PHIL 115 Lecture Notes - Pragmatism, Meliorism, Human Nature
Document Summary
The present dilemma in philosophy is that it is not as objective or rational as it should be: subjectivity of the thinker should be bracketed. Thinking pertains to the object not the subject. No one who claims to know anything in any discipline is completely objective. [hard facts, skeptical, not religious, empirical] tough-minded, [idealistic, optimistic, dogmatic, speculative] tender-minded. We value mathematics and science (tough-minded) more than we value history and poetry (tender-minded) Every philosopher ends up with a world view that reflects their temperament. Pragmatism is a theory of truth and knowledge that bears on actions. Ideas are always in service of our practical projects (actions) Theories are instruments by which we enhance our practice: we make predictions and hypotheses to cope with the world. James rejects that truth has an absolute, incontrovertible foundation. Thinking allows us to do something page 30. Everything depends on human actions and the ability to cope with human actions.
