tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472139466585018053.post1823906325381811814..comments2024-03-11T04:11:06.487-04:00Comments on The Smithy: David Lewis on PhilosophyLee Faberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00476833516234522602noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472139466585018053.post-47025686660091148292010-01-20T06:44:38.064-05:002010-01-20T06:44:38.064-05:00The quote is from an article he wrote called "...<i>The quote is from an article he wrote called "Possible Worlds"</i><br /><br />I saw that recently too – it's actually from the section with that title in his book <i>Counterfactuals</i> (1973, §4.1). It's a nice idea, but I don't think he took it seriously enough. The <i>reductio ad absurdum</i> has lost its force because modern philosophers don't know absurdity when they see it.Brunellushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08630207490739621242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472139466585018053.post-84753199352046582112010-01-19T03:44:22.121-05:002010-01-19T03:44:22.121-05:00phi·los·o·phy (fĭ-lŏs'ə-fē) n.
The attempt to...phi·los·o·phy (fĭ-lŏs'ə-fē) n.<br /><br />The attempt to answer the question: What is philosophy?<br /><br />There are several sub-fields and sub-questions:<br /><br />metaphysics: the attempt to know (see epistemology)what is is.<br />epistemology: to know why it is impossible to know what it is to know.<br />logic: who's on first?<br />philosophy of nature: the attempt to know (see epistemology) what 'What' (see logic) is (see metaphysics). In modern times this is called Science, which as the poet Browning says, has given us many truths, all of them trivial.<br /><br />So far (in only 3,000 years of trying) philosophers have answered the question 'What is philosophy?' with: whatever philosophy is it's not theology. This is the unanimous opinion of all philosophers except for those who have a contrary opinion.ATnoreply@blogger.com