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Single Idea 8378

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / G. Scientific Philosophy / 3. Scientism ]

Full Idea

Philosophers are too apt to take their views on science from each other, not from science.

Gist of Idea

Philosophers usually learn science from each other, not from science

Source

Bertrand Russell (On the Notion of Cause [1912], p.178)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'Mysticism and Logic' [Unwin 1989], p.178


A Reaction

This wasn't true of Russell, but it is certainly true of me. I rely on philosophical researchers to find the interesting bits of science for me (like blindsight). Memo to myself: read more science.


The 7 ideas from 'On the Notion of Cause'

The law of causality is a source of confusion, and should be dropped from philosophy [Russell]
'Necessary' is a predicate of a propositional function, saying it is true for all values of its argument [Russell]
If causes are contiguous with events, only the last bit is relevant, or the event's timing is baffling [Russell]
Philosophers usually learn science from each other, not from science [Russell]
In causal laws, 'events' must recur, so they have to be universals, not particulars [Russell]
Striking a match causes its igniting, even if it sometimes doesn't work [Russell]
The constancy of scientific laws rests on differential equations, not on cause and effect [Russell]