Ryan V

Please post all introductions in this forum. Tell us how you found the philosophy forums, what interests you about philosophy, and a little about you, such as your age, where you live, what you do for a living, etc.
Post Reply
User avatar
Ryveit
New Trial Member
Posts: 2
Joined: April 10th, 2017, 9:36 am

Ryan V

Post by Ryveit »

I am a college student majoring in Computer Science. I took a Philosophy 101 class as my Arts and Humanities education requirement. I took this class online using the text book "Exploring Philosophy" by Steven M. Cahn. I had a really great professor who created power points and video lessons that made the complex arguments in the book much more understandable. After this class i continued studying Philosophy on my own and I really enjoy the deep thinking that Philosophy involves. Being a Computer Science major, i enjoy the abstract ideas and computational logic that computers and Mathematics involves. But Philosophy is the other spectrum of Logic that i feel gets ignored in Mathematical Logic. Learning both sides of Logic is important in becoming a strong thinker. My favorite Philosopher is Rene Descartes, who was also a well known Mathematician. I often feel as though i think the same way Descartes thinks. Interestingly, Descartes often talks about his objections of the truth that Mathematics claims. He questions his own reality, which contradicts the ideas of Science. Science is the all knowing truth, the idea that Mathematically we can discover exactly how the world works. But Philosophically we cant know how the world works if we don't if know if the world is real, or if we are even real.
Fooloso4
Posts: 3601
Joined: February 28th, 2014, 4:50 pm

Re: Ryan V

Post by Fooloso4 »

Interestingly, Descartes often talks about his objections of the truth that Mathematics claims. He questions his own reality, which contradicts the ideas of Science.
Good point. This is part of Descartes rhetoric. First, it should be pointed out that his concept of science is different than our own. We no longer use certainty as a criterion, but rather deal with probabilities. Second, mathematics stands as Descartes model of reason and certainty. I think indubitability serves as a way to question the Church without suffering the fate of Galileo. In the dedication to the Meditations he is obsequious to the Church leaders, but then goes on to question everything, which includes the Church, but he is careful not to state that and expects the reader to reach that conclusion on his or her own. He also points out that as a practical matter we cannot doubt everything, and many of the things he goes on to claim are evident by the light of reason can be doubted - most notably his “proofs” of the existence of God. But he uses God’s goodness to affirm that we are not deceived about everything and that not everything should be doubted.

As I see it, if he were to rigorously and consistently follow the practice of doubt there would be nothing he could be certain of. He could not even be certain of his own existence, for the logic that he must exist in order to be deceived might also be a deception. He has, however, been successful in so far as he has established his Archimedean point, the independent authority of human reason.
Steve3007
Posts: 10339
Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: Ryan V

Post by Steve3007 »

Fooloso4:
He could not even be certain of his own existence, for the logic that he must exist in order to be deceived might also be a deception.
So what you seem to be saying here is that the simple logic of the proposition "I think, therefore I am" might itself be a deception. The conclusion that in order to doubt my existence there must be something there doing the doubting is the conclusion of a logical argument. Whose reality/validity can be doubted.

But if we attempt to extend the method of doubt to the logical structure of our sentences surely the very sentences that we use to describe and justify that extension crumble away into meaninglessness. Using a reasoned argument to doubt the existence of reasoned arguments is self contradictory. But then, I guess we can doubt the logic that leads us to believe that it is self contradictory.
Fooloso4
Posts: 3601
Joined: February 28th, 2014, 4:50 pm

Re: Ryan V

Post by Fooloso4 »

Steve3007:
But if we attempt to extend the method of doubt to the logical structure of our sentences surely the very sentences that we use to describe and justify that extension crumble away into meaninglessness. Using a reasoned argument to doubt the existence of reasoned arguments is self contradictory. But then, I guess we can doubt the logic that leads us to believe that it is self contradictory.
Yes, and that is why I said that it is rhetorical. He does not doubt reason. He establishes reason, not revelation, not the doctrines of the Church, not “the philosopher” (as Aristotle was known at the time), is the sole source of knowledge. Doubt was the method of clearing, but algebra - solving for any unknown variable using what is known, is the method by which man is able to become “infinitely perfectible”.
Steve3007
Posts: 10339
Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: Ryan V

Post by Steve3007 »

Yes, and that is why I said that it is rhetorical...
Fair enough. That's what comes of me plucking a couple of sentences out of their proper context.
Post Reply

Return to “Introductions”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021