Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sir Francis Bacon
1. 'Natures' would be a Baconian term for naturally occurring phenomenon, that can be transferred in to fact,axiom, or law using inductive reasoning.
2. Forms are the shape in which we see the natural phenomenon take when we apply the inductive reasoning to the phenomenon.
3. This is the Idea that people tend to believe in systems of regularity more than they should, just because it is easier to follow or come up with preconceived notions. This could be considered nationalism or nationalist bias.
4. The Cave refers to the individuals reasoning powers, or lack there of, due to personality types, likes and dislikes, nature (though he doesn't say this) or nurture (to a certain extent)
5.The Marketplace is like the idea of the tower of babel, the confusion that occurs in language from different directs, translations, and personal understanding. Also it has to do with the multitude of different languages spoken and written and things that are lost in translation.
6. The Theatre is the idea of misused political or philosophical doctrines that have made their way into modern mind. Bacon believes most of these doctrines are based on faulty pretenses and syllogisms, thus should be discarded as trash.
7. is a list of the testable phenomenon's presence in other things, I.E. if we were to test heat, we would then list all things in which heat occurs
8. Conversely this is a list in which the testable phenomenon doesn't occur, I.E. Heat does not occur in water. So on and so forth.
9. The table of degrees is used to to measure the frequency in which the testable phenomenon occurs in each event. Once we established the degree into which it is present we can than make the observed phenomenon and how it works a law. But it most cases we don't know how it works so we use it as a workable hypothesis until more evidence is provided.
10. The Baconian method consists of making a an observation of a phenomenon that we want to be tested, then we make a list of all the events in which the phenomenon occurs. After having our list of occurrences, we then make a list of all the events in which the phenomenon do not occur. Then we take in account the degrees in which the phenomenon occurs in the events, we can then come to a conclusion as to how and why based upon the degrees and occurences.
11.He found that Aristotle based all his conclusions on syllogisms, and not on observable evidence or at least observations that don't make as many assumptions (Ockham's Razor). Bacon also thought Aristotle was missing alot of Bacon.
12. The Baconian method and the Scientific method both rely on observable phenomenon in order to make a conclusion. The Baconian method doesn't rely on test though, it relies on known instances in which the phenomenon occurs. These "known" instances though could be wrong seeing as how most are just based on common knowlegde and not designed test in ordred to produce a result, being either for or against the hypothesis.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Unit 2: Gallieo, A Pioneer of Modern Thinkin
1. Ockham is described as a “nominalist.” Explain what “nominalism”
means in this context.
Ockham was the father of modern thought by helping usher in Nominalism, a concept used to beat down the idea of universals and the problems it entails. Nomainalism in essence is the contra to Universals (which state that everything is defined by certain categories that exist outside of our physical reality and exist even if nothing they define exists as well). Nominalism is the idea that the abstract categories i.e. Red or Redness are not physical realities that bind red objects together, but just names for convenient categories in the human mind.
2.Explain “Ockham’s Razor” in your own words.
Ockham's Razor is a principle of reduction or economy that states, when explaining a phenomenon one should make as few assumptions as possible. The Razor is used to help us explain physical phenomenon using empirical facts, studies, or logic. We do this by gauging theories based on the relative assumptions they make. The Razor isn't, used as general misconception would have it, the simpler argument. The Razor is used to pick the theory which allows us to make fewer assumptions without empirical evidence.
3. Apply Ockham’s razor to the problem of universals. Which answer to
the problem would be cut away? Which answer would remain?
The razor would cut away Universals because they have us make assumptions based upon metaphysical categories that exist outside the mind. Nominalism on the other hand doesn't have us assume anything other than these categories exist because we name them.
4. What did Ockham believe about “mere belief?”
That it was based on sensory information ans prone to error, but it is good for our usual needs.
5. Which of Ockham’s ideas was important to British philosophy for
years to come?
His idea of the limitions of empirical evidence and the importance of human understand, and knowledge.
6. What did Nicholas of Autrecourt say? Why was this important for the
transition from scholasticism to modernism?
Nicholas believed that reasoning toward the Christian doctorine failed and that it should be abandoned as a relic of a bygone era. This is important because it was a step forward in throwing off the chains of circular logic of scholasticism in order to embrace the the empircial views of the modern age.
7. How did Hasdai Crescas among the Jews and Meister Eckhart apply
rational methods? Why was this important for the transition from
scholasticism to modernism?
They used the rational method to confuse people in order to show our dependence on a higher power for genuine human knowledge. This act probably started to open peoples eyes to their dependence upon reglious doctrine for natural knowledge, and led them to take a more empirical view of the world.
8. How did Nicolas of Cusa try to save scholasticism? Why do you think
it didn’t work?
Nicolas of Cusa tried for one last hoorya with Scholasticism by trying to show that god, created everything, so logically he created the contradictions that are present within the bible and the correlated ideas of the old doctrines. At this point it was too late in the game to get the ball back in the scholasitc's court, I think people were done with going no where.
9. What method of inquiry did Galileo reject?
Galileo rejected going back to classic texts in order to gain a grasp on the natural world, i.e. Aristole
10. What was Galileo’s own preferred method of inquiry?
Galileo used a system of natural observation based on testable evidence.
11. Why did Galileo have so many enemies?
because he didn't just prove people wrong about their ideas of the world, he boxed their ears and gave a good tongue lashing as well.
12. What is Galileo mainly remembered for?
Galileo is remember for his heliocentric views of the universe that contested with the then believed geocentric.
13. Which of Galileo’s contributions was actually most important to
science?
Galileo's ideas of dynamics and mechanics
14. How did Galileo pi… infuriate the Aristotleans?
By trashing their ideas of the world and letting them know they were completely wrong.
15. How does the Aristotlean reaction illustrate the difference
between premodern and modern thinking?
Premodern thinking came with an infalliabilty to their arguements and doctrine. Their logic was we can be wrong because then the bible would be wrong, but the bible can't be wrong since its gods word. Which means everytime Galileo made a mockery of them, He in their minds was mking a mockery of God's word. The modern thought greatly differs from this, modern thinking is based upon testable evidence that can be proven right or wrong based on observations.
16. How was Galileo wrong about comets?
Galileo thought they were atmospheric phenomena, and went about trouncing on a Jesusits idea that they were firey balls set at constant distance away from the earth. Galileo never provided his own theory but did manage to alienate the jeusits from his cause.
17. What did Galileo clearly say about the laws of nature?
Galileo claimed that the laws of nature were purely mathmatical and written into the fabric of the universe. Very remienist of Plato's forms, which seemed to influence the late scholatics which taught Galileo.
18. What was Galileo’s theory of tides?
He believed tides where caused by the sloshing back and forth of water during its travel around the sun on its axis.
19. What was wrong with Galileo’s theory of tides?
It didn't account for two tides a day, his theory would only allow one tide a day, when there has always been an observation of two.
20. How is Galileo’s theory of tides a radical departure from
scholastic thinking?
It wasn't tied to any other work, it is mainly based upon his own observations. Although he was wrong it signified that first leap into the unknown with nothing but our senses as a guide.
means in this context.
Ockham was the father of modern thought by helping usher in Nominalism, a concept used to beat down the idea of universals and the problems it entails. Nomainalism in essence is the contra to Universals (which state that everything is defined by certain categories that exist outside of our physical reality and exist even if nothing they define exists as well). Nominalism is the idea that the abstract categories i.e. Red or Redness are not physical realities that bind red objects together, but just names for convenient categories in the human mind.
2.Explain “Ockham’s Razor” in your own words.
Ockham's Razor is a principle of reduction or economy that states, when explaining a phenomenon one should make as few assumptions as possible. The Razor is used to help us explain physical phenomenon using empirical facts, studies, or logic. We do this by gauging theories based on the relative assumptions they make. The Razor isn't, used as general misconception would have it, the simpler argument. The Razor is used to pick the theory which allows us to make fewer assumptions without empirical evidence.
3. Apply Ockham’s razor to the problem of universals. Which answer to
the problem would be cut away? Which answer would remain?
The razor would cut away Universals because they have us make assumptions based upon metaphysical categories that exist outside the mind. Nominalism on the other hand doesn't have us assume anything other than these categories exist because we name them.
4. What did Ockham believe about “mere belief?”
That it was based on sensory information ans prone to error, but it is good for our usual needs.
5. Which of Ockham’s ideas was important to British philosophy for
years to come?
His idea of the limitions of empirical evidence and the importance of human understand, and knowledge.
6. What did Nicholas of Autrecourt say? Why was this important for the
transition from scholasticism to modernism?
Nicholas believed that reasoning toward the Christian doctorine failed and that it should be abandoned as a relic of a bygone era. This is important because it was a step forward in throwing off the chains of circular logic of scholasticism in order to embrace the the empircial views of the modern age.
7. How did Hasdai Crescas among the Jews and Meister Eckhart apply
rational methods? Why was this important for the transition from
scholasticism to modernism?
They used the rational method to confuse people in order to show our dependence on a higher power for genuine human knowledge. This act probably started to open peoples eyes to their dependence upon reglious doctrine for natural knowledge, and led them to take a more empirical view of the world.
8. How did Nicolas of Cusa try to save scholasticism? Why do you think
it didn’t work?
Nicolas of Cusa tried for one last hoorya with Scholasticism by trying to show that god, created everything, so logically he created the contradictions that are present within the bible and the correlated ideas of the old doctrines. At this point it was too late in the game to get the ball back in the scholasitc's court, I think people were done with going no where.
9. What method of inquiry did Galileo reject?
Galileo rejected going back to classic texts in order to gain a grasp on the natural world, i.e. Aristole
10. What was Galileo’s own preferred method of inquiry?
Galileo used a system of natural observation based on testable evidence.
11. Why did Galileo have so many enemies?
because he didn't just prove people wrong about their ideas of the world, he boxed their ears and gave a good tongue lashing as well.
12. What is Galileo mainly remembered for?
Galileo is remember for his heliocentric views of the universe that contested with the then believed geocentric.
13. Which of Galileo’s contributions was actually most important to
science?
Galileo's ideas of dynamics and mechanics
14. How did Galileo pi… infuriate the Aristotleans?
By trashing their ideas of the world and letting them know they were completely wrong.
15. How does the Aristotlean reaction illustrate the difference
between premodern and modern thinking?
Premodern thinking came with an infalliabilty to their arguements and doctrine. Their logic was we can be wrong because then the bible would be wrong, but the bible can't be wrong since its gods word. Which means everytime Galileo made a mockery of them, He in their minds was mking a mockery of God's word. The modern thought greatly differs from this, modern thinking is based upon testable evidence that can be proven right or wrong based on observations.
16. How was Galileo wrong about comets?
Galileo thought they were atmospheric phenomena, and went about trouncing on a Jesusits idea that they were firey balls set at constant distance away from the earth. Galileo never provided his own theory but did manage to alienate the jeusits from his cause.
17. What did Galileo clearly say about the laws of nature?
Galileo claimed that the laws of nature were purely mathmatical and written into the fabric of the universe. Very remienist of Plato's forms, which seemed to influence the late scholatics which taught Galileo.
18. What was Galileo’s theory of tides?
He believed tides where caused by the sloshing back and forth of water during its travel around the sun on its axis.
19. What was wrong with Galileo’s theory of tides?
It didn't account for two tides a day, his theory would only allow one tide a day, when there has always been an observation of two.
20. How is Galileo’s theory of tides a radical departure from
scholastic thinking?
It wasn't tied to any other work, it is mainly based upon his own observations. Although he was wrong it signified that first leap into the unknown with nothing but our senses as a guide.
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