Post by mray147 on Jan 19, 2015 3:16:02 GMT
Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?
Physics in a general sense is a way for us to study and understand the very building blocks of our universe and how they interact with each other. Now, Philosophy is a very broad subject which includes mathematic, ethics, morality, and natural sciences. Obviously, physics is important because without the fundamental laws of physics, we may not even be able to practice philosophy. The less obvious is dependent on how we use philosophy to better understand what we learn through physics and what exactly those revelations mean to us as conscious beings. Without the study of physics, certain philosophical achievements may not have come to be or would seem completely absurd. Likewise, without philosophy, we may be able to better understand the universe, but it may have no meaning whatsoever to the human mind.
What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it.
Eliminative materialism is the process by which we replace old, more absurd, beliefs with more factual answers to why certain things happen. Basically, in the attempt of understanding a process, in order to find the answer one would turn to physics, then chemistry, then biology, then psychology and eventually arriving at sociology. This process is how we ditched old pagan gods for more realistic reasoning. What might have been believed to be some sort of demonic possession in the medieval times would now be considered a mental illness. Psychology uses concepts such as love, anger, sadness, and desire in order to better understand our motivations to do the things we do. These terms were a step up from old mythological and religious beliefs. Eliminative Materialism is, in essence, the reason why philosophy and religion clash. While philosophy and other subjects lose older, proven incorrect, beliefs, religion fails to do so.
Physics in a general sense is a way for us to study and understand the very building blocks of our universe and how they interact with each other. Now, Philosophy is a very broad subject which includes mathematic, ethics, morality, and natural sciences. Obviously, physics is important because without the fundamental laws of physics, we may not even be able to practice philosophy. The less obvious is dependent on how we use philosophy to better understand what we learn through physics and what exactly those revelations mean to us as conscious beings. Without the study of physics, certain philosophical achievements may not have come to be or would seem completely absurd. Likewise, without philosophy, we may be able to better understand the universe, but it may have no meaning whatsoever to the human mind.
What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it.
Eliminative materialism is the process by which we replace old, more absurd, beliefs with more factual answers to why certain things happen. Basically, in the attempt of understanding a process, in order to find the answer one would turn to physics, then chemistry, then biology, then psychology and eventually arriving at sociology. This process is how we ditched old pagan gods for more realistic reasoning. What might have been believed to be some sort of demonic possession in the medieval times would now be considered a mental illness. Psychology uses concepts such as love, anger, sadness, and desire in order to better understand our motivations to do the things we do. These terms were a step up from old mythological and religious beliefs. Eliminative Materialism is, in essence, the reason why philosophy and religion clash. While philosophy and other subjects lose older, proven incorrect, beliefs, religion fails to do so.