Gary R, List
In an offlist conversation between myself and Gary R, Gary posted the below:
What I quoted of yours was written before you discussed hypotheses as being
metaphysical, something which I find peculiar but quite interesting. I think it
is worth exploring further. These quotations are, I think, relevant to the
discussion:
“Every attempt to understand the universe involves some metaphysics.”
CP 1.129
“Metaphysics is a science, in the same sense in which physics is a science.”
CP 6.6
“Metaphysical propositions are to be judged in the same way as other scientific
hypotheses.”
CP 6.13
Exactly. Thanks for the quotes. That’s exactly my point. I understand
‘hypothesis construction’ in science to be ‘metaphysics’ - and, as Peirce
points out, should be subject to the ‘same approach as other scientific
hypotheses’ ie, open to fallibility via empirical tests.
And that’s why I caution about metaphysics that is used in the non-fallible
‘fixation of belief tactics of tenacity, authority and a priori, which are
basic to ‘seminar room metaphysics’, and are held by emotional commitment and
not open to evidentiary fallibility.
These are the foundation of religions, societal norms, etc - even in medical
and other belief systems [remember when swallowing tapeworms was advised for
weight loss?] - and should be open to empirical scrutiny.. In religions, of
course, these must be accepted or you are defined as a ‘heretic’…I do not deny
the obvious societal advantages of collectivist beliefs; in our species - they
are necessary since our knowledge base is collectivist rather than genetic.
But - we still remain as individuals and able to think as such - and since we
operate also in 2ns, then, we must require factual [2ness type] evidence.
Edwina
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