Drops
@dropsofexp.bsky.social
Actually has some absolute knowledge. Feels pretty good.
More specifically, the blind adherence to the principle of non-contradiction flies in the face of the sceptical rejection of sure normative standards or of any determinate principle which establishes a criterion. The accomplishment of philosophy then remains an undefeated possibility.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
More specifically, the blind adherence to the principle of non-contradiction flies in the face of the sceptical rejection of sure normative standards or of any determinate principle which establishes a criterion. The accomplishment of philosophy then remains an undefeated possibility.
Whatever the answer, the sceptic is doomed to always take the principle of non-contradiction for granted—thereby undermining as well as relativizing their own claims to the suspension of judgement on all matters philosophical.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Whatever the answer, the sceptic is doomed to always take the principle of non-contradiction for granted—thereby undermining as well as relativizing their own claims to the suspension of judgement on all matters philosophical.
Should the dialectic’s unveiling of contradiction really lead to the indeterminacy of judgement? Might there actually be sense to make of the acceptance of contradiction into the realms of thought and what is?
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Should the dialectic’s unveiling of contradiction really lead to the indeterminacy of judgement? Might there actually be sense to make of the acceptance of contradiction into the realms of thought and what is?
This seems like a silly thing to problematize. And indeed, philosophy will not undergo a concrete problematizing of the principle of non-contradiction up through at least Kant and his antinomies.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
This seems like a silly thing to problematize. And indeed, philosophy will not undergo a concrete problematizing of the principle of non-contradiction up through at least Kant and his antinomies.
Even granting the sceptic every single opposition they presume to establish, there remains a question with respect to whether introducing contradiction into thought and/or being necessitates the indeterminacy of suspended judgement.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Even granting the sceptic every single opposition they presume to establish, there remains a question with respect to whether introducing contradiction into thought and/or being necessitates the indeterminacy of suspended judgement.
Nevertheless, there’s something vital for the sceptic built into the logic which leads them to suspend judgement in the first place. This is none other than the Aristotelian principle of non-contradiction.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Nevertheless, there’s something vital for the sceptic built into the logic which leads them to suspend judgement in the first place. This is none other than the Aristotelian principle of non-contradiction.
This is one reason why scepticism is spoken of as a skill and not a belief system. It is a set of techniques which allow us to achieve the tranquility and peace of mind we desire in philosophy.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
This is one reason why scepticism is spoken of as a skill and not a belief system. It is a set of techniques which allow us to achieve the tranquility and peace of mind we desire in philosophy.
But here, we need to ask ourselves a question: Has the sceptic properly suspended judgement on all of these matters? We must be careful as sceptics are very keen to the fact that they cannot slip into numerous reflexive pitfalls such as claiming to know they know nothing.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
But here, we need to ask ourselves a question: Has the sceptic properly suspended judgement on all of these matters? We must be careful as sceptics are very keen to the fact that they cannot slip into numerous reflexive pitfalls such as claiming to know they know nothing.
Likewise, Sextus is at pains to show in Book II of his Outlines that any specific standard we do grant to the dogmatic philosopher becomes immanently problematic containing within itself the dissolution of its own sole validity.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Likewise, Sextus is at pains to show in Book II of his Outlines that any specific standard we do grant to the dogmatic philosopher becomes immanently problematic containing within itself the dissolution of its own sole validity.
In this way, proof and standard reciprocally refer back to the establishing activity of the other. This occurs while the supposed sole source of normativity continues to slip through our fingers.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
In this way, proof and standard reciprocally refer back to the establishing activity of the other. This occurs while the supposed sole source of normativity continues to slip through our fingers.
Surely, a proof requires a standard to provide a normative pull toward conviction. But such a standard itself cannot be merely hypothesized. It must itself be normatively validated via proof. But this proof will in turn require a standard.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Surely, a proof requires a standard to provide a normative pull toward conviction. But such a standard itself cannot be merely hypothesized. It must itself be normatively validated via proof. But this proof will in turn require a standard.
Another method by which Sextus suggests we come to suspend judgement opposed to these numerous techniques is by showing how claims to a proper standard carry with them the seeds of their own negation. In fact, the very claim to any sure standard itself becomes problematic when thought through.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Another method by which Sextus suggests we come to suspend judgement opposed to these numerous techniques is by showing how claims to a proper standard carry with them the seeds of their own negation. In fact, the very claim to any sure standard itself becomes problematic when thought through.
Second, “the mode of circular reasoning.” This occurs when the proof which ought to derive a matter requires confirmation from it. This means that both proof and matter must establish one another, but because of this they fail and determinate judgement is left voided.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Second, “the mode of circular reasoning.” This occurs when the proof which ought to derive a matter requires confirmation from it. This means that both proof and matter must establish one another, but because of this they fail and determinate judgement is left voided.
First, “the mode based upon regress ad infinitum.” In this case, the consequent of a proof relies on claims which themselves require a proof and so on for infinity. The consequent remains thereby forever suspended—never receiving sure validation.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
First, “the mode based upon regress ad infinitum.” In this case, the consequent of a proof relies on claims which themselves require a proof and so on for infinity. The consequent remains thereby forever suspended—never receiving sure validation.
We could also mention two more of the later modes, those of infinite regress and circular reasoning. In the present day, when the valid application of thought is reduced to deduction, these two modes seem to immediately dissolve any claim to unconditioned truth.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
We could also mention two more of the later modes, those of infinite regress and circular reasoning. In the present day, when the valid application of thought is reduced to deduction, these two modes seem to immediately dissolve any claim to unconditioned truth.
The first ten modes have to do with relativizing factors of knowledge. There are factors which rely on the state of the knower, the state of the object, and the state of the relationship between knower and object. Thus, the ten “old” modes can be subordinated under three.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
The first ten modes have to do with relativizing factors of knowledge. There are factors which rely on the state of the knower, the state of the object, and the state of the relationship between knower and object. Thus, the ten “old” modes can be subordinated under three.
Also opposed to Reddit agnosticism, scepticism does not get to be lazy. It must develop means for setting up its equivalences in order to arrive at a suspension of judgement. Sextus calls these “modes.”
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Also opposed to Reddit agnosticism, scepticism does not get to be lazy. It must develop means for setting up its equivalences in order to arrive at a suspension of judgement. Sextus calls these “modes.”
Scepticism then poses a legitimate challenge to philosophy—one that *must* be met. The existential pull toward philosophy felt by reason’s need to realize its own activity can seem to lead just as easily to the freezing of such activity.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Scepticism then poses a legitimate challenge to philosophy—one that *must* be met. The existential pull toward philosophy felt by reason’s need to realize its own activity can seem to lead just as easily to the freezing of such activity.
A suspension of judgement brings us quietude in the same way we *thought* a sure judgement would. The impetus for philosophy’s search for truth, ignorance and wonder, is thus quelled by such suspension instead. Philosophical discourse is in clear danger of being halted by scepticism.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
A suspension of judgement brings us quietude in the same way we *thought* a sure judgement would. The impetus for philosophy’s search for truth, ignorance and wonder, is thus quelled by such suspension instead. Philosophical discourse is in clear danger of being halted by scepticism.
Such a suspension has a deeper purpose than allowing you to be an annoying agnostic about everything in life whose only purpose is to pointlessly debate people on Reddit. The fact is that we grow curious and troubled about the world, and we think we'll will be at peace only when we get answers.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Such a suspension has a deeper purpose than allowing you to be an annoying agnostic about everything in life whose only purpose is to pointlessly debate people on Reddit. The fact is that we grow curious and troubled about the world, and we think we'll will be at peace only when we get answers.
Sextus describes scepticism as a process by which we can skillfully develop oppositions of accounts. Each account of a particular subject matter will be shown only to have a validity which is equal to its denial. This will lead to a suspension of judgement.
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Sextus describes scepticism as a process by which we can skillfully develop oppositions of accounts. Each account of a particular subject matter will be shown only to have a validity which is equal to its denial. This will lead to a suspension of judgement.
The key will lie in thinking about unity. If philosophy thinks of how things hang together, Hegel posits the concept as the necessary form of unity which actually succeeds at this task. The point will be structural. (24/24)
November 22, 2024 at 11:25 PM
The key will lie in thinking about unity. If philosophy thinks of how things hang together, Hegel posits the concept as the necessary form of unity which actually succeeds at this task. The point will be structural. (24/24)
In a future post, I would like to direct attention to Hegel's confusing use of the term "concept." Life is the concept. The will is the concept. The Absolute is the concept. What does this mean? How can the concept be anything but mental? (23/24)
November 22, 2024 at 11:25 PM
In a future post, I would like to direct attention to Hegel's confusing use of the term "concept." Life is the concept. The will is the concept. The Absolute is the concept. What does this mean? How can the concept be anything but mental? (23/24)
This is the upshot of the Hegelian concept. It is a concretely unifying conception of the concept which confers to reason its own self-determining, a priori domain. (22/24)
November 22, 2024 at 11:25 PM
This is the upshot of the Hegelian concept. It is a concretely unifying conception of the concept which confers to reason its own self-determining, a priori domain. (22/24)