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Single Idea 9408

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 6. Hopes for Philosophy ]

Full Idea

Science deals with the phenomena, ..but it is metaphysics, and only metaphysics, that tells us what ultimately exists.

Gist of Idea

Science studies phenomena, but only metaphysics tells us what exists

Source

Stephen Mumford (Laws in Nature [2004], 01.2)

Book Ref

Mumford,Stephen: 'Laws in Nature' [Routledge 2006], p.6


The 11 ideas with the same theme [optimistic views of what philosophy can achieve]:

Socrates opened philosophy to all, but Plato confined moral enquiry to a tiny elite [Vlastos on Socrates]
If all laws were abolished, philosophers would still live as they do now [Aristippus elder]
Even people who go astray in their opinions have contributed something useful [Aristotle]
Free thinking has no presuppositions [Hegel]
Philosophy is a search for real truth [Peirce]
Philosophy is more valuable than much of science, because of its beauty [Nietzsche]
A well-posed problem is a problem solved [Bergson, by Deleuze/Guattari]
If a question can be framed at all, it is also possible to answer it [Wittgenstein]
For a good theory of the world, we must focus on our flabby foundational vocabulary [Quine]
It is no longer possible to be a sage, but we can practice the exercise of wisdom [Hadot]
Science studies phenomena, but only metaphysics tells us what exists [Mumford]