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1500 questions
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Is it possible to be truly selfless or altruistic?
Is it possible for people to actually be selfless? It seems that in many cases where someone is being kind, they are actually performing in a manner that will benefit them. Either the recipient of the kindness will reciprocate, or the act of…
E1Suave
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Has modern physics undermined Berkeley's idealism?
To make a long story short, Bishop Berkeley argued that the idea of matter existing independently of perception was incoherent, since the properties of matter are (or were in Berkeley's time) defined in perceptual terms such as hardness, redness,…
James Grossmann
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Is there a point to arguing about the meaning of words?
Firstly, I should mention that I am not sure, whether this the right place to ask such a question, but I am trying it anyway. Furthermore, one could say I come from a mathematics background and I am not familiar with common terminology in philosophy…
Stefan Perko
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What are the practical applications of modal logic?
I'm a computer science and philosophy double major. I know logic is paramount in computer science, but what about modal logic? Are there any practical applications in computer science and perhaps even outside of computer science?
user14603
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Can you suggest a good introduction on epistemology and also some criticism on them?
I bought Epistemology, by Richard Fumerton and Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction, by Robert Audi. Can you suggest other titles and also some criticism on them?
Red Banana
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Why is Russell so critical of Aristotle?
In A History of Western Philosophy, Russell argues:
I conclude that the Aristotelian doctrines with which we have been
concerned in this chapter are wholly false, with the exception of the
formal theory of the syllogism, which is unimportant.…
amphibient
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When given limited information, is the simplest solution that matches that information most likely correct?
Is there any basis in philosophy for the idea that when given limited information, the simplest solution that matches that information should be presumed correct or most likely to be correct?
For example, a complete search is conducted in the space…
alan2here
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Is transubstantiation faithfully Aristotelian?
Transubstantiation is a concept that Roman Catholic scholastics, most notably Thomas Aquinas, developed for the doctrine of Communion. Catholics state that when a priest blesses the elements of bread and wine, they become the body and blood of…
Mr. Bultitude
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Does the dueling notion of good and evil exist in non-Abrahamic (Eastern) philosophies as it does in the Western tradition?
I am looking for discussions about good and evil in non-Abrahamic philosophies (meaning traditionally Eastern schools of thought, such as those from India and China). The reason being, good and evil are quite central topics in both the Bible and the…
apoorv020
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7 answers
Does science reject Aristotle's final cause?
To quote from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:
Here Aristotle recognizes four types of things that can be given in answer to a why-question:
The material cause: “that out of which”, e.g., the bronze of a statue.
The formal cause: “the…
Jon Ericson
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What is the difference between Law of Excluded Middle and Law of Non Contradiction?
In spite of reading the SEP entry under Contradiction several times I have difficulty distinguishing between the two.
We can translate the Aristotelian language, with some loss of faithfulness, into the standard modern propositional versions in…
user1207
15
votes
5 answers
Is Galileo's argument about falling bodies logically flawed?
Galileo's famous argument against the Aristotle's theory of falling bodies goes like this (taken from THEP forum, now defunct):"Let's say heavy objects do fall faster than light ones. Then it seems the heavier weight will fall with the lighter…
Conifold
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What is the philosophy behind the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics?
Perhaps it is a stereotype, but I assumed that most physicists are empirical realists (external reality affects our senses, and science infers a representation of it from sensory data). At the same time, the Copenhagen interpretation is the majority…
Conifold
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Can philosophy overcome "the two cultures" divide?
Snow noted a growing divide between "the two cultures" in Western society, scientists and "literary intellectuals", who became increasingly self-absorbed and incomprehensible to each other. One of philosophy's traditional roles was providing a…
Conifold
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14 answers
Why do things have a front and a back?
This question was asked by my three year old niece and I couldn't think of a good answer.
Ronan Cremin
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