Philosopher's Zone Rediscovering Wilfrid Sellars
Jan 30, 2025
Explore the revival of Wilfrid Sellars through the eyes of contemporary Continental philosophers, including unexpected interest from Marxists. Discover his dual views on the manifest and scientific images of reality, pushing for a richer understanding of truth. Delve into how his insights inform our responses to climate change and social reform, advocating for a blend of philosophy and natural science. Unpack the 'myth of the given' and its implications for knowledge acquisition, revealing the complexity of intellectual challenges we face today.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Sellars' Key Concepts
- Wilfrid Sellars introduced two influential terms: the Manifest and Scientific Images and the Myth of the Given.
- These concepts explore how we perceive reality through everyday experience and scientific understanding.
Philosophical Tribes
- Analytic and continental philosophy, initially distinct tribes, both offered unique perspectives.
- Analytic philosophy focused on logic and language analysis, while continental philosophy explored phenomenology and existentialism.
Continental Interest in Sellars
- Continental philosophers find Sellars appealing due to his nuanced approach to scientific realism.
- Sellars engaged with core analytic issues while embracing a broad philosophical perspective.