In fact, one could draw a parallel in my just-posted query between
physics on the science side, and fundamentalist Christians on the
other side. Both have a tendency, carried to extremes by some
proponents, of claiming omniscience. Perhaps that Omni is the clue.
Omni - science. Thou shalt hold no knowledge before Me.
But human experience is filled with scintillating, shimmering
changes; shifts in perception and conclusion that mitigate against
Omni - anything. If we are truthful about our experience.
So maybe it's
"Physics is to Human Experience as Sex is to Philosophy"
[using Steve's " philosophy=understanding" definition:
which as the language referee here I will reiterate does mean 'the
love of wisdom']
I'm off to Make Art (according to me) a topic I do not insert here,
but worthy of its own thread and part of the equation above, in equal
measure. And yes, Art is like Sex.
Tory
"Philosophy is to physics as pornography is to sex. It's cheaper,
it's easier and some people seem to prefer it."
Modern Physics is contained in Realism which is contained in
Metaphysics which I contained in all of Philosophy.
I'd be tempted to counter:
"Physics is to Philosophy as the Missionary Position is to the Kama
Sutra"
Physics also appeals to Phenomenology and Logic (the branch of
Philosophy were Mathematics is rooted) and what we can know
scientifically is constrained by Epistemology (the nature of
knowledge) and phenomenology (the nature of conscious experience).
It might be fair to say that many (including many of us here) who
hold Physics up in some exalted position simply dismiss or choose to
ignore all the messy questions considered by *the rest of*
philosophy. Even if we think we have clear/simple answers to the
questions, I do not accept that the questions are not worthy of the
asking.
The underlying point of the referenced podcast is, in fact, that
Physics, or Science in general might be rather myopic and limited by
it's own viewpoint by definition.
"The more we know, the less we understand."
Philosophy is about understanding, physics is about knowledge first
and understanding only insomuch as it is a part of natural philosophy.
Or at least this is how my understanding is structured around these
matters.
- Steve
On Sun, Jun 5, 2011 at 1:15 PM, Robert Holmes <rob...@holmesacosta.com
> wrote:
>From the BBC's science podcast "The Infinite Monkey Cage":
"Philosophy is to physics as pornography is to sex. It's cheaper,
it's easier and some people seem to prefer it."
Not to be pedantic, but I suspect that s/he has conflated
"philosophy" with "new age", as much of science owes itself to
philosophy.
marcos
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FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
