Post by alangarcia on Jan 19, 2015 6:23:43 GMT
1. Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?
Understanding physics and the universe’s general rules is key to doing philosophy because by fathoming them we can begin to understand the fundamental nature of knowledge and answer some of life’s most profound questions, debates, and mysteries. Although we do not have everything figured out, we have fundamentals in our understanding of physics. In the String Theory video it was put forth that the universe contained four main forces: electromagnetism, strong force, weak nuclear force, and gravity. Those four key forces shape the way scientist understand and explain their theories. Of these theories the most profound and complex is the Quantum theory which brought about Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. According to the book Quantum Weirdness and Greene’s films, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle states that “the more they comprehend how fast [an] electron is traveling the less they know about where it is exactly located” (Lane 5) . Similarly, “when they do get a fix on its position they lose sight of its momentum” (Lane 5). Soon this lead to the introduction of a fundamental problem and realization: “the very act of observing changes what [is] observed” (Lane 6). All together it is imperative to understand that, as Bohr stated, “physics concerns what we say about Nature” and therefore makes understanding physics critical to answering our own questions in philosophy (qtd in Lane 20). As Russell explained, “we all start from naïve realism” and understand things as we perceive them when in reality we are experiencing the effect things have on ourselves (qtd in Lane 15). Therefore, by understanding physics and the general rules of the universe we gain a better understanding of philosophy.
2. What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it.
Eliminative materialism is the assertion and understandings that some ideas people have in their minds do exist. Furthermore, it puts forth that people’s understanding of the mind and mental states are false. One example, as the first film Eliminative Materialism explains, is that the sciences of physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and sociology developed and began explaining previous ways of thought and reason. The second Eliminative Materialism clip provides a second example when it explains that in the past they talked about “ghosts pulling this and that muscle” but now we “talk about the central nervous system”. And finally a third example is that Eliminative Materialism is “reason made large”. Moreover, it is pointed out in the last clip that we make the mistake of not allowing Eliminative Materialism to understand ourselves, and therefore we resort to explaining what we do with terms such as “love, desire, motivation . . . free will” all which are old “comprehensions of our consciousness”. Altogether, Eliminative Materialism is a stand that is taken to explain that people resort to incorrect assumptions of the mind; therefore, it takes their false beliefs and eliminates them by explaining them cogently.
Understanding physics and the universe’s general rules is key to doing philosophy because by fathoming them we can begin to understand the fundamental nature of knowledge and answer some of life’s most profound questions, debates, and mysteries. Although we do not have everything figured out, we have fundamentals in our understanding of physics. In the String Theory video it was put forth that the universe contained four main forces: electromagnetism, strong force, weak nuclear force, and gravity. Those four key forces shape the way scientist understand and explain their theories. Of these theories the most profound and complex is the Quantum theory which brought about Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. According to the book Quantum Weirdness and Greene’s films, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle states that “the more they comprehend how fast [an] electron is traveling the less they know about where it is exactly located” (Lane 5) . Similarly, “when they do get a fix on its position they lose sight of its momentum” (Lane 5). Soon this lead to the introduction of a fundamental problem and realization: “the very act of observing changes what [is] observed” (Lane 6). All together it is imperative to understand that, as Bohr stated, “physics concerns what we say about Nature” and therefore makes understanding physics critical to answering our own questions in philosophy (qtd in Lane 20). As Russell explained, “we all start from naïve realism” and understand things as we perceive them when in reality we are experiencing the effect things have on ourselves (qtd in Lane 15). Therefore, by understanding physics and the general rules of the universe we gain a better understanding of philosophy.
2. What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it.
Eliminative materialism is the assertion and understandings that some ideas people have in their minds do exist. Furthermore, it puts forth that people’s understanding of the mind and mental states are false. One example, as the first film Eliminative Materialism explains, is that the sciences of physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and sociology developed and began explaining previous ways of thought and reason. The second Eliminative Materialism clip provides a second example when it explains that in the past they talked about “ghosts pulling this and that muscle” but now we “talk about the central nervous system”. And finally a third example is that Eliminative Materialism is “reason made large”. Moreover, it is pointed out in the last clip that we make the mistake of not allowing Eliminative Materialism to understand ourselves, and therefore we resort to explaining what we do with terms such as “love, desire, motivation . . . free will” all which are old “comprehensions of our consciousness”. Altogether, Eliminative Materialism is a stand that is taken to explain that people resort to incorrect assumptions of the mind; therefore, it takes their false beliefs and eliminates them by explaining them cogently.