Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Against Coherence', 'Elimination of Metaphysics by Analysis of Language' and 'In Defence of Pure Reason'

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2 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 1. Philosophy
Philosophy is a priori if it is anything [Bonjour]
     Full Idea: My conviction is that philosophy is a priori if it is anything.
     From: Laurence Bonjour (In Defence of Pure Reason [1998], Pref)
     A reaction: How about knowledge of a posteriori necessities, such as the length of a metre, known by observation of the standard metre in Paris?
1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 7. Against Metaphysics
Metaphysics uses empty words, or just produces pseudo-statements [Carnap]
     Full Idea: Since metaphysics doesn't want to assert analytic propositions, nor fall within the domain of physical science, it is compelled to employ words for which no criteria of application are specified, ..or else combine meaningful words..into pseudo-statements.
     From: Rudolph Carnap (Elimination of Metaphysics by Analysis of Language [1959]), quoted by Tim Maudlin - The Metaphysics within Physics 2.4
     A reaction: A classic summary of the logical positivist rejection of metaphysics. I incline to treat metaphysics as within the domain of science, but at a level of generality so high that practising scientists become bewildered and give up.