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Published byErick Thompson Modified over 9 years ago
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Review Dewey and social focus –Political and educational involvement Reforms failed—hard to implement w/o good teachers Public quarrel with Bertrand Russell –Stops talking about ‘truth’ Warranted assertability and 可 Coherence theory of truth with success for the whole body of beliefs –Inner light (a priori) method plus success test –Between James and Peirce
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Social Norms of Assertion Only if “know” – justified by language (concept) norms Assumption of shared information gathering –Need to trust and transmit Social intelligence—norm system effect –Rejects radical individualism in epistemology Picture theory of belief and language –Fit for China and reception in Beijing
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Kant and Darwin mix Plus English Utilitarianism –World structured by social mind (language) Survival of fittest and most fulfilling (utility) Theory of inquiry –Natural organic method refined in social practice Habit, frustration, observation activity, hypothesis –Test and return to habit (if successful) Babies in lab-coats –Is science is a cultural peculiarity Logic and inference—Chinese science?
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Practical Doubt Criticism of Descartes –Not general total doubt No recovery Actual doubt resolved by inquiry –Relying on other beliefs—may be doubted later Science model—conservative and efficient –System for storing, retrieving, information –All can access it without domination Apply it by its own principles Social intelligence
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Questions Review next week You bring questions Day off?
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Social Emphasis Interest in Marxism, China –Shared social focus –American "socialist" Critical of Marxism but shared view of human social nature Main divergence: radical v ameliorative –Violent v liberal—like Neurath's boat
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"Classical Liberalism" Conservative individualism Shallow psychology of human nature –Atomistic, egoistic, base hedonistic, amoral individuals (psychological egoist) –Needing law to motivate moral behavior Self-fulfilling prophecy –Familiar examples in business and love –American character v. Chinese character: Our nature is shaped by culture and institutions
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Classical Focus Wrong Not question of individual v society –Question is how to blend nature & culture How to construct a culture given that it will be a self- fulfilling prophecy New liberalism –Way to justify liberty is that its institutions create free people Self-critical, responsible, autonomous –Not something demanded by metaphysically free individuals
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Democracy Face to face discussion creates communal humans –Shared views Mutual respect Equality Concern for community Advocate democracy –To create self ‑ governing, self ‑ perfecting beings Not because majority is right or wise
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Justification Majoritarian fallacy –Have a right to decide ≠ are right –But prediction markets and “wisdom of crowds” A human right grounded in human nature? –Classical atomistic individual argument Goal of combined shared social intelligence –Each knows her own interest best Not perfectly but better than any authority Combine interests in a decision procedure –Involve all computing units in the problem
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Real Problems for Liberalism Non ‑ political/cultural factors inhibit moral growth –Democracy as empty election ritual –Even when politically free –Manipulative "free" institutions Television, domination of media, TV evangalists Money and power to persuade Economic determinism –Songs and arts –Confucius on 禮 li ritual and music
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Manipulation Television and advertising create artificial needs –Cars, fashions, perfumes, colognes, style Hong Kong specialty –Related to songs and natural impulse –Cf. Laozi and social desires Education for jobs –Free form of slavery –Sensationalist slaves Educational system ‑‑ teaches docility Free-market culture makes us less free
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Solution Political involvement –People take real power over themselves Goal of democracy—responsibility to be informed –Set up institutions with that goal Education systems, rule of law, rights, democracy Achieve more success (Radical Westernizers in China) Social intelligence –Value knowledge is like scientific knowledge –Social, coherent and experimental—get and like –Criticize some only—no systematic value doubt
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Philosophy for All Reason in morals and in science –Social shared intelligence We cannot choose not to philosophize –We choose do it well... –Or badly
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