“If you defend a behavior by arguing that people are programmed directly for it, then how do you continue to defend it if your speculation is wrong, for the behavior then becomes unnatural and worthy of condemnation. Better to stick resolutely to a philosophical position on human liberty: what free adults do with each other in their own private lives is their business alone. It need not be vindicated and must not be condemned by genetic speculation.” PeopleIfsNeedsHumansLife IsLibertyPositionBehaviorAdultsPhilosophicalSticksWorthyArguingSpeculationPrivate LifeUnnaturalCondemnationVindicated Book:Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History Source: Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History
“Agnosticism is a perfectly respectable and tenable philosophical position; it is not dogmatic and makes no pronouncements about the ultimate truths of the universe. It remains open to evidence and persuasion; lacking faith, it nevertheless does not deride faith. Atheism, on the other hand, is as unyielding and dogmatic about religious belief as true believers are about heathens. It tries to use reason to demolish a structure that is not built upon reason.” TryingDoeReasonUseHandsUniverseBeliefReligiousAtheismPositionEvidenceBuiltUltimatePhilosophicalRemainsStructureBelieverNeverthelessLackingPersuasionRespectableAgnosticismReligious BeliefDogmaticTrue BelieverHeathenUltimate TruthUnyieldingDemolish Book:Pieces of Eight Pa Source: Pieces of Eight Pa
“Philosophy's position with regard to science, which at one time could be designated with the name "theory of knowledge," has been undermined by the movement of philosophical thought itself. Philosophy was dislodged from this position by philosophy.” Has BeensPhilosophyNamesMovementPositionTheoryPhilosophicalRegardOne TimeTheory Of Knowledge Author:Jurgen Habermas
“In the case of all other sciences, arts, skills, and crafts, everyone is convinced that a complex and laborious programme of learning and practice is necessary for competence. Yet when it comes to philosophy, there seems to be a currently prevailing prejudice to the effect that, although not everyone who has eyes and fingers, and is given leather and last, is at once in a position to make shoes, everyone nevertheless immediately understands how to philosophize.” ArtPhilosophySeemsEyeLastsGivenPracticeCasesEffectsPositionSkillsPrejudicePhilosophicalFingersComplexesShoesConvincedCraftsNeverthelessCompetenceLeatherProgrammesPrevailing Book:Phenomenology of Spirit Source: Phenomenology of Spirit
“My position is a naturalistic one; I see philosophy not as an a priori propaedeutic or groundwork for science, but as continuous with science. I see philosophy and science as in the same boat--a boat which, to revert to Neurath's figure as I so often do, we can rebuild only at sea while staying afloat in it. There is no external vantage point, no first philosophy.” FirstsPhilosophySeaFiguresPositionPhilosophicalBoatStayingNaturalismVantage PointGroundwork Author:Willard Van Orman Quine
“Although I felt I was quite good at criticising a philosophical position, I was not very good at defending and making a case for a philosophical position.” FeltCasesPositionPhilosophicalVery Good Author:Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra
“[This approach] displays the characteristic philosophical lust to vanquish the skeptic by arguing him out of his skepticism, without appeal to moral and political considerations or to the facts of everyday life. [...] But more often than not, if you give the skeptic everything he wants, then he will be successful in repulsing your attacks and terrorizing your position.” IfsWantGivingFactsPoliticalMoralSuccessfulPositionApproachPhilosophicalEverydayArguingLustAppealsCharacteristicsBeing SuccessfulConsiderationDisplaySkepticismEveryday LifeSkepticVanquish Author:Dale Jamieson