Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Richard Posner, John Searle and Richard L. Kirkham

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2 ideas

7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 6. Physicalism
Reality is entirely particles in force fields [Searle]
     Full Idea: One can accept the obvious facts of physics, that the world consists entirely of physical particles in fields of force.
     From: John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Intro)
     A reaction: I agree with this proposal, with the cautious proviso that physics may discover further basic aspects to reality. The only obstacles to this view are possible divine and mental substances, neither of which is supported by adequate evidence.
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 8. Facts / b. Types of fact
Why can there not be disjunctive, conditional and negative facts? [Kirkham]
     Full Idea: It has been said that there are no disjunctive facts, conditional facts, or negative facts. ...but it is not at all clear why there cannot be facts of this sort.
     From: Richard L. Kirkham (Theories of Truth: a Critical Introduction [1992], 5.6)
     A reaction: I love these sorts of facts, and offer them as a naturalistic basis for logic. You probably need the world to have modal features, but I have those in the form of powers and dispositions.