If you have the essence, you have it all. Or, not.

I came across an interesting argument by Frederick Copleston in his A History of Philosophy: Volume 1. I will give the quote in question and then share some comments.

An Education In Virtue

"But I take it...what we have in mind is education from childhood in virtue, a training which produces a keen desire to become a perfect citizen..." from Plato's Laws I (643e)

Towers of Babel, Universal Agreement, and Consequences

There are precious few understandings that produce universal agreement among those who could understand. It seems reasonable that mathematical understandings, logical understandings, and scientific understandings are the best candidates; and a precious few indeed. What does this mean and is it good?

The No-Driving Mechanic

Imagine a mechanic who cannot drive.

Epistemic Humility As Disposition

With the last post in mind ( found here), I want to come to a clearer understanding of epistemic humility. I want us to think about what we are being asked to do, when asked to nurture epistemic humility. Or better, what are we not asked to do? Epistemic humility could be misunderstood as a request to both believe and not-believe what we in fact do believe. I want to show that is not the request.

Realized Ignorance

I am going to assume, for the moment, that any approach to achieving peaceful coexistence among differing cultures, religions, worldviews, ideologies, etc. will include an account for nurturing epistemic humility. As the world we inhabit “shrinks,” we must find a way to peacefully agree to disagree. More to the point, it is imperative that we realize our ignorance, both individually and as a community.

Is Death Natural?

Is death natural?  It would seem that there is very little that is obviously more natural than death.  Every living being we perceive in this world comes into being, lives, and dies.  So why even ask the question?  I ask the question because we do not act as if death is natural.  In some ways we act as if death is unnatural.  It seems to me that if death is one of the obviously natural events in the existence of a living being, then the way that many living beings react to the prospect of death is strange.  Likewise, if death is simply a natural part of living; then why do we not welcome it, embrace it, cheer when a loved one's life ends?  I suppose there are a number of reasons why we do not embrace death and look forward to it.  Nonetheless, given the way we actually do, in most cases,seek to avoid death and become sad when our loved ones die...Is death natural?

Time and Meaning

In his recent offering for The New York Times titled "On Modern Time," Espen Hammer examines modern society's perception of time.  Hammer's prognosis is bleak.  Modern society is dissatisfied and the clock is to blame.  So what is the remedy?  Hammer offers one, but it seems wholly unhelpful.  Nonetheless, the subject (i.e. time) is important. That being the case, I would like to share some thoughts that Hammer's treatment of the subject brought to mind.

Does the Scientific Method Employ a Logical Fallacy?

In The Limitation of Bacon's Scientific Method Jacob Schriftman suggests that the scientific method is based on the formal logical fallacy commonly known as "Affirming the Consequent."  If correct, this is an astounding claim.  Could it be that the scientific method is founded on bad reasoning?  In this post I will attempt to explain the suggestion made by Schriftman and then I will share my thoughts on the implications.

Worldviews, Primary Assumptions, and Certainty

In the last post ("Atheism: Worldview or Objective Point of View") I promised 1) to show why I believe that all people have a worldview, and 2) to show why I believe that all worldviews are based on primary assumptions that are not ultimately subject to evidence or reason.

Does Christian Philosophy Matter? Part II

In this post I want to finish what was mentioned at the end of Part I of "Does Christian Philosophy Matter?"  Then I will try to explain why I think Christian philosophy does matter.

Does Christian Philosophy Matter? Part I

In his recent article "Does Philosophy Matter?" found in The New York Times op-ed page, Stanley Fish argues that,

"...the conclusions reached in philosophical disquisitions...do not travel into contexts that are not explicitly philosophical (as seminars, academic journals, and conferences are), and they do not even make their way into the non-philosophical lives of those who hold them."

In Part I of this post I will address what I believe to be Fish's basic position.  Then I will show why I both agree and disagree with that position.  In Part II, I will address the not wholly unrelated question, "Does Christian Philosophy Matter?"