you hold factually and fractally wrong beliefs — Nickolasgaspar

Factually AND "fractally"! Damn...guess we all can't pretend to be geniuses.

You're right to bow out of this conversation with your tail between your legs. Well done. Also, good job saving face with the "You're not worth it" line. Superb! A real course in ego protection.

Thanks for the laughs.

He's interested only in pretending to be an intellectual authority, when in reality his simpleminded. Ayn Rand-following view is a hodgepodge of cliches you'd hear from anyone on a sidewalk.

"Science produces objective facts."
"What is objective is what is objectively verified."
"Heidegger and Nietzsche are metaphysically wrong, although I've never read either."

Science has a set of empirical methodologies that can provide objective facts — Nickolasgaspar

Science does not produce objective facts.

Let me help you:

What you mean to say is this: science has empirical methods (experimentation, observation, etc.) that test hypotheses. Some call it the hypothetico-deductive model.

Science does not "provide" objective facts. That's completely meaningless. Facts, in the traditional argument, is a true proposition or what's provide by our senses. Science is a way of understanding the facts of the world. It doesn't create the world. Your 4th grade wording is simply nonsensical.

There isn't such a thing as "A scientific Method". — Nickolasgaspar

Funny -- that's exactly what I've been saying:

There is no scientific method. There are many methods, and many questions, that is employed by human beings to understand the world. — Xtrix

What you have said:

Science is the most reliable, methodical and systematic method we currently have. — Nickolasgaspar

If you are ignorant of the objective nature of the Scientific Method — Nickolasgaspar

(Emphasis mine.)

:chin:

Glad to see you've changed your mind.

What we call real is defined by our limited methods used to OBJECTIVELY VERIFY what exists. — Nickolasgaspar

No. This is your own home-spun definition.

The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence.

To say what "exists" only reaches the status of "real" when we "objectivity verify" it is nonsense. The term "reality", what is considered "real," what is considered "truth," etc., has a very long history indeed -- as anyone with even a nodding acquaintance with philosophy would know.

You've simply fallen into a tautology.

Science has the ability to verify processes and structures with a specific ontology. This is due to Pragmatic Necessity NOT because of a subjective philosophical bias. — Nickolasgaspar

Science does indeed have a specific ontology. Which is what I've been saying from the beginning.

No one once claimed it was a "subjective philosophical bias." Whether or not it's "pragmatic" is questionable -- but that's your own claim, and so likely not very well thought out.

Scientism is the belief that only science can be the source of our epistemology and science can answer everything. — Nickolasgaspar

That's not the definition of scientism.

Common definition:

excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge and techniques.

From SEP:

Scientific realism is a positive epistemic attitude toward the content of our best theories and models, recommending belief in both observable and unobservable aspects of the world described by the sciences. This epistemic attitude has important metaphysical and semantic dimensions, and these various commitments are contested by a number of rival epistemologies of science, known collectively as forms of scientific antirealism. This article explains what scientific realism is, outlines its main variants, considers the most common arguments for and against the position, and contrasts it with its most important antirealist counterparts.

From Wiki:

Scientism is the view that science and the scientific method are the best or only objective means by which people should determine normative and epistemological values.[1][2]

And what I say about it:

"Real" is whatever science tells us is real, in this view. It puts faith in the methods of science. Thus it is itself a belief system -- often called "scientism." — Xtrix

It also signifies a certain view of truth -- one basically of correspondence between the "objective" outside world determined by science, and the "subjective" world of our opinions and feelings. — Xtrix

If one considers whatever is "real" to be whatever science, through (to quote you) "objective verification", determines is real, then this is indeed trusting in the methods of objective verification and, ultimately, on the methods of science.

And, as I said above, I partly subscribe to it myself. I think it's the best way have.

Science split from philosophy because of minds and mentalities like yours. — Nickolasgaspar

:rofl:

Oh, ok!

The moment you accuse science for a ontological bias you wrongly accuse Methodological Naturalism being a metaphysical view. — Nickolasgaspar

Methodological naturalism is also an ontological view. I guess this is where you're confused.

If someone believes God is behind all of nature, but employs a naturalistic stance when doing biochemistry and publishing papers, that's simply adopting an ontological position pro tem.

Methodological naturalism is the label for the required assumption of philosophical naturalism when working with the scientific method. Methodological naturalists limit their scientific research to the study of natural causes, because any attempts to define causal relationships with the supernatural are never fruitful, and result in the creation of scientific "dead ends" and God of the gaps-type hypotheses. To avoid these traps, scientists assume that all causes are empirical and naturalistic, which means they can be measured, quantified and studied methodically.

keep your metaphysical naturalism out from the philosophical backbone of Science — Nickolasgaspar

Naturalism is indeed the philosophical backbone of science. Hence why it was once called "natural philosophy."

You're simply confused. If you have questions or need clarification, simply put aside the posturing and ask, and I'll explain to you what I mean. Can your ego handle that? Or do we have to keep going on like this, where you keep trying to set yourself up as "teaching me a thing or two"?

I understand that you are desperate to protect your death denying ideology and objective facts together with Logic spoil your party.
So the only thing you are left with is to discredit the method that provide the evidence that render your beliefs unfounded and irrational. — Nickolasgaspar

I suppose this is also the problem: you assume I'm defending religious dogma or supernaturalism. That's not close to being true, as anyone on this forum can tell you.

You will need to study about Objectivism one of the major breakthroughs of Philosophy. — Nickolasgaspar

Another Ayn Rand follower. What a shocker.

Dude...you seriously need to educate yourself on basic concepts and what Science really is and why its so successful. — Nickolasgaspar

No, you need to stop posturing and learn something. Next time, before jumping into a conversation in which you were not involved, make an effort to read carefully.

This forum is for adults. Not posturing children.

To return to what was originally stated (correctly):

The "science" in this case being based on human reason, intelligence and creativity. Empiricism is fine, and I have a high respect for science, but your idea of what is "real" is a philosophical belief. "Real" is whatever science tells us is real, in this view. It puts faith in the methods of science. Thus it is itself a belief system -- often called "scientism." It also signifies a certain view of truth -- one basically of correspondence between the "objective" outside world determined by science, and the "subjective" world of our opinions and feelings. This is why nearly everyone who wrestles with these questions should read Descartes and Kant, at minimum, or at least familiarize yourself with their arguments. Then take a look at what Neitzsche has to say about "perspectives" and Heidegger about the subject/object distinction. All that is very useful.

At the end of the day, I think what's called "science" is the best we have for making predictions and understanding causal relations. But rather than being the final court for truth, which encompasses philosophy (and relegates it to useless pondering), it is instead a subset of philosophy -- one which assumes the world is basically a material, mechanical phenomenon; i.e., "natural philosophy." — Xtrix

All of this stands.

Science was once called natural philosophy. The assumption made is that of naturalism. Whether this is taken simply as the best method to understand the world doesn't matter -- it still involves ontology. It is rooted in ideas about truth, knowledge, and reality. Ideas about "objectivity" itself is based on a separation between an object and the subject -- another distinction which has a long history and should not be taken for granted.

The word "nature" and "physics" has the same root Greek word, which is itself an interesting fact and worth exploring -- for those interested in learning something, rather than posturing.

Science doesn't produce objective facts.

I said nothing about independent verification, which is one aspect of what's called science, yes.
— Xtrix

-So you don't get which quality is responsible for "independent verification"..... Let me give out some letters...it starts with "object" and ends with "ivity"...............
The objective nature of facts allow independent verification. — Nickolasgaspar

Science doesn't produce objective facts.

That was your claim, and I've already explained why it isn't so. Your digression about independent verification is a predictable distraction tactic.

If you are ignorant of the objective nature of the Scientific Method and the produced knowledge — Nickolasgaspar

Yes, please educate us all about what you've learned about the "Scientific Method" (which isn't capitalized, by the way) and its "objective nature" from your high school science course.

There is no scientific method. There are many methods, and many questions, that is employed by human beings to understand the world.

But in case anyone is following along this weird exchange: metaphysical naturalism, so called, is indeed what I'm talking about.
— Xtrix
-you literally stated :"-"Empiricism is fine, and I have a high respect for science, but your idea of what is "real" is a philosophical belief."
Science identifies what is real by justifying Knowledge Based beliefs...not a philosophical ones. This is achieved because the scientific claims that describe reality are Objectively true with Current facts( not absolute true based on ultimate knowledge/red herring). — Nickolasgaspar

It's funny listening to a person who can compose the above sentence give advice about "taking courses."How about a course in English?

"Science identifies what is real by..."

Yes, that's exactly my point. What is called "real" is, according to the view I was discussing, determined by science. Science, in turn, is not without ontology. You, like other believers in scientism, like to claim that there's a special "method" that "produces" objective facts -- that somehow this "knowledge" is distinguished from philosophy. None of that is the case.

Science has a philosophical basis. Science -- modern science -- has, in fact, emerged from philosophy, what used to be called "natural philosophy." Eventually you get to assumptions, axioms, beliefs, that cannot further be justified by appeals to empiricism, the senses, or "objectivity." I don't expect you to understand any of this, however -- you certainly haven't understood anything else I've written. You're interested solely in posturing, and you're making a fool of yourself.

"Knowledge Based" is not capitalized, by the way. Try engaging less with philosophy and more with basic writing and arithmetic.

MEthodological Naturalism is not a metaphysical worldview — Nickolasgaspar

I'll just quote myself again, since you unsurprisingly failed to read -- yet again:

metaphysical naturalism, so called, is indeed what I'm talking about. — Xtrix

So again -- forget talking philosophy and science. Try Hooked on Phonics.

I think I will have to explain to you what objectivity means. — Nickolasgaspar

Yes, because you've definitely demonstrated you're an authority in this conversation. :rofl:

I can't wait to see what profound insights you reveal...

When one can arrive at the same results with the method published by others that means that the conclusions are objective based on an objective methodological process. — Nickolasgaspar

Riveting!

"Conclusions are objective because they are based on objective methodological processes."

:up: :rofl:

Start with this:

The terms “objectivity” and “subjectivity,” in their modern usage, generally relate to a perceiving subject (normally a person) and a perceived or unperceived object. The object is something that presumably exists independent of the subject’s perception of it. In other words, the object would be there, as it is, even if no subject perceived it. Hence, objectivity is typically associated with ideas such as reality, truth and reliability.

A much better explanation.

You don't understand what objectivity is. What a shocker. No wonder you want to so desperately appear otherwise.

Again I am not sure you understand what Objectivity is!
Objective it doesn't mean absolute true or correct. IT means that a claim or an observation is in agreement with current accessible facts and others can verify that!!!!!!! — Nickolasgaspar

:)

Google "correspondence theory of truth," honey.

You're a poor scientism advocate. Too bad you want to spend your energy posturing instead of learning.

Priests, Lords, kings, politicians had it their way because none of their claims were objective. — Nickolasgaspar

"They just didn't have the Scientific Method yet!"

So great to know human beings, after 200 thousand years, stumbled upon a way to "objective truth."

A nice historical story, believed mostly by posturing simpletons.

Never mind. — Yohan

Exactly. This is not someone worth spending much time on. Likely a semi-literate high school student on an ego trip. Can barely read or write, but wants to give lectures about epistemology. Hilarious.

Science doesn't produce objective facts. "Science respects Objectivism" is meaningless to me -- and I don't know why you capitalize it. If you're referring to Ayn Rand's philosophy, then I have no idea why you'd invoke it here.
— Xtrix
1. Objective, independent verification is one of core scientific standards used in the evaluation of all theoretical framework. If that says nothing to you then you should take a modern course on Philosophy of Science ASAP. — Nickolasgaspar

Science doesn't produce objective facts.

I said nothing about independent verification, which is one aspect of what's called science, yes.

"Objectivism" means nothing in your context. You worded it poorly. Science tries to be objective -- if this is what you meant, fine. "Science respects Objectivism" (with the "O" capitalized) is meaningless. "Science" doesn't "respect" anything -- science is not a person. Also, "Objectivism" (capitalized) refers to the philosophy of Ayn Rand.

So perhaps "take a modern course" on elementary writing before giving lectures to others.

You are confusing Methodological Naturalism with Ontological Naturalism. Again the remedy is a course on Philosophy of Science. — Nickolasgaspar

:yawn:

First try showing you're not a complete imbecile before giving anyone advice about courses they should take. I realize I've wounded your ego, but statements like the above only prove my point.

You're mostly a waste of time. But in case anyone is following along this weird exchange: metaphysical naturalism, so called, is indeed what I'm talking about. Whatever "confusion" you're referring to you've simply invented, so that you can further pretend to act as an authority of some kind. But that's your own business.

True, many scientists are religious men and women -- what one may call religious or spiritual naturalists. That has nothing to do with what I'm saying.

(Side note: knowing the various "isms" of philosophy is usually a sign of someone who can't think his way out of a paper bag.)

-"It's as if you treat science as an industry that "produces" and "provides" human beings with "objective evidence," etc. If you pardon me, but that's a rather outdated view."
-You are confusing scientists with science. Again...take that course. — Nickolasgaspar

I never once mentioned scientists. Take a course on reading. And go create Scarecrows elsewhere.

(Why is it always the most ignorant among us who dole out statements like "Do your homework" and "Go take a course" or "Go read xyz," etc?)

-lol Again ....objective verification or falsification makes faith redundant, either we have facts to support our frameworks or we don't. — Nickolasgaspar

And what's the objective verification or objective verification?

Perhaps the world isn't "objective" at all. Perhaps ideas like "nature" itself have a long history and have changed in meaning as time passes.

Or we can stick with the faith (religion) vs. science view -- very commonplace, very simplistic. If this is what all this "philosophy of science" class-taking produces, I'm not impressed.

My honest advice: take a course in the philosophy of science. Don't just talk about it -- really do it. Also: reading comprehension and writing.

You're out of your league.

The article I posted above deals with this kind of despair. If we all lose heart, we guarantee the worst.

I recall us having discussions about whether it would make a relevant difference voting for Trump or Biden. Just wondering, because I'm not taking US laws and politics in this area, has Biden done anything relevant yet? — Benkei

Biden has been mostly rhetoric on climate change. But yes, there have been some relevant moves. The appointment of judges is also helpful to climate change.

I still am baffled by the question of whether or not voting against Trump was the right move. I didn't for a moment think that Biden was a good candidate, however, or would do wonders for the climate. He's been about the same as Obama.

-Science respects Objectivism. Emprirical methodologies are accepted due to their ability to produce objective frameworks....not because of an arbitrary belief. Any method being able to produce objective facts is and will be highly respected. — Nickolasgaspar

Science doesn't produce objective facts. "Science respects Objectivism" is meaningless to me -- and I don't know why you capitalize it. If you're referring to Ayn Rand's philosophy, then I have no idea why you'd invoke it here.

What is called science -- astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology -- has a multitude of methods, questions, assumptions. If we want to make generalizations, I tend to hold to the historical perspective, where "science" is natural philosophy. What we're "doing" when we do science is treating the world as natural or physical -- i.e., objective -- as substantive, quantitative, material. It takes on a view of the world as an object, a machine, or as forces acting on matter. Without this naturalistic assumption, it's hard to believe one is doing science. We look for natural explanations to natural phenomena.

All of what I said above is an ontological position. None of it is "arbitrary," nor did I say that.

ITs the rules of logic and evidence that point to what is real. Science just provides the objective evidence for us to make the ruling. — Nickolasgaspar

It's as if you treat science as an industry that "produces" and "provides" human beings with "objective evidence," etc. If you pardon me, but that's a rather outdated view.

-"It puts faith in the methods of science."
-No, we don't need faith to trust the methods of science. — Nickolasgaspar

Yes, we do. The fact you don't think faith is involved is exactly my point: you're a follower of scientism. Science and its methods don't require faith because it deals with objective truth, with reason. A view I once held, too. Ultimately misguided, but gives one a nice epistemological grounding.

-No scientism is the belief that only science can provide knowledge claims and scientific methods can answer everything. — Nickolasgaspar

That's not scientism. One doesn't have to claim that science can answer everything.

Having a belief in a system that has proven itself again and again its called "being reasonable". Science is the most reliable, methodical and systematic method we currently have. — Nickolasgaspar

Proven itself how? Also failed us, many times.

Again you treat science as if its well understood what it is. It isn't.

Science is not simple a "reliable, systematic method." There are many questions and many methods in studying nature. It cannot be reduced to a single "scientific method." That has been tried, and has failed over and over again. So by your account, it's reasonable to let go of that picture.

-" It also signifies a certain view of truth -- one basically of correspondence between the "objective" outside world determined by science, and the "subjective" world of our opinions and feelings. "
-It signifies a certain way to evaluate irrational claims and irrational claims...not Truth. Science doesn't deal with absolute truths since its frameworks are tentative based on current objective facts and observations( observations advance,facts change thus our science may change). — Nickolasgaspar

Science deals in truth. Facts and reality.

I never once mentioned "absolutely truth."

"Water is H20" isn't simply a "rational" claim -- it's true. Why is it true? Because there's mountains of evidence and reason supporting it.

There's no contradiction.

4.300 conflicting religious dogmas, 160+ spiritual supernatural worldviews etc have proven the untrustworthiness of subjective interpretations, feelings and opinions used as foundations for ontological claims. — Nickolasgaspar

There's that word "subjective." Again, you betray your own beliefs. In this case, a belief in the "objective" world, of a subject-object duality, of science as separate from "religious dogmas and spiritual worldviews," one that finally parts ways with faith and superstition, etc.

Some of this is true, but most of it is just a story we "smart guys" like to tell ourselves.

Modern science is great at dealing with causal relations, in making predictions, in finding ways to quantify and mathematicize questions -- I have high respect for scientists, as I've said.

None of this contradicts my point about ontology.

This ruling comes from logic..science only provides the evidence. — Nickolasgaspar

Sorry, but not all religious belief is founded on blind faith, as you seem to want to claim. Plenty of reasons, plenty of evidence, plenty of logic.

Science doesn't "provide" us with anything. We, as human beings, have our minds and our senses. The world provides the "evidence" and we can interpret/understand it in various ways. Natural philosophy -- seeing the world as objective -- is one interpretation.

-Those two great philosophers have really bad arguments on metaphysics and what is real. Everyone should read them but they should also be informed of the epistemology and Basic Logic which render their arguments unsound and bad philosophy. — Nickolasgaspar

You strike me as rather young. This is something a young person would say, in my view. I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't read a word of either philosopher.

Your entire response reeks of posturing. Please stop that. I'm not interested in ego or power struggles. You want to portray yourself as authoritative, but no one I have ever met who has had any real expertise has communicated as you do. I have grown very good at sniffing out shallowness.

-" Then take a look at what Neitzsche has to say about "perspectives" and Heidegger about the subject/object distinction. All that is very useful."
-They are useful ...only in an idealistic frame of reference. Within Methodological Naturalism and Instrumentalism they are useless. Its a waste of time and a huge argument from ignorance in my opinion. — Nickolasgaspar

This is what I mean. First you have no understand what I meant -- which you have shown no evidence of. Maybe I'm wrong: what exactly do I mean by Heidegger and the subject/object distinction? What exactly have you read of Heidegger? Of Nietzsche?

WHAT exactly are you referring to as a "waste of time and huge argument from ignorance"? You say "its" -- as many students do who try to bullshit their way through essays.

-" But rather than being the final court for truth, which encompasses philosophy (and relegates it to useless pondering), it is instead a subset of philosophy -- one which assumes the world is basically a material, mechanical phenomenon; i.e., "natural philosophy." "

-That is a factually wrong statement. — Nickolasgaspar

:roll:

It's not a factual statement at all. It's my opinion.

First of all science doesn't assume the world is material, mechanical etc.
Science is based on Methodological Naturalism meaning that we understand that the limits of our current methods of investigation and observations are limited within the Natural realm. So investigating the Natural aspects of the cosmos (matter, physical properties) is a Pragmatic Necessity, not an arbitrary philosophical bias. — Nickolasgaspar

I never once said it was "arbitrary" -- that is your own addition.

I never once said that science believes the world is only material and mechanical -- but those are indeed two important aspects of naturalism. There are also forces of nature, which are not material. And, of course, not everything is machine-like. But historically speaking, and even today, these are often assumed.

The essential feature of science, as I've repeated often, is its view of nature. Thus why it was once "natural philosophy."

So I'm not entirely sure what you're "disagreeing" with here, but it appears you very much want to.

Why you, as a relatively new person who has few posts, want to jump into a thread like this and start contradicting statements of mine -- which you demonstrate over and over that you don't understand -- is beyond me.

If you want clarification or to ask a question, I'm happy to answer. I'm not interested in posturing or lecturing.

We have to take this information with several grains of salt. Given how the war is going, how close Ukraine is to Russia geographically and culturally and just how badly they assessed this war going, gives us sound reason to suspect that Putin is very much in his own "Trump world". — Manuel

Yeah, I learn towards that position but I wouldn't be at all shocked if it turns out to be something I hadn't considered altogether.

I don't have a crystal ball so no clue really and I don't trust the news in normal times and actively distrust it in war times. — Benkei

Fair enough.

It is an established fact that the Russians thought it would be a ride in the park.

There are testimonies of arrested or kidnapped Ukrainians who report that their Russian captors argued with them about pretty much the same things argued on this thread: " But but but why are you resisting? We are only fighting NATO. Why do you hate us so much?" — Olivier5

I don't have a strong position on this issue, but I'm a skeptical when you say it's "established fact." I'm sure there are testimonies, and I'm sure some soldiers were convinced it would be a cake walk -- but does that include high commanders and Putin himself? Who knows. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's the case, but I'm truly uncertain.

A New York Times article recently suggests that Putin, being surrounded by "yes" men, had no idea the war would go this way. He thought Russian forces would (by and large) be welcomed with open arms. Do you all believe this?

Do you imagine Yalom is mistaken in his understanding of Heidegger, or is he being somewhat deceptive in order to add some kind of prestige to his model? — Tom Storm

I think he's taking some liberties and simplifying a little too much. But he's not completely wrong, in my view.

Heidegger spoke of two modes of existence: the everyday mode and the ontological mode. — ZzzoneiroCosm

I like Yalom a lot, but the link he finds to therapy is his own. The above wording isn't exactly right, either. The terms are ready-to-hand and present-at-hand modes of being. Both happen in our average everyday world, although it is argued that the ready-to-hand activities (especially our use of equipment) are primary.

What I think Yalom is doing is trying to take Heidegger and fit it into his often-discussed "here and now" emphasis of individual therapy. To not flee the fear of death, to look at oneself clearly, to put down everyday distractions and concerns. All that is fine, but links to Heidegger should be taken with a grain of salt.

Not to say that it only exists because we believe it exists but it must exist because the science says it must. — GBG

The "science" in this case being based on human reason, intelligence and creativity. Empiricism is fine, and I have a high respect for science, but your idea of what is "real" is a philosophical belief. "Real" is whatever science tells us is real, in this view. It puts faith in the methods of science. Thus it is itself a belief system -- often called "scientism." It also signifies a certain view of truth -- one basically of correspondence between the "objective" outside world determined by science, and the "subjective" world of our opinions and feelings. This is why nearly everyone who wrestles with these questions should read Descartes and Kant, at minimum, or at least familiarize yourself with their arguments. Then take a look at what Neitzsche has to say about "perspectives" and Heidegger about the subject/object distinction. All that is very useful.

At the end of the day, I think what's called "science" is the best we have for making predictions and understanding causal relations. But rather than being the final court for truth, which encompasses philosophy (and relegates it to useless pondering), it is instead a subset of philosophy -- one which assumes the world is basically a material, mechanical phenomenon; i.e., "natural philosophy."

While critical thinking and philosophy may sometimes sound like the same thing, I believe the areas of critical thinking that is considered to be philosophy (or perhaps just philosophy) is when such methods are used to solve real world issues and not just ponder academic ones — dclements

I agree that philosophy is a kind of thinking. I'm sure it involves aspects of critical thinking, too. But not all critical thinking is philosophy.

When I want to solve a puzzle or practical problem, I can employ critical thinking skills, but the question or problem at hand isn't necessarily a philosophical one. So I think you have it backwards in the last sentence: when something is done to solve real world issues, it's often not called philosophical.

Again I come back to my own opinion on this, which is that philosophy is a kind of thinking distinguished by its questions. The question of questions, in my view (and here I'm channeling Heidegger), is the question of being. The next question, equally important, is "What is good?" (in the sense of a good life, and thus how to live, and thus morality).

Science doen't matter if we believe in it or not it is still real. Whereas Dogma needs belief to exist. — GBG

It’s just not that simple. No matter how much Richard Dawkins we read.

Science was (and is) natural philosophy. The very concept of “nature” and “physics” has a long history. Defining “reality” as anything physical or natural is also not uncontroversial, so to make sweeping declarations like this is just childish.

‘OK Doomer’ and the Climate Advocates Who Say It’s Not Too Late

A growing chorus of young people is focusing on climate solutions. “‘It’s too late’ means ‘I don’t have to do anything, and the responsibility is off me.’”

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/climate/climate-change-ok-doomer.html?action=click&module=card&pageType=theWeekenderLink

Do you know much about outside the west? My first thought would be Confucianism, which I think has some substantial moral insights. — SatmBopd

I’m familiar mostly with Buddhism. But Hinduism and Taoism also have many interesting things to say about life and morality.

With all this bs in mind, I am looking for some objections. Does anybody know of a philosopher or philosophical project/ question that is more interesting or important? Who addresses the above issues better than Neitzsche? — SatmBopd

I don't think anyone addresses moral questions better than Nietzsche, at least in the West. The one exception may be Aristotle.

But in terms of philosophical questions in general, I would argue his question about morals/values is equalled only by the seinsfrage (especially as analyzed by Heidegger), and perhaps only in terms of "interest." (As far as "important," I don't know -- I think the question of morals is more pragmatic, and perhaps more relevant and pressing.)

- All of metaphysics is more or less inconsequential because irrespective of the constitution of the universe, as human beings we still need to address the question of how to interact with it. — SatmBopd

I think the question of being relates to the question of morals and values, and so to power and politics. Why? Because so much of the moral codes that develop and shape our behavior, and which pervade our cultures, is interconnected with an understanding of what a human being "is."

For example, in the middle ages the pervasive understanding of being was that the world was created, a creation of God. Human beings were thus creatures of God. I wouldn't say that medieval morality "followed" from this, or vice versa, but they certainly co-existed. And out of this view of human being came at least the intellectual grounding and justification for codes of conduct.

So you see how what seems a very abstract, removed, hifalutin question actually permeates every aspect of our lives, although mostly unconsciously (as was true for Christians in the middle ages). Right now we appear stuck in a "technological-nihilistic" understanding of being, according to Heidegger. I think that's right.

Science is fact, What we believe is Dogma and Philosophy is the stuff in between. — GBG

Eh. We believe plenty of things in science as well.

You really think the situation improves? — EugeneW

I have no idea. I do know that if people resign themselves to defeatism, it's guaranteed nothing will improve.

Not everyone who thinks is a thinker.
Again, the wrong logic. The very action of thinking is what defines the actor as a thinker. — god must be atheist

"As I said earlier..." Where I made a clear distinction by what kind of "thinking" I'm here referring to: philosophical thought. Which you'd know if you gave yourself the slightest pause before jumping in to point out an utter triviality.

The context:

I don't know if there is one alternative, but I don't see why "thinker" can't be used as meaning basically the same thing, if by thinking we mean the type of thinking involved in what is normally called philosophy (which, to me, is distinguished by the questions being contemplated). — Xtrix

-----

??? Whence do you suck these false statements out of, Xtrix? Are you by any chance the same user who goes under the name of Bartricks? You certainly sound like him or her.

I have no idea who or what you're talking about. But it's entertaining.

Is this an honest question, Xtrix? Are you really incapable of answering this question yourself? If you are, then why are you asking this? — god must be atheist

Here's some advice: try keeping up with the conversation by doing the bare minimum of reading both the response and what was being responded to.

The question, "What is the point of being a philosopher?" -- followed by the statement "Science is far more interesting" deserves the question I pose.

But feel free to continue prowling the forum for opportunities to display your intellectual superiority by responding to context-free fragments.

What exactly is the point of being a philosopher anyway? Science is far more interesting. — chiknsld

What’s the point of being a scientist?

I just don’t think it makes any sense for anyone to label themselves as a ‘philosopher’ if they have never actually read ( and I mean REALLY read) an actual work of philosophy. — I like sushi

I don’t see why. One can be a musician having never read a music book — or ever hear Beethoven.

I think the natural state of a human being is philosophical. — Yohan

I don’t think that’s true at all. I think many questions (usually considered philosophical) are very human, very universal — but as I said earlier, not everyone who thinks is a thinker.

I see it as a sort of … way of being, — Yohan

Agreed.



I was really impressed with Thin Red Line, and liked the New World — but over time I’m less impressed. Still, supposedly he’s a Heideggarian.

Let me throw this out here as well:

To be a philosopher, you must engage with one question above all others: the question of being.

But could Heidegger have done the same work as a movie director? — Tom Storm

Have you seen any Malick films?

And it's the question of competence that I am interested in and how this might be understood in relation to philosophy. Christ knows if it's possible. My thoughts, maybe they are reactions, are galvanized by the claim some make that anyone is a philosopher, that all it takes is a kind of reflection or a sort of love. My sense is it needs to be deeper than this. — Tom Storm

I think it is deeper than that, yet without relying on credentialism. There is no clear way to determine when one becomes worthy of the title "philosopher." Bertrand Russell once said that he didn't consider Marx a philosopher, for example -- and I know that's been debated quite sincerely.

But I would say that if one has been fascinated by the questions mentioned, has struggled with them (meaning thought them through for herself), persistently, for nearly all one's life -- I would say that qualifies. Whether one has read or had access to the classic books, has been formally educated, or has been credentialed is less relevant, but not entirely trivial (as it often, but not always, indicates much of the former factors have been met).

I dislike the term, ultimately, and personally I wouldn't describe myself that way until I at least contribute something original to these questions -- and not simply a synthesis. Yet that also rules out many others far more "credentialed" than I, who often do employ that label.

So it's tricky. I think it's fine for everyday use. But when we start seriously discussing it, I don't find it very useful.

I keep coming back to the idea that to be successful in philosophy (as I see it) one needs a solid awareness of the tradition and how ideas have been explored thus far. One can be a thinker and have no idea about the work already achieved. For me this latter part is important. — Tom Storm

I would include engagement with others, alive or dead, as part of philosophy -- and therefore part of the kind of thinking I was referring to. But you're correct in that one may ask themselves universal questions without ever having read a prior thinker who also engaged with the same questions. But here we don't have a real metric either. What if one engages with one's community and never picks up a book? I personally know many people who have barely read the original texts of a good many philosophers; if anything, they read commentary and synopses. Where does that fall in measuring success?

Perhaps I'm being uncharitable. I generally know what you're saying -- that a general awareness of these questions is valuable, and I agree. I think depriving oneself of the riches of the past is exactly like you mentioned, reinventing the wheel. But whether or not that is important in defining what makes a "philosopher" is debatable, and I'm skeptical of it.

Again, I consider Parmenides to be a philosopher. There were few people prior to him to read. Skip to today, and we call all kinds of people by their occupation -- from philosophers to economists to physicists -- who have read very little of the influential texts in their field. They still "do" what they do, and we don't find it odd to call them x, y, or z. I know several economists who've never read Adam Smith, and several programmers who have never read Boole's work.

What is the alternative to using the word philosopher? — Tom Storm

I don't know if there is one alternative, but I don't see why "thinker" can't be used as meaning basically the same thing, if by thinking we mean the type of thinking involved in what is normally called philosophy (which, to me, is distinguished by the questions being contemplated).

I laid out what I see as the requirements for being a philosopher. The people I listed all met those requirements. My point was to show that my set of criteria will identify people who we normally think of as philosophers. That helps show that my definition is consistent with everyday usage. — T Clark

I don't see how it's useful in any way. Yes, it's easy to point to Socrates. I'm sure most people would agree. Most people would agree Newton was a scientist. That doesn't tell us much about philosophy or science.

That doesn't really work for a philosopher, but it gets at some principles. Let's try this:

Commitment of your life to practicing philosophy to the exclusion of other important aspects
Ability to express your thoughts so other people can understand them
Submittal of your ideas to other philosophers and competent laymen for evaluation
Ability to competently defend your ideas — T Clark

I'm certainly in agreement with the first one. So maybe we just disagree about what philosophy is.

That's often claimed. But I don't think we know for sure who did.

Regardless— the term is fairly meaningless anyway. What most people signify with “philosopher” is, in my view, already worthless. So there’s little to “devalue” — unless you accept the common usage.
— Xtrix

"Philosopher" is a good name for what Aristotle, Plato, Russell, Wittgenstein, and all those other guys are. It's a useful term. — T Clark

I'm not sure they would agree. But even if they did, it's pretty easy to point to what is traditionally (and commonly) used as examples of what a "philosopher" is. I don't think that tells us much -- especially if it does nothing to clarify what philosophy or science is.

Before the word "philosopher" was even coined, what was happening? Was there no "philosophy"? I don't think so. I think Parmenides was as much deserving of the label "philosopher" as anyone.

Every human being can think; not every human being is a thinker.

[Also, it may be useful in an everyday sense -- but certainly not in a technical sense. So while I find nothing wrong with "work" as a useful word in everyday life, that itself doesn't make it useful in physics (where that string of letters takes on a completely different role, and is given a technical meaning).]

If that were true, it would completely devalue what calling someone a philosopher signifies. It would become meaningless. If you and I are philosophers, then no one is. — T Clark

I didn’t make that claim.

A philosopher is someone who, presumably, engages in philosophy — I’d say more than occasionally.

Occasionally doing mathematics doesn’t make one a mathematician, either.

Regardless— the term is fairly meaningless anyway. What most people signify with “philosopher” is, in my view, already worthless. So there’s little to “devalue” — unless you accept the common usage.

If you're asking perennial, universal questions -- you're "doing" philosophy. For that moment, you're a philosopher.

It's a kind of thinking.

In today's world, what people really mean is someone who has credentials, teaches, or has published works dealing with these questions. I don't buy that myself, but I think that's the general usage.

Worth watching for the climate change piece alone. Valuable. I still have a deep respect for Sagan.

There’s a reason why we have two words. — Possibility

What’s the reason?

Again, there's no technical notion for either word. What I'm asking about is usage. It appears most people (so far) do not use them interchangeably. Fair enough. But I'm not seeing good reasons for doing so thus far.

Let me be lazy and quote Wikipedia:

Awareness is the state of being conscious of something. More specifically, it is the ability to directly know and perceive, to feel, or to be cognizant of events. Another definition describes it as a state wherein a subject is aware of some information when that information is directly available to bring to bear in the direction of a wide range of behavioral actions.[1] The concept is often synonymous to consciousness and is also understood as being consciousness itself.[2]

I think this is pretty fair.

It's ultimately a minor point, I suppose. I see most of our lives as being lived in a fairly automatic, unconscious/unaware state anyway.

Where are you trying to get to? — Possibility

A clearer understanding of consciousness and awareness -- basically by acknowledging that there's no good reason to see them as anything but synonymous.

Awareness as information in relation to ‘other’ gives us a basic structure of information we can apply to all levels of relation, from virtual particles to conceptual systems (and possibly beyond), without entertaining the idea that rock are conscious. — Possibility

Awareness = information in relation to "other" is meaningless to me. If you want to make that clearer, I'm happy to learn.

If you can add any set of random four-digit numbers together in your head, you are thinking without sensing. — Mww

I'm seeing the numbers, in my case. Regardless, even if I were blind I don't see how arithmetic is relevant here, unless we want to define "thinking" as numeric operations.

In some Buddhist traditions, mind itself is a sense. And presumably, you have to be conscious to add numbers.

I don't see any reason to take for granted traditional ideas of thought, mind, sense, or consciousness.

I don’t see how anyone can make such vast generalizations about women.

True, I think women are far more likely to be dehumanized— but that’s a product of culture.

Aware means conscious. Consciousness is conscious being. — EugeneW

Awareness/consciousness is a characteristic (or state) of being.

“Consciousness is conscious being” makes little sense to me. I can’t make heads or tails of it.