Post by ycheng50 on Mar 22, 2016 0:34:18 GMT
TWO ESSAY QUESTIONS REQUIRED: 1. Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy? 2. What is eliminative materialism? Provide three examples of it. Be sure to support your answers with references to the required readings and films. Each answer should be at least 150 words.
1. Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?
Science and philosophy are tightly interconnected because according to the reference film, History of Western Philosophy, philosophy is seen as a whole in study of many science related subjects such as mathematics, morality, ethics, physics and fundamental principles and mythologies in experiment can also be applied to verify and reassure the hypotheses in philosophy. Additionally, philosophy of mind is a subset of philosophy which emphasizes on the functionality of brain meanwhile physical concerns the interpretation of natural, and what is more physics principles are also found in human brains while philosophy seamlessly provides actual wordings to the scientific results (Quantum Weirdness 10).
In the book, Quantum Weirdness, underlines the mechanism of forming thoughts in mankind. When a new physics theory is under review by the public, it often pertains some flaws and philosophy in example of quantum theory, helped the perplexed scientists to discover and examine the skeptical and questionable parts within the theories. Philosophical interpretation can hold without rigorous scientifically verification procedures and often seen as a bridge between unexplainable and known parts. Scientists with philosophy backgrounds like Neils Bohr are often more knee in grasping the central concepts by looking the scientific facts at with a philosophical angle.
Philosophy and physics are mutually dependent, and problems like the probabilistic nature in quantum theory, and skeptical string theory require the aids from philosophy and based on the quote from Elegant Universe, written by Brian Green, stated that if a theory cannot be tested then it is not science, but philosophy (Brain). On the other hand, sciences especially physics contribute the backbone of philosophy. The coordination between both fields can extend the scope of scientific studies, and seen as an essential path for future progresses in both subjects.
2. What is eliminative materialism?
The definition of materialism sees the world is composed in material but nothing else, and is often parallel viewed with dualism wherein the major principle is about bodies and minds. However, the scope of materialism is boarder than apparent meaning than concerns on only physical things and the central doctrines are actually disparaging against dualism. Materialism includes mental phenomena like ideas and reasoning, and defines them with physical explanations. Now when incorporated with the suffix “eliminative” the overall term “Eliminative Materialism” expounds. “All phenomena are physical which infer the conventional common-sense interpretations do not exist” (Stanford Encyclopedia). In the film, which compromises examples like Eliminative materialism, The death of Thor, God Did It? and Intelligent Reductions. These branches are the supplements of eliminative materialism.
In God Did It?, it argues the common-sense in consciousness has no scientific ground, and attempt in exploration of mental states is obvious on the wrong track. What is more, Churchland heavily blasted on the current uncertainly in neuroscience that had little hope in fitting common-sense frame work. He also argued the immaturity of neuroscience theory that didn't qualified the name of science.
In The death of Thor, it shows the transformations and adaptations in new interpretations of the existing terms from the past. As a result, terminologies like feeling, belief or mind are no longer applicable in the view of Eliminative materialism. Moreover, they view feelings are just myths and carry a light weight in science.
In Intelligent Reductions, Churchland admitted that mankind in their psychological aspects remained mysterious, and emotional expressions such as love, anger, hate or desire were abusively misused in order to undo the puzzles in ourselves regardless the origins of them. In fact, they most came from religious and superstition comprehensions.
1. Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?
Science and philosophy are tightly interconnected because according to the reference film, History of Western Philosophy, philosophy is seen as a whole in study of many science related subjects such as mathematics, morality, ethics, physics and fundamental principles and mythologies in experiment can also be applied to verify and reassure the hypotheses in philosophy. Additionally, philosophy of mind is a subset of philosophy which emphasizes on the functionality of brain meanwhile physical concerns the interpretation of natural, and what is more physics principles are also found in human brains while philosophy seamlessly provides actual wordings to the scientific results (Quantum Weirdness 10).
In the book, Quantum Weirdness, underlines the mechanism of forming thoughts in mankind. When a new physics theory is under review by the public, it often pertains some flaws and philosophy in example of quantum theory, helped the perplexed scientists to discover and examine the skeptical and questionable parts within the theories. Philosophical interpretation can hold without rigorous scientifically verification procedures and often seen as a bridge between unexplainable and known parts. Scientists with philosophy backgrounds like Neils Bohr are often more knee in grasping the central concepts by looking the scientific facts at with a philosophical angle.
Philosophy and physics are mutually dependent, and problems like the probabilistic nature in quantum theory, and skeptical string theory require the aids from philosophy and based on the quote from Elegant Universe, written by Brian Green, stated that if a theory cannot be tested then it is not science, but philosophy (Brain). On the other hand, sciences especially physics contribute the backbone of philosophy. The coordination between both fields can extend the scope of scientific studies, and seen as an essential path for future progresses in both subjects.
2. What is eliminative materialism?
The definition of materialism sees the world is composed in material but nothing else, and is often parallel viewed with dualism wherein the major principle is about bodies and minds. However, the scope of materialism is boarder than apparent meaning than concerns on only physical things and the central doctrines are actually disparaging against dualism. Materialism includes mental phenomena like ideas and reasoning, and defines them with physical explanations. Now when incorporated with the suffix “eliminative” the overall term “Eliminative Materialism” expounds. “All phenomena are physical which infer the conventional common-sense interpretations do not exist” (Stanford Encyclopedia). In the film, which compromises examples like Eliminative materialism, The death of Thor, God Did It? and Intelligent Reductions. These branches are the supplements of eliminative materialism.
In God Did It?, it argues the common-sense in consciousness has no scientific ground, and attempt in exploration of mental states is obvious on the wrong track. What is more, Churchland heavily blasted on the current uncertainly in neuroscience that had little hope in fitting common-sense frame work. He also argued the immaturity of neuroscience theory that didn't qualified the name of science.
In The death of Thor, it shows the transformations and adaptations in new interpretations of the existing terms from the past. As a result, terminologies like feeling, belief or mind are no longer applicable in the view of Eliminative materialism. Moreover, they view feelings are just myths and carry a light weight in science.
In Intelligent Reductions, Churchland admitted that mankind in their psychological aspects remained mysterious, and emotional expressions such as love, anger, hate or desire were abusively misused in order to undo the puzzles in ourselves regardless the origins of them. In fact, they most came from religious and superstition comprehensions.