Category Archives: Metaphysics
Metaphysical determinism
There is a hypothesis called the Sapir-Whorf Thesis (also known as linguistic relativity) in language that one can only think what one’s language permits you to think, and indeed forces you to think. This idea that some conceptual scheme can … Continue reading →
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Filed under Epistemology, General Science, History, Logic and philosophy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Science, Sermon, Theories
The Knight’s Song, or What is a [scientific] theory?
“Or else it doesn’t, you know. The name of the song is called ‘Haddocks’ Eyes.’” “Oh, that’s the name of the song, is it?” Alice said, trying to feel interested. “No, you don’t understand,” the Knight said, looking a little … Continue reading →
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Hume’s Dialogues: A coloured edition
Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion is one of the very best philosophical works ever written, as I was reminded this morning while seeking a passage. But it is not easily available in a decent format online. Sure, you can download a … Continue reading →
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Filed under History, Logic and philosophy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Religion
What, however, is the EAAN?
[Previous posts: One and Two] I may have been too hasty in my acceptance that Plantinga’s Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism was not what I had originally given. As commenter Nick Matzke pointed out, Plantinga seems to be doing a bit … Continue reading →
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Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, Logic and philosophy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Religion
Quote: Nominalism
Nominalism has often been misunderstood in the past, perhaps because of the associations of the word itself. Properly conceived, nominalism has nothing to do with names. It is, quite precisely, the thesis that everything which exists is an individual, and is … Continue reading →
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Filed under History, Logic and philosophy, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Quotes
Did Popper and Quine invent “Aristotelian essentialism”?
There are many narratives told about evolution. One of the most widely told is the Essentialism Story, replayed in textbook, popular storytelling and philosophy alike. It goes like this: Before Darwin, biologists were constrained by essentialist thinking, in which they … Continue reading →
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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
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
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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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
