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What, exactly, do philosophers do?

the-tls.co.uk

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Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#131

Post by gfody »

keeler wrote: post #114

People forget that Alan Turing's essay "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" was published in Mind, a major philosophy journal. People forget that Boolean algebra comes from a work called "The Laws of Thought," where Boole tries to describe the algebraic operations underlying thought. If you think that isn't something "philosophers do," this is an ancient goal stretching back to Aristotle's logic, up through Descart…

I would also plug Chomksy's New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind for anyone interested in this sort of thing.

also relevant: https://xkcd.com/435 - if it went further to the right Mathematics is just applied Philosophy.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#132

Post by AquinasCoder »

keeler wrote: post #114

People forget that Alan Turing's essay "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" was published in Mind, a major philosophy journal. People forget that Boolean algebra comes from a work called "The Laws of Thought," where Boole tries to describe the algebraic operations underlying thought. If you think that isn't something "philosophers do," this is an ancient goal stretching back to Aristotle's logic, up through Descart…

It always fascinates me that often these "heads in the clouds" type stuff has an enormous impact on history, politics, and other disciplines while what is supposed to be more practical often is ignored or belittled. The most plausible reason is that we have firmer convictions in the little things rather than the large things. This seems to reveal the contemporary, and speaking in philosophical lingo, "modern" tendency to place epistemology as prior to metaphysics. The exception to this thought is the field of ethics. Logic too has been explored in depths through computer science, but this is still -- historically speaking -- in its infancy. The difference between formal logic and computer science is also a gap that cannot be underestimated.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#133

Post by keeler »

gfody wrote: post #131
keeler wrote: post #114

People forget that Alan Turing's essay "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" was published in Mind, a major philosophy journal. People forget that Boolean algebra comes from a work called "The Laws of Thought," where Boole tries to describe the algebraic operations underlying thought. If you think that isn't something "philosophers do," this is an ancient goal stretching back to Aristotle's logic, up through Descart…

I would also plug Chomksy's New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind for anyone interested in this sort of thing. also relevant: https://xkcd.com/435 - if it went further to the right Mathematics is just applied Philosophy.

Good call. New Horizons is excellent.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#134

Post by mcguire »

keeler wrote: post #107
mcguire wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sartre? And how could any such list leave out von Hartmann? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Robert_Eduard_von_Hartman... http://www.iep.utm.edu/hartmann/ https://ethicsofsuicide.lib.utah.edu/selections/eduard-von-h...

Hartmann is certainly not a giant on anyone's list. Even if you were to compare him to some of the "lesser" giants, such as Berkeley, Schopenhauer, or even Thomas Reid, it's not even close.

Aw, c'mon. He's single-handedly arguing the negative image of Mahāyāna Buddhism.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#135

Post by ue_ »

ue_ wrote: post #33
euyyn wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see the importance of exploring those questions, for they pertain to current movements and political issues, like veganism or euthanasia. So (from my position of now knowing the work of any modern philosopher) have such philosophical explorations, in the past decades or century, produced answers? In the sense that, have they made a change in the way these important issues developed? What are the biggest ways they h…

I wouldn't say that modern philosophers, or even old philosophers, have had much of an effect on current legislative decisions concerning things like euthanasia. As to what extent they have influenced real communities I also don't know about veganism (aside from perhaps Pinker, though again I don't know of his influence) but modern philosophy (since 1950s or so) has been "all the rage" within left-wing communities, m…

Why the downvotes for my comment? And why is this comment downvoted? If you don't think my comment above was substantive or helpful, please tell me so that I can improve the quality of my posts.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#136

Post by keeler »

AquinasCoder wrote: post #132
keeler wrote: post #114

People forget that Alan Turing's essay "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" was published in Mind, a major philosophy journal. People forget that Boolean algebra comes from a work called "The Laws of Thought," where Boole tries to describe the algebraic operations underlying thought. If you think that isn't something "philosophers do," this is an ancient goal stretching back to Aristotle's logic, up through Descart…

It always fascinates me that often these "heads in the clouds" type stuff has an enormous impact on history, politics, and other disciplines while what is supposed to be more practical often is ignored or belittled. The most plausible reason is that we have firmer convictions in the little things rather than the large things. This seems to reveal the contemporary, and speaking in philosophical lingo, "modern" tendenc…

Keep your audience in mind. This is Hacker News. If this were a website for lawyers, political scientists, and historians I would have given a different answer to the question of "What, exactly, do philosophers do?" For them, the language of thought and issues at the foundations of mathematics qualify as "heads in the clouds" type stuff.

I would have also given a different answer if the primary group here were, say, physicists, astronomers, and chemists. For them, the answers I would have given to the lawyers, political scientists, and historians would have likewise been "heads in the clouds" type stuff.

Philosophy has unseen tendrils in almost everything. You can only get someone to see it (or, really, care about it) when it's something they're already interested in.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#137

Post by Retric »

sametmax wrote: post #104
Retric wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My point is that perfection is not required. So, calling something a proof does not mean it must be accurate.

Of course it is. When you see a mistake in a reasoning, it's not called a proof anymore. It's kinda the definition.

The problem is it was called a proof beforehand.

So, their is cases of demonstrated lag between publishing and problems showing up. Therefore in the strictest possible terms, every published result is in some way suspects as they simply have yet to be disproved.

I am in no way suggesting this is some kind of reasonable standard. Just that math is slightly more subjective than often portrayed.

PS: This line of reasoning was simply in response to the suggesting that proof somehow inherently implied accuracy.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#138

Post by TheLilHipster »

Philosophy is just so inaccessible to most people and is unrelatable to the layman.

The most valuable philosophers of today IMO, are those that stay on the rails of pragmatism for the everyday struggles of the average citizen.

Stefan Molyneux on youtube is a good example.

He gets off the rails a little bit, but his core ideals of ethics and moral virtue is something I value quite highly in my everyday life.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#139

Post by euyyn »

ue_ wrote: post #33
euyyn wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see the importance of exploring those questions, for they pertain to current movements and political issues, like veganism or euthanasia. So (from my position of now knowing the work of any modern philosopher) have such philosophical explorations, in the past decades or century, produced answers? In the sense that, have they made a change in the way these important issues developed? What are the biggest ways they h…

I wouldn't say that modern philosophers, or even old philosophers, have had much of an effect on current legislative decisions concerning things like euthanasia. As to what extent they have influenced real communities I also don't know about veganism (aside from perhaps Pinker, though again I don't know of his influence) but modern philosophy (since 1950s or so) has been "all the rage" within left-wing communities, m…

Thanks for taking the time to answer, and sorry that you got downvoted. I don't see their point either; your response is as constructive as it gets.

Re: What, exactly, do philosophers do?

#140

Post by vacri »

keeler wrote: post #136
AquinasCoder wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It always fascinates me that often these "heads in the clouds" type stuff has an enormous impact on history, politics, and other disciplines while what is supposed to be more practical often is ignored or belittled. The most plausible reason is that we have firmer convictions in the little things rather than the large things. This seems to reveal the contemporary, and speaking in philosophical lingo, "modern" tendenc…

Keep your audience in mind. This is Hacker News. If this were a website for lawyers, political scientists, and historians I would have given a different answer to the question of "What, exactly, do philosophers do?" For them, the language of thought and issues at the foundations of mathematics qualify as "heads in the clouds" type stuff. I would have also given a different answer if the primary group here were, say,…

HN isn't particularly philosophy-friendly. I've talked about how philosophy was crucial in laying down the philosophy of science and working out the scientific method, only to be drowned in a sea of "wasn't necessary, it's self-evident" sorts of comments.
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