tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579202217898525142.post7059167111823168714..comments2023-10-06T04:30:14.367-07:00Comments on CuRve Ball: What's good about doing a philosophy degree?Tanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15856188693685163340noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579202217898525142.post-29383178813655948842012-10-11T07:42:17.585-07:002012-10-11T07:42:17.585-07:00The first thing you have to understand about philo...The first thing you have to understand about philosophy is that it's criticism based, not preaching based. So there's almost no consensus (tho it happens), and as such there's a lot of different approaches to, say, epistemology. Some are better and some are worse. <br /><br />Where philosophy really shines, however, is no one really gets away with anything for long. Especially 20th century and onwards criticism has become incredibly rigorous. So when a solution is put out in epistemology, or wherever, it immediately gets criticised and a new improved theory comes out. The bad gets better, the good gets better. And over all, epistemology is decent split between constantly improving bad and constantly improving good. <br /><br />So I'm not sure what your particular problem with epistemology would be. <br /><br />But, even if it sucked, of course a lot of good can be done on ethics with bad epistemology. Rand had the worst epistemology since the 1700s XD<br /><br />Popper, yeah, they do misunderstand him a bit. Not everyone does, tho! And that's quite a small fault really. Also there are genuinely good criticisms of Popper.<br /><br />Tanyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856188693685163340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579202217898525142.post-19642403914881109542012-10-11T07:05:59.227-07:002012-10-11T07:05:59.227-07:00I'm not talking about a criticism of grades, I...I'm not talking about a criticism of grades, I'm saying that what you said cannot work if there is a system of grades, because at the end of the day you need to learn what the teacher will give you good grades for, not what is true. Ditto curriculum.<br /><br />Traditional philosophy has god-awful epistemology, does not understand Popper let alone take on board what he says, and basically doesn't have anything to add because mistaken epistemology is such a far-reaching mistake. (Again, we can discuss more on the TCS list.) For example, you can't do much of value in moral philosophy if you don't understand epistemology. What good is there in the traditions?Lulie Tanetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17063490533721315786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579202217898525142.post-49225176831546524352012-10-11T06:54:13.813-07:002012-10-11T06:54:13.813-07:00maybe there is a criticism of grades that'd be...maybe there is a criticism of grades that'd be worth taking to the TCS list. I have no argument for grades, tho. Nor do I think it has any real relevance to any of the things I said (except that you have to pass to stay there. But you will always pass if you care about what you're doing. And you shouldn't be there if not)<br /><br />Philosophy traditions are largely excellent. What are your criticisms that make you think otherwise?Tanyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856188693685163340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8579202217898525142.post-37812900379812614602012-10-11T06:30:11.188-07:002012-10-11T06:30:11.188-07:00No system where one person grades another accordin...No system where one person grades another according to the first person's standards, or a system with a curriculum, can do the things you said in the first paragraph of Self-direction. (If you want to discuss this point further, let's take it on the TCS list.)<br /><br />Second, I don't think one needs to know the traditions in philosophy. I'd wager it wold actually put them at a disadvantage. Philosophical traditions are, for the most part, worse than common-sense.<br /><br />The thing you need isn't philosophical traditions, but outside criticism from people who know good ideas (they can tell you whatever tradition is necessary for understanding a thing). <br /><br />Forums(/the good mailing lists -- TCS, BoI, ARR, RP) are, much much better for the thing you mention (helping understanding the reading list). Professors usually do not understand the reading list well, so they will give you bad ideas about how to interpret it.Lulie Tanetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17063490533721315786noreply@blogger.com