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#1
11-04-2007, 03:52 AM
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Where does philosophy come from?
Where does philosophy come from?
Western philosophy emerged in the sixth century BC along the Ionian coast. A small group of scientist-philosophers began writing about their attempts to develop “rational” accounts regarding human experience. These early Pre-Socratic thinkers thought that they were dealing with fundamental elements of nature. It is natural for humans to seek knowledge. In the “Metaphysics” Aristotle wrote “All men by nature desire to know”. The attempt to seek knowledge presupposes that the world unfolds in a systematic pattern and that we can gain knowledge of that unfolding. Cognitive science identifies several ideas that seem to come naturally to us and labels such ideas as “Folk Theories”. The Folk Theory of the Intelligibility of the World The world makes systematic sense, and we can gain knowledge of it. The Folk Theory of General Kinds Every particular thing is a kind of thing. The Folk Theory of Essences Every entity has an “essence” or “nature,” that is, a collection of properties that makes it the kind of thing it is and that is the causal source of its natural behavior. The consequences of the two theories of kinds and essences is: The Foundational Assumption of Metaphysics Kinds exist and are defined by essences. We may not want our friends to know this fact but we are all metaphysicians. We, in fact, assume that things have a nature thereby we are led by the metaphysical impulse to seek knowledge at various levels of reality. Cognitive science has uncovered these ideas they have labeled as Folk Theories. Such theories when compared to sophisticated philosophical theories are like comparing mountain music with classical music. Such theories seem to come naturally to human consciousness. The information comes primarily from “Philosophy in the Flesh” by Lakoff and Johnson. 
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#2
11-04-2007, 04:24 PM
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Re: Where does philosophy come from?
People classify things because it helps them make sense of a world that they have, until recently, lacked the ability to understand. We have evolved the tendency to view the world in terms of "kinds" and "essences" in the same sense that we have evolved the tendency to see patterns where there are none. That humans naturally tend to group things together is no indication that their groupings are valid, and it's no wonder so many "great" metaphysicians have failed to make a single accurate prediction and have instead come to patently absurd conclusions. "It's easy to assume x, therefore x must be true" - I think collectively we are better than this (finally).
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#3
11-04-2007, 08:04 PM
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Re: Where does philosophy come from?
[ QUOTE ]
People classify things because it helps them make sense of a world that they have, until recently, lacked the ability to understand. [/ QUOTE ] You are describing yourself and your own post. lol [ QUOTE ] We have evolved the tendency to view the world in terms of "kinds" and "essences" in the same sense that we have evolved the tendency to see patterns where there are none. [/ QUOTE ] Everything is a part of a greater whole. Same with "patterns". [ QUOTE ] so many "great" metaphysicians have failed to make a single accurate prediction and have instead come to patently absurd conclusions. "It's easy to assume x, therefore x must be true" [/ QUOTE ] What predictions are you referring to? Please enlighten me. Please define "X" with a true example.
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#4
11-04-2007, 10:23 PM
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Re: Where does philosophy come from?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] People classify things because it helps them make sense of a world that they have, until recently, lacked the ability to understand. [/ QUOTE ] You are describing yourself and your own post. lol [/ QUOTE ] Yeah. [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] We have evolved the tendency to view the world in terms of "kinds" and "essences" in the same sense that we have evolved the tendency to see patterns where there are none. [/ QUOTE ] Everything is a part of a greater whole. Same with "patterns". [/ QUOTE ] Yup. What's your point? [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] so many "great" metaphysicians have failed to make a single accurate prediction and have instead come to patently absurd conclusions. "It's easy to assume x, therefore x must be true" [/ QUOTE ] What predictions are you referring to? Please enlighten me. Please define "X" with a true example. [/ QUOTE ] Almost every philosopher until Hume was guilty of this. Aristotle's a good example because he gets a lot of (undeserved IMO) veneration even today. His ideas about how objects fall (that heavy objects fall faster than light objects) for one. But his whole approach was bogus, and he was full of silly [censored]. His view of science was narrow-minded at best, and largely because he took a pov similar to that coberst is describing.
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#5
11-04-2007, 11:14 PM
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Re: Where does philosophy come from?
U evaded my questions.
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#6
11-04-2007, 11:19 PM
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Re: Where does philosophy come from?
You only asked on question, about what predictions I was referring to. I gave you Aristotle's as an example. You told me to give an example of "X," so I mentioned Aristotle's prediction that heavy objects will fall faster than light objects.
Where am I being evasive?
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#7
11-04-2007, 08:06 PM
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Re: Where does philosophy come from?
[ QUOTE ]
Where does philosophy come from? [/ QUOTE ] From the burning desire for truth.
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#8
11-04-2007, 08:12 PM
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Re: Where does philosophy come from?
From people like those who write on this board? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Maybe smarter, maybe dumber, maybe more or less educated. But I think the basic drive for answers and debate is indeed the same.
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