If we take the phantasms too seriously, then we have to become ghostbusters who...only pay attention to the ghosts we are supposed to be busting. — ghost
On a side, I also think this problem is analogous to the atheist who discusses God. — Merkwurdichliebe
But what one often sees is Wittgenstein himself becoming part of the disease. The disease is a hungry Hegelian Hippo. — ghost
After Wittgenstein claimed that most of the problems of philosophy are due to the way we use language, he made the next bold claim and stated that the remainder are psychological. I pretty much agree with these assertions and think that many of the problems of philosophy, which are related to ethics are essentially about attitudes. Others might differ. — Wallows
I justify that by insisting that the first critics of phantasms got it right. They are just either ignored or assimilated by the phantasm industry. — ghost
I would say these were the ancients, everything preceding Descarte, and I'm open to call it even earlier. Everything deriving from Descartes has been fucked. — Merkwurdichliebe
I have said before, (in the second chapter,) that a Man did excell all other Animals in this faculty, that when he conceived any thing whatsoever, he was apt to enquire the consequences of it, and what effects he could do with it. And now I adde this other degree of the same excellence, that he can by words reduce the consequences he findes to generall Rules, called Theoremes, or Aphorismes; that is, he can Reason, or reckon, not onely in number; but in all other things, whereof one may be added unto, or substracted from another.
But this priviledge, is allayed by another; and that is, by the priviledge of Absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man onely. And of men, those are of all most subject to it, that professe Philosophy. — Hobbes
Hungry Hegelian Hippo...hey! That's what I was going to call the philosophical problem. Verdict: Wittgenstein, guilty. — Merkwurdichliebe
What do you think of Hobbes? I'd call him one of the good guys, despite some of his stuff having aged. In Hobbes the subject/object game is downplayed, and he focuses on the practical use of the mind. — ghost
My question is: why can't philosophical problems that are attributable to psychology be further reduced to our use of language, like everything else? — Merkwurdichliebe
Fair point. And I don't agree with all of Hobbes' theories. But I would stress that he was 'actually' doing philosophy by concerning himself with something other than language and far more artificial problems. — ghost
Because propositional attitudes have no epistemic content. Thus, philosophy is concerned with life as a practice and not a problem that can be solved. — Wallows
Like Wayfarer points out, there is a critical need for a return to the ancients. — Merkwurdichliebe
Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. Where ever they agree, you can be certain it is Fire. — Merkwurdichliebe
I thought it was great. I also like the stoics, Epicurus, etc. That said, it's nice to read later philosophers who wrote in powerful English. That's something like a maximum connection. — ghost
I have read some K that I really liked. There's so much stuff by K that I think I need to find a great intro that skillfully chooses the highlights. — ghost
So, do you think Witt. had an essential concern that transcended the great importance he placed on language? — Merkwurdichliebe
I meant Epicurus, — ghost
Was Epicurus stoic, I thought he was the founder of Epicurianism? — Merkwurdichliebe
Yes, pretty much everything concerning ethics and the mystical. — Wallows
I doubt many on TPF have read 'The Discourses'. — Merkwurdichliebe
I am under the impression that he felt everything mystical and metaphical should be excluded from philosophy due to the vagaries of language they provoke. — Merkwurdichliebe
FWIW, what I get from Wittgenstein is his disgust at the idea that the higher things can be treated scientifically. — ghost
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