QA 48. Think, again (The end of philosophy)

  • Posted by Helen Douglas
  • On May 30, 2014
In 2010, Stephen Hawking pronounced philosophy dead: “Philosophy has not kept up with modern developments in science, particularly physics. Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge.” But he had not kept up with Martin Heidegger, who already said this in 1964, in “The end of philosophy and […]
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QA 38. January 2013. Rocking the foundations of thought

  • Posted by Helen Douglas
  • On January 25, 2013
Education systems that render people stupid, mental health treatment that renders people mad, religions that render people wicked, economies that render people poor, political systems that render people powerless. How is it that our social systems break down (render) precisely what they are meant to serve (render to)?
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QA 36. Sept 2012. Knowledge vs wisdom: which leads?

  • Posted by Helen Douglas
  • On September 17, 2012
Someone recently pointed me to Philosophy v science: which can answer the big questions of life? (The Observer, 9 Sept 2012), a conversation between Julian Baggini, philosopher, and Lawrence Krauss, physicist, both well known for accessible writing on complex topics. As philosophy’s champion, Baggini concedes far too much ground. His basic position is that “it […]
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