Category Archives: Epistemology

by | February 11, 2012

Is Santorum the finest mind of the 13th century?

Apparently a reviewer of one of his books so called him that because he applies natural law theory to moral and political policy. I think he’s just warmed over neo-Thomism with a dash of Newman, no small thing in itself, … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, History, Science

by | February 4, 2012

Is the dismal science even possible?

A thought occurred to me. Given that money is an abstraction of an abstraction (value) of an abstraction (resources and labor) of things, and so has no standing in any ontology of society, is economics even possible as a science? … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Science

by | January 31, 2012

Plantinga’s EAAN

A post now up at the Philosopher’s Carnival discusses Alvin Plantinga’s Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism (EAAN), and comment how it is like (not exactly the same) as a global skepticism argument being self-defeating. Plantinga’s argument goes like this: P1. If … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, Logic and philosophy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Religion, Science

by | January 15, 2012

Notes on Novelty 8: Conclusion – Post evo-devo

Notes on Novelty series: 1. Introduction 2. Historical considerations – before and after evolution 3: The meaning of evolutionary novelty 4: Examples – the beetle’s horns and the turtle’s shell 5: Evolutionary radiations and individuation 6: Levels of description 7: Surprise! 8: Conclusion – Post evo-devo … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, General Science, Logic and philosophy, Metaphysics, Natural Classification, Philosophy, Science, Species and systematics, Truisms

by | January 14, 2012

Notes on novelty 7: Surprise!

Notes on Novelty series: 1. Introduction 2. Historical considerations – before and after evolution 3: The meaning of evolutionary novelty 4: Examples – the beetle’s horns and the turtle’s shell 5: Evolutionary radiations and individuation 6: Levels of description 7: Surprise! 8: Conclusion – Post evo-devo … Continue reading →

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Filed under Cognition, Epistemology, Evolution, Logic and philosophy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Science

by | January 7, 2012

Notes on novelty 6: Levels of description

Notes on Novelty series: 1. Introduction 2. Historical considerations – before and after evolution 3: The meaning of evolutionary novelty 4: Examples – the beetle’s horns and the turtle’s shell 5: Evolutionary radiations and individuation 6: Levels of description 7: Surprise! 8: Conclusion – Post evo-devo … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Science

by | January 3, 2012

Affirming the consequent and doing science and history

Here’s a conundrum for the simple minded: One of the classic fallacies is the fallacy of affirming the consequent: If P then Q, Q, therefore P It’s an obvious logical fallacy because there might be many reasons for Q. And … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, Philosophy, Science

by | December 31, 2011

Notes on novelty 5: Evolutionary radiations and individuation

Notes on Novelty series: 1. Introduction 2. Historical considerations – before and after evolution 3: The meaning of evolutionary novelty 4: Examples – the beetle’s horns and the turtle’s shell 5: Evolutionary radiations and individuation 6: Levels of description 7: Surprise! 8: Conclusion – Post evo-devo … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Science, Species and systematics

by | December 29, 2011

Irreducible complexity robotics

Click on the image to go to the comic.

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Filed under Creationism and Intelligent Design, Epistemology, Evolution, Humor, Philosophy

by | December 18, 2011

Notes on novelty 2: Historical considerations – before and after evolution

Notes on Novelty series:1. Introduction2. Historical considerations – before and after evolution3: The meaning of evolutionary novelty4: Examples – the beetle’s horns and the turtle’s shell5: Evolutionary radiations and individuation6: Levels of description7: Surprise! 8: Conclusion – Post evo-devo The roots of novelty in biology are … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Science