Week 3 & 4 Essay Questions

Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?

Philosophy is a thing in which one must know the answers of several question, but most importantly understand why they are so, the more one understands the situation the more they can help explain it to others. Also, physics revolves entirely around facts with the general rules of our universe so when it comes to philosophy and understanding it; it can help to be better understood. Philosophy is the study of the general and fundamental problems that can be connected with reality, reason, language, value, and most importantly existence. When one understands both the general rules of the universe and physics it can help give a wider perspective as to what they are explaining and when it comes to philosophy the bigger you see outside the box the more advantage you have.

What is eliminative materialism?

Eliminative materialism is a materialist position in the philosophy of the mind. According to the videos and the readings, eliminative materialism is an opinion that one has on a certain (three) topic according to studies, finding, and facts. The Greeks use to make up stories to tell their people to help them understand their world better and this is very similar. Example number one is when someone tries to come to a better understanding on why something is done or happens such as the death of a loved one and science, reasoning, and philosophy fail to prove as to why this happened, some may believe it was an act of “God.” Example number two, people long ago use to believe that the plague was evil spirits and bad juju punishing the people or any illness was an act of witchcraft or the devil when in reality it was bacterial infections or viruses. Now we have science to help us understand these illnesses not to mention modern medicine. Example number three is how Helios was believed to be driving the sun around the earth everyday when in FACT we know that the earth revolves around the sun.