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The Role of the Philosopher in Public Life. The paradigmatic philosopher: Socrates. ignorance dialogue. Hans Christian Andersen: The Emperor's New Cloths. Roger Penrose: The Emperor's New Mind. Concerning Computers, Minds, and the Laws of Physics (1989). Bertrand Russell
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The paradigmatic philosopher:Socrates • ignorance • dialogue
Roger Penrose: The Emperor's New Mind. Concerning Computers, Minds, and the Laws of Physics (1989)
Bertrand Russell • Jean-Paul Sartre • Similarities: • Independent intellectuals • Nobel prize in literature
Nobel prize in literature • Russell (1950) “In recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought.” • Sartre (1962) “...for his work which, rich in ideas and filled with the spirit of freedom and the quest for truth, has exerted a far-reaching influence on our age.”
Georg Henrik von Wright • Vetenskapen och förnuftet (“Science and Reason”) 1985 • Myten om framsteget (“The Myth of Progress”) 1993
von Wright's important insights: • To understand the present, we have to understand the past • To solve the problems of modern society, radical changes are required
The problem of rationality is “multi-dimensional” (refers to Weber, Adorno and Habermas) • Distinction between rationality and reasonableness (related to Weber's distinction between Zweckrationalität and Wertrationalität)
“The alliance between the new rationality and power introduces a new chapter in the history of science.” • Modern science and technology is closely related to a mechanistic world view.
Challenges to the mechanistic world view? • Quantum mechanics • Non-reductionist biology (for example Barbara McClintock) • Systems theory and holistic theories in general
Do we need more applied philosophy? • In a certain sense, yes. • However, the distinction should be used with care.
Peter Galison: Einstein's Clocks, Poincaré's Maps. Empires of Time, 2003
Either • “Applied philosophy” = “pure philosophy” applied to concrete cases or • “Pure philosophy” = purified “applied philosophy”
Stephen Toulmin: • Cosmopolis. The hidden Agenda of Modernity (1987) • Return to Reason
Is ignorance a virtue? • The importance of asking stupid questions • The importance of knowledge