Shanahan

“Sometimes scientific communities use words in highly distinctive ways (โ€˜moleculeโ€™, โ€˜geneโ€™, โ€˜waveโ€™, and so on). If a scientist points out that these are the things that โ€˜existโ€™ according to her theory, then this is just the right way to talk given the practices of the scientific community, practices that are especially rigorous and that demand a strong empirical sanction for using words in that sort of way. But for anyoneโ€”scientist, philosopher, or laypersonโ€”to go a step further and claim that the โ€˜fundamental natureโ€™ of reality is revealed by a scientific theory is to make a dangerous and unnecessary metaphysical move. So talk of the superiority of one theory’s ontology over another’s that appeals to some altogether hidden order of realityโ€”such as the realm of private, inner experienceโ€”is doubly misplaced.”

–Murray Shanahn, Embodiment and the Inner Life: Cognition and Consciousness in the Space of Possible Minds

Philo bread

As long as every aspect of the world can’t be simulated reversibly from the bottom up, there will be a need for philosophy.

Philosophy doesn’t provide answers but rather determines what questions can be asked, should be asked, and what you are really asking when you think you are asking something.

There will always be a place for this in any society where the first constraint applies. In other words, science and philosophy are potentially infinite and both necessary.

Note that I said potentially….