Post by eferrerburnette on Sept 24, 2015 9:24:09 GMT
1. Why is understanding physics and the general rules of the universe so important in doing philosophy?
Understanding physics and the rules of the universe is very important in doing philosophy because physics explains how the physical world works. What causes matter to behave the way it does. As explained by Lane and Diem-Lane (2014), Einstein and Bohr differed in their interpretation of matter and how it functioned. Einstein believed that photons had a preset destination which was not affected by measuring or observing their movement. Bohr on the other hand believed that the sole act of measuring or observing their movement affected their position. This theory was put to test with Richard Feynman’s double slit experiment, in which it was proved that light behaved both like a wave and particle. It is very hard to know the position of a photon because the sole act of observing its movement affects its position. Einstein did not like this theory because he argued that “God did not roll dice”, which meant that physics could not unpredictable and random.
2. What is eliminative materialism?
Eliminative materialism is a process used in trying to understand our surroundings and our consciousness. As explained in the Neural Surfer videos, we try to make sense of everything in life with either mathematical equations, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, or sociology. If it cannot be explained by any of these disciplines then we determine that it may be a work of God. The process of eliminating these disciplines in the search for answers is eliminative materialism. I interpret this as us trying to make sense of why we think the way think and feel the way we feel. We have no physical explanation as to what triggers this. Feeling sad, happy or angry or not actual physical states, but just a neurological state of the brain. As Patricia Churchland mentioned “we are just three pounds of meat” (Diem-Lane and Lane, 2014, p. 3), and do not exist outside of our physical bodies.
One example would be why we have a conscience. We cannot scientifically explain it therefore we make sense of it by believing that it was giving to us by a higher being so that we could know right from wrong and thus be better people. Another example are dreams, although psychiatrists can explain the cognitive ability of the brain to be alert while we sleep, we cannot explain what triggers certain dreams and or even nightmares. We therefore try to interpret dreams as signs and sometimes warnings as to what is to come. Another example of eliminative materialism could be ghosts. Ghosts or what might have thought to be a ghost have presented themselves to people. Many people are skeptics, but still we want to believe in the possibility that there is life after death, life outside of our physical bodies, and that is why many people do believe in them.
Understanding physics and the rules of the universe is very important in doing philosophy because physics explains how the physical world works. What causes matter to behave the way it does. As explained by Lane and Diem-Lane (2014), Einstein and Bohr differed in their interpretation of matter and how it functioned. Einstein believed that photons had a preset destination which was not affected by measuring or observing their movement. Bohr on the other hand believed that the sole act of measuring or observing their movement affected their position. This theory was put to test with Richard Feynman’s double slit experiment, in which it was proved that light behaved both like a wave and particle. It is very hard to know the position of a photon because the sole act of observing its movement affects its position. Einstein did not like this theory because he argued that “God did not roll dice”, which meant that physics could not unpredictable and random.
2. What is eliminative materialism?
Eliminative materialism is a process used in trying to understand our surroundings and our consciousness. As explained in the Neural Surfer videos, we try to make sense of everything in life with either mathematical equations, physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, or sociology. If it cannot be explained by any of these disciplines then we determine that it may be a work of God. The process of eliminating these disciplines in the search for answers is eliminative materialism. I interpret this as us trying to make sense of why we think the way think and feel the way we feel. We have no physical explanation as to what triggers this. Feeling sad, happy or angry or not actual physical states, but just a neurological state of the brain. As Patricia Churchland mentioned “we are just three pounds of meat” (Diem-Lane and Lane, 2014, p. 3), and do not exist outside of our physical bodies.
One example would be why we have a conscience. We cannot scientifically explain it therefore we make sense of it by believing that it was giving to us by a higher being so that we could know right from wrong and thus be better people. Another example are dreams, although psychiatrists can explain the cognitive ability of the brain to be alert while we sleep, we cannot explain what triggers certain dreams and or even nightmares. We therefore try to interpret dreams as signs and sometimes warnings as to what is to come. Another example of eliminative materialism could be ghosts. Ghosts or what might have thought to be a ghost have presented themselves to people. Many people are skeptics, but still we want to believe in the possibility that there is life after death, life outside of our physical bodies, and that is why many people do believe in them.