October 12, 2018. Scott Roberts, "How Man Differs From All Other Animals: Human Nature Revisited". Scott will address the significance and ramifications of man as compared to other animals. Everyone is invited to discuss the philosophy of man's existence.
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Boy, did I have a great time. At what other club could I use the words "the halcyonic and salad days of my youth" or "epistemic humility" or thank a questioner for their "perspicacious" insight. What fun! Long live President Bob Brook. :>) srr
ReplyDeleteScott: Enjoyed your talk and the philosophical distinctions between things that differ in DEGREE vs things that differ in KIND, and, within the latter category, where the differences are SUPERFICIAL (e.g. ICE vs LIQUID water). However, as I said, I think the differences between HUMANS and OTHER ANIMALS, however significant, are, never-the-less SUPERFICIAL.
ReplyDeleteMy PhD Advisor taught me that "philosophy is the discipline that makes simple things confusing, using a vocabulary specifically designed for that purpose". (Or something like that.)
So, keep up the great work!
Love, Ira
I love your comments, in and outside the class. You are so well educated, well read, bright and wise, I always am better off when you are around. If the materialist is right, you are correct. Man differs from all other animals only in degree. But, on the other hand, if your cat can apprehend universals and sweep food onto the floor so he can eat it, maybe cats have a immaterial component. Who knows but I think your cat was the hero of the afternoon. Great story! :>) srr
Deleteps, I think philosophers like Edmund Husserl (phenomenology), Max Scheler, Heidegger and Jean Paul Sartre are so so guilty of using language in the way your advisor feared. I never could make heads or tails with their writings. Awful. Luv you back, srr
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