Name the philosopher

Robin · 27th November 2009, 03:21 AM

OK, quick quiz.

This philosopher was recognised as a founding influence by both Physicalists and Logical Positivists.

He originated the central idea of reductionism - that the only meaningful statements were ones which referred to objects of immediate experience.

He also claimed that there was no such thing as an abstract idea.

Name the philosopher.

Sideroxylon · 27th November 2009, 04:00 AM

Originally Posted by Robin

OK, quick quiz.

This philosopher was recognised as a founding influence by both Physicalists and Logical Positivists.

He originated the central idea of reductionism - that the only meaningful statements were ones which referred to objects of immediate experience.

He also claimed that there was no such thing as an abstract idea.

Name the philosopher.

A stab in the dark based only on the first clue: Auguste Comte.

six7s · 27th November 2009, 04:01 AM

Sokal?

plumjam · 27th November 2009, 04:05 AM

Curtley Ambrose

Robin · 27th November 2009, 04:40 AM

Originally Posted by Sideroxylon

A stab in the dark based only on the first clue: Auguste Comte.

A good stab, and yet not the one I have in mind, a little earlier.

Robin · 27th November 2009, 04:41 AM

Originally Posted by six7s

Sokal?

Although the person I have in mind did say that there was no cause and effect, only signifier and signified.

Which sounds just a little post modern.

calebprime · 27th November 2009, 04:42 AM

Berkeley?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Berkeley

Sideroxylon · 27th November 2009, 04:42 AM

Originally Posted by Robin

A good stab, and yet not the one I have in mind, a little earlier.

Francis Bacon? Only because I know he influenced Comte.

Robin · 27th November 2009, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by plumjam

Curtley Ambrose

I will definitely have to sleep on that one.

Robin · 27th November 2009, 04:48 AM

Originally Posted by calebprime

Berkeley?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Berkeley

Bingo.

I didn't think this one would fall so soon.

calebprime · 27th November 2009, 04:50 AM

I would have hit it within a few minutes of your OP, but I didn't want to look like an idiot if I wuz rong.

Robin · 27th November 2009, 04:54 AM

Originally Posted by Sideroxylon

Francis Bacon? Only because I know he influenced Comte.

Also on track because Bacon seems to have been influenced by Berkeley, consciously or unconsciously I don't know.

He passes the tradition to Comte, via Mach and to the Vienna Circle.

Lothian · 27th November 2009, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by calebprime

Berkeley?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Berkeley

Interesting fact about Berkeley. While in England he had a ‘liaison’ with the Duke of Berkele’s wife causing the Duke to name his hunt after the philosopher

six7s · 27th November 2009, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Robin

Originally Posted by Sideroxylon

A stab in the dark based only on the first clue: Auguste Comte.

A good stab, and yet not the one I have in mind, a little earlier.

Julye Comte?

Robin · 29th November 2009, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by Robin

Also on track because Bacon seems to have been influenced by Berkeley, consciously or unconsciously I don't know.

He passes the tradition to Comte, via Mach and to the Vienna Circle.

D'oh!

I got Bacon/Berkeley the wrong way round.

Sideroxylon · 29th November 2009, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Robin

D'oh!

I got Bacon/Berkeley the wrong way round.

I see that there is around 80 years between Bacon's death and Berkeley's birth.

Carl Sagan I think quoted the following from Bacon's "Novum Organum" in "Demon Haunted World" and I reckon it’s great.

The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; whence proceed sciences which may be called "sciences as one would." For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections color and infect the understanding.

27th November 2009, 03:21 AM	#1
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	Name the philosopher OK, quick quiz. This philosopher was recognised as a founding influence by both Physicalists and Logical Positivists. He originated the central idea of reductionism - that the only meaningful statements were ones which referred to objects of immediate experience. He also claimed that there was no such thing as an abstract idea. Name the philosopher.
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	__________________ If any one alters the definitions, I cannot pretend to argue with him, until I know the meaning he assigns to these terms. - David Hume 1711-1776

27th November 2009, 04:00 AM	#2
Sideroxylon Muse Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Turkey Posts: 566	Originally Posted by Robin OK, quick quiz. This philosopher was recognised as a founding influence by both Physicalists and Logical Positivists. He originated the central idea of reductionism - that the only meaningful statements were ones which referred to objects of immediate experience. He also claimed that there was no such thing as an abstract idea. Name the philosopher. A stab in the dark based only on the first clue: Auguste Comte.
	__________________ Look out honey 'cause I'm using technology.

27th November 2009, 04:01 AM	#3
six7s veretic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Aotearoa Posts: 8,064	Sokal?
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27th November 2009, 04:40 AM	#5
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	Originally Posted by Sideroxylon A stab in the dark based only on the first clue: Auguste Comte. A good stab, and yet not the one I have in mind, a little earlier.
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	__________________ If any one alters the definitions, I cannot pretend to argue with him, until I know the meaning he assigns to these terms. - David Hume 1711-1776

27th November 2009, 04:41 AM	#6
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	Originally Posted by six7s Sokal? Although the person I have in mind did say that there was no cause and effect, only signifier and signified. Which sounds just a little post modern.
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	__________________ If any one alters the definitions, I cannot pretend to argue with him, until I know the meaning he assigns to these terms. - David Hume 1711-1776

27th November 2009, 04:05 AM	#4
plumjam Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Valencia, Spain Posts: 6,362	Curtley Ambrose

27th November 2009, 04:42 AM	#7
calebprime Somewhat Elitist Parasite Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,747	Berkeley? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Berkeley
	__________________ again: By the way have you anyone here aside from myself produced what to you is or should be the very first principle of clear thinking?--yrreg

27th November 2009, 04:42 AM	#8
Sideroxylon Muse Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Turkey Posts: 566	Originally Posted by Robin A good stab, and yet not the one I have in mind, a little earlier. Francis Bacon? Only because I know he influenced Comte.
	__________________ Look out honey 'cause I'm using technology.

27th November 2009, 04:47 AM	#9
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	Originally Posted by plumjam Curtley Ambrose I will definitely have to sleep on that one.
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	__________________ If any one alters the definitions, I cannot pretend to argue with him, until I know the meaning he assigns to these terms. - David Hume 1711-1776

27th November 2009, 04:48 AM	#10
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	Originally Posted by calebprime Berkeley? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Berkeley Bingo. I didn't think this one would fall so soon.
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	__________________ If any one alters the definitions, I cannot pretend to argue with him, until I know the meaning he assigns to these terms. - David Hume 1711-1776

27th November 2009, 04:50 AM	#11
calebprime Somewhat Elitist Parasite Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,747	I would have hit it within a few minutes of your OP, but I didn't want to look like an idiot if I wuz rong.
	__________________ again: By the way have you anyone here aside from myself produced what to you is or should be the very first principle of clear thinking?--yrreg

27th November 2009, 04:54 AM	#12
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	Originally Posted by Sideroxylon Francis Bacon? Only because I know he influenced Comte. Also on track because Bacon seems to have been influenced by Berkeley, consciously or unconsciously I don't know. He passes the tradition to Comte, via Mach and to the Vienna Circle.
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	__________________ If any one alters the definitions, I cannot pretend to argue with him, until I know the meaning he assigns to these terms. - David Hume 1711-1776

27th November 2009, 06:46 AM	#13
Lothian (edited for breach of rule 10) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: A small, blue-green world in one of the less fashionable sectors of the galaxy Posts: 7,033	Originally Posted by calebprime Berkeley? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Berkeley Interesting fact about Berkeley. While in England he had a ‘liaison’ with the Duke of Berkele’s wife causing the Duke to name his hunt after the philosopher
	__________________ "When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly half way between. It is possible for one side simply to be wrong." Richard Dawkins and Jerry Coyne JREF Forum Campaign Group

27th November 2009, 09:58 AM	#14
six7s veretic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Aotearoa Posts: 8,064	Originally Posted by Robin Originally Posted by Sideroxylon A stab in the dark based only on the first clue: Auguste Comte. A good stab, and yet not the one I have in mind, a little earlier. Julye Comte?
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29th November 2009, 05:58 AM	#15
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	Originally Posted by Robin Also on track because Bacon seems to have been influenced by Berkeley, consciously or unconsciously I don't know. He passes the tradition to Comte, via Mach and to the Vienna Circle. D'oh! I got Bacon/Berkeley the wrong way round.
Robin Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,778	__________________ If any one alters the definitions, I cannot pretend to argue with him, until I know the meaning he assigns to these terms. - David Hume 1711-1776

29th November 2009, 10:44 AM	#16
Sideroxylon Muse Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Turkey Posts: 566	Originally Posted by Robin D'oh! I got Bacon/Berkeley the wrong way round. I see that there is around 80 years between Bacon's death and Berkeley's birth. Carl Sagan I think quoted the following from Bacon's "Novum Organum" in "Demon Haunted World" and I reckon it’s great. The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; whence proceed sciences which may be called "sciences as one would." For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections color and infect the understanding.
	__________________ Look out honey 'cause I'm using technology.