rationalia.com

We can ask the question, 'is it real?', 'how do we know if the physical world is or could be a computer simulation or a mental experience?' To do this, we need to avoid the assumption that the physical is the only reality, which it may be, or may not. To do this, we need to avoid the assumption tha...

What is the basis for doubting metaphysics? What can it be? Do I get to talk some crap and then ask you what could be the basis for doubting it? We get on fine without metaphysics every day. You say that without it we cannot use reason. The burden is on you to prove that, not us to explain how we c...

Or, in a nutshell, there is a strong case for saying that some scientific 'models' facilitate a specific metaphysical conclusion... for philosophers. So science leads to scientific conclusions. Unless of course you're a philosopher, in which case you get special dispensation to draw non-scientific ...

Or, in a nutshell, there is a strong case for saying that some scientific 'models' facilitate a specific metaphysical conclusion... for philosophers. So science leads to scientific conclusions. Unless of course you're a philosopher, in which case you get special dispensation to draw non-scientific ...

According to Burnyeat: "A marked passivity in the face of both his sensations and his own thought processes is an important aspect of the skeptic’s detachment from himself." As per the citation above... passivity in the face of sensations and thought processes and a detachment from oneself.. Sounds...

The forum was being kept open for another 30 days to allow members to archive it - so, you can't be angry about the forum disappearing. Does anyone believe they really intended to stay open for 30 days? It was also announced that there would be a new discussion area. So, you can't be angry about th...

There's no reason to believe that in metaphysics, concepts/words from empiricism will still work. Take, per example, the term 'causality'. Within empiricism, it denotes a relationship between two events. Namely, that the occurrence of one event necessitates the other . If event A, then event B. The...

This idea that avoiding metaphysics is a metaphysical position seems akin to saying atheism is a religion or ignoring the board a strategy in chess.

Late for the lifeboat but drifting into view clinging to a piece of flotsam. Or is it jetsam? Damn. From philosophy it would be great to see Dace and Qualiam (the analytic big guns), Brianman (so confident that obvious things are true) and Googaw (sound bloke). From F&R, Grahbudd (how does he agree ...