>>The reason we put up with philosophers, apart from entertainment value, is survival: We don't know what the future is and it may turn out the lunatic fringe is right.<<
Agree on all 4 points… -g.
There are many vital areas where the modern scientific method doesn’t give us enough help. Think of all the passions which precipitate and advance political events… also, things like love… war and peace… financial markets… entrepreneurship – or lack thereof…
The scientific method has been tremendously successful. It created the advanced world we live in, our modern economy, technology, medicine, etc. etc. However, we are human. Our inner mental states are crucial to our survival and to our future – and those mental states are not really amenable to be studied solely – or, even mainly – by applying the scientific method. Why? Because in humans there is no “strict”, or causative relationship between the “input” and “outcome”. Identical stimuli may cause a vast variety of “outputs” in different individuals – or, even in the same person at different times. Reaction does not equal the action. Our minds have lives of their own, and they “live” them simultaneously on several different levels.
Yeah, we do need all those philosophers, poets, and others like them… |
