Re: True Gems of Scientific Epistemology

From: JXStern (JXSternChangeX2R_at_gte.net)
Date: 07/21/04 

Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 22:31:08 GMT

On 21 Jul 2004 10:46:57 -0700, a_cjones@hotmail.com (cdj) wrote:
>> Orthogonal to your choices, I always like to recommend Ruth Garrett
>> Millikan's books on teleosemantics, "On Clear and Confused Ideas" is
>> more accessible than "Language, Thought, and Other Biological
>> Categories."
>
>Millikan? bah.

Just for the record, I'm not saying she's 100% correct, just
*interesting*. FWIW, I say she's strong on how concepts are used, but
the teleo- part of it, and the Swampman business, is as you say (bah!)
but that's still interesting!

>> And in relation to your later message, don't toss off Darwin so
>> quickly, evolution is an *extremely* subtle and tricky idea, enough so
>> that Gould and Dawkins agree on just about no details at all. Along
>> those lines, I'd recommend Ernst Mayr's "Toward a New Philosophy of
>> Biology".
>
>Good call on the evolution-tip. To hell with Gould n Dawkins tho - go
>with Daniel Dennett, "Darwin's Dangerous Idea"!
>
> :)

Well, Dennett and Millikan are old buddies, but by that same light,
Dennet is another one who gets some stuff very right, and other stuff,
not so right. DDI is strong in its denial of the agency of evolution,
though that's a bit of beating on a strawman, but DDI does not really
present a good intuition pump to use instead. Which is pure Dennett,
who is happy to talk of intentionality as a stance, but who then
offers only just-so stories about why we would have such a stance.
So, I'll stay with the biologist Mayr when it comes to evolution.

(for a great overview of the history and foundations of evolutionary
theory, Peter Bowler, "Evolution: The History of an Idea", 1983/1989,
isbn 0-520-06386-4)

J.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: True Gems of Scientific Epistemology
    ... the teleo- part of it, and the Swampman business, is as you say (bah!) ... Well, Dennett and Millikan are old buddies, but by that same light, ... Which is pure Dennett, ... I'll stay with the biologist Mayr when it comes to evolution. ...
    (sci.cognitive)
  • Re: True Gems of Scientific Epistemology
    ... the teleo- part of it, and the Swampman business, is as you say (bah!) ... Well, Dennett and Millikan are old buddies, but by that same light, ... Which is pure Dennett, ... I'll stay with the biologist Mayr when it comes to evolution. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • =?windows-1252?Q?Darwin=92s_Dangerous_Idea=97No_Middle_G?==?windows-1252?Q?round?=
    ... "Dennett understands that every important idea and pattern of thought is ... does understand the logic of Intelligent Design. ... persons reject evolution because it "goes right to the heart of the most ... means the impossibility of any belief in God. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Solid Argument Against Evolution: Appeal to Tactics
    ... that Dennett is admitting that the beginning of the tree of life "just ... verify for them self by reading the quote posted in this message) the ... of evidence that supports the theory of evolution. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Darwinian Meltdown Over Intelligent Design
    ... So says equally high profile skeptic Michael Ruse, ... "We are losing this battle," Ruse flatly asserts in the letter to Dennett, a ... I don't agree with Ruse about Dawkins and Dennett. ... and Dennett are bad for the evolution side. ...
    (talk.origins)