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Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics' and 'Realistic Rationalism'

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2 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 3. Philosophy Defined
Traditionally philosophy is an a priori enquiry into general truths about reality [Katz]
     Full Idea: The traditional conception of philosophy is that it is an a priori enquiry into the most general facts about reality.
     From: Jerrold J. Katz (Realistic Rationalism [2000], Int.xi)
     A reaction: I think this still defines philosophy, though it also highlights the weakness of the subject, which is over-confidence about asserting necessary truths. How could the most god-like areas of human thought be about anything else?
Most of philosophy begins where science leaves off [Katz]
     Full Idea: Philosophy, or at least one large part of it, is subsequent to science; it begins where science leaves off.
     From: Jerrold J. Katz (Realistic Rationalism [2000], Int.xxi)
     A reaction: In some sense this has to be true. Without metaphysics there couldn't be any science. Rationalists should not forget, though, the huge impact which Darwin's science has (or should have) on fairly abstract philosophy (e.g. epistemology).