Philosophize This! Episode #154 ... Pragmatism and Truth
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Jun 22, 2021 Delve into the fascinating world of pragmatism and its unique take on truth. Discover how philosophical thought has evolved from Socrates to Hegel, tackling the challenges of certainty in our modern context. Explore the interplay between inference and consciousness, shedding light on critiques of established beliefs. Learn how collective experiences shape our understanding of truth, and the contrasting views of 'healthy-minded' versus 'sick-soul' individuals on free will and decision-making.
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Questioning Certainty
- Pragmatists like Peirce and James question the importance of certainty in truth.
- They see the pursuit of absolute certainty as potentially flawed and overemphasized.
Critique of Solipsism
- Peirce and James reject solipsism, viewing the focus on individual consciousness as unreliable for certainty.
- They argue that knowledge of consciousness is inferential, just like knowledge of the external world.
Inferences in Cognition
- Peirce argues against accessing raw experience without inferences, seeing inferences as essential for cognition.
- Understanding isn't grasping an essence, but knowing an object's impact on actions/behavior.