of using "physics" as ones metaphysics, and then forget about all the other issues that will arise. Or, as is said, "shut up and calculate." — Manuel
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