Posted by alexandra_k on October 20, 2004, at 0:56:03
In reply to Re: Hypnogogic Phenomena » alexandra_k, posted by zeugma on October 19, 2004, at 18:47:21
> I like metaphysics the best
Jeez Louise, pick something easy why don't you!!! I am not suprised that you get lost in it at times. I never met Armstrong, but I met his heir last summer (Frank Jackson). He kind of continues his philosophy of mind stuff (from the identity theory to functionalism) rather than continuing on his metaphysics though (to the best of my knowledge).
"Quine often sticks his head in the sand like an ostrich."
Ah, this would be 'Ostrich Nominalism' - I did a course in metaphysics last year and had to write on Armstrongian realism about universals. I thought his position sounded absurd to start with - until I came to trying to critique it at which point I came to respect it immensely. I am fond of the notion that there can be an 'indefinate number of final sciences that can explain all the past present and future nerve hits of mankind' (Quine) - and thus I do not hold out much hope that (1) there will be a 'final science' and (2) that there is only one way that that final science will go.
If we get rid of the guff about the 'final science' telling us what universals and particulars there are I think I could almost buy it, but then realism collapses back into conceptualism (In my opinion) as our (conceptual)theories postulate the existance of particulars and universals and thus it is always a matter of human decision.
I would love to know about the identity thing if you can find the time. If not, then that is cool, I understand. Good luck with your studies, there aren't so many philosophers out there and so it is always nice to meet a new one.
:-)
poster:alexandra_k
thread:404059
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/write/20040925/msgs/404996.html