7068
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If infatuation with science leads to bad scientism, its rejection leads to obscurantism [Critchley]
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Full Idea:
If what is mistaken in much contemporary philosophy is its infatuation with science, which leads to scientism, then the equally mistaken rejection of science leads to obscurantism.
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From:
Simon Critchley (Continental Philosophy - V. Short Intro [2001], Ch.1)
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A reaction:
Clearly a balance has to be struck. I take philosophy to be a quite separate discipline from science, but it is crucial that philosophy respects the physical facts, and scientists are the experts there. Scientists are philosophers' most valued servants.
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7075
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To meet the division in our life, try the Subject, Nature, Spirit, Will, Power, Praxis, Unconscious, or Being [Critchley]
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Full Idea:
Against the Kantian division of a priori and empirical, Fichte offered activity of the subject, Schelling offered natural force, Hegel offered Spirit, Schopenhauer the Will, Nietzsche power, Marx praxis, Freud the unconscious, and Heidegger offered Being.
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From:
Simon Critchley (Continental Philosophy - V. Short Intro [2001])
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A reaction:
The whole of Continental Philosophy summarised in a sentence. Fichte and Schopenhauer seem to point to existentialism, Schelling gives evolutionary teleology, Marx abandons philosophy, the others are up the creek.
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9286
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Consciousness is not a stuff, but is explained by the relations between experiences [James]
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Full Idea:
Consciousness connotes a kind of external relation, and not a special stuff or way of being. The peculiarity of our experiences, that they not only are, but are known, is best explained by their relations to one another, the relations being experiences.
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From:
William James (Does Consciousness Exist? [1904], §3)
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A reaction:
This view has suddenly caught people's interest. It might be better than the higher/lower relationship, which seems to leave the basic problem untouched. Does a whole network of relations between experiences gradually 'add up' to consciousness?
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9285
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'Consciousness' is a nonentity, a mere echo of the disappearing 'soul' [James]
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Full Idea:
'Consciousness' is the name of a nonentity. ..Those who cling to it are clinging to a mere echo, the faint rumour left behind by the disappearing 'soul' upon the air of philosophy. ..I deny that it stands for an entity, but it does stand for a function.
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From:
William James (Does Consciousness Exist? [1904], Intro)
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A reaction:
This kind of view is often treated as being preposterous, but I think it is correct. No one is denying the phenomenology, but it is the ontology which is at stake. Either you are a substance dualist, or mind must be eliminated as an 'entity'.
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23257
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We can treat people as equals, or actually treat them equally [Dworkin, by Grayling]
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Full Idea:
Dworkin distinguishes between treating people as equals, that is, 'with equal concern and respect', and treating them equally. This latter can be unjust.
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From:
report of Ronald Dworkin (Taking Rights Seriously [1977]) by A.C. Grayling - The Good State 2
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A reaction:
The big difference I see between them is that the first is mere words, and the second is actions. Cf. 'thoughts and prayers' after US school shootings. How about equal entitlements, all things being equal?
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