Anglo-American Philosophy
Answer the following two questions, devoting no more than three pages,
> typed double- space, to each question. Answer the second question beginning
> on a new page.
>
> 1. Discuss how a Logical Positivist would respond to these remarks, and
> why, and how you yourself would respond to the same remarks, and why:(
> 1.5pgs)
>
> (a) Metaphysical truths such as “There is a reality beyond the physical
> world” are deeper than ordinary truths such as “The cat is on the mat.”
>
> (b) Ostensive propositions, those which directly record an immediate
> experience such as “This looks red to me here now,” are validated as true
> by our sense experience and cannot be refuted by any subsequent experience.
>
> (c) The hypothesis that this is a 3-volt battery can be conclusively
> verified as false by connecting the battery to a voltmeter and observing
> the voltmeter’s needle pointing to “2” and not “3”.
>
> (d) Some propositions are known a priori, such as “If the object is red all
> over, then it’s not blue all over.”
>
> Divide your answer to this question into four lettered parts, starting each
> part with a new paragraph.
>
> 2. Divide your answer to the following question into three lettered parts,
> starting each part with a new paragraph.(1.5pgs)
>
> (a) In his article “Philosophical Perplexity” (1936), John Wisdom says
> philosophical progress has two aspects, provocation and pacification.
> Explain what he means. Would Ryle and Wittgenstein be likely to agree with
> him in 1936? Do you?
>
> (b) Discuss how Wisdom would be likely to react to the two comments below,
> and discuss whether you agree with him. In your answer, make some reference
> to section 2c called “Direct versus Indirect Intentionality” in the article
> “Intentionality” in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
>
> Seeing a rabbit, and hallucinating a rabbit, and having a dream of a
> rabbit, are all similar. What makes them similar is that they are all cases
> of directly perceiving
>
> something. Let’s call this ‘something’ a “sense datum of a rabbit” or a
> “rabbit sense datum.” The discovery of sense data is enlightening; it is a
> revelation about how nature works.
>
> (c) Discuss how Wisdom would be likely to react to the comment below, and
> discuss why you agree or disagree with him.
>
> When we perceive, we don’t ever really know that there is an external world
> we are perceiving.
>
> Each part of question 1 is worth 3 points; each part of question 2 is
> worth 4 points. In grading each question, you will get positive points for
> saying relevant things that are correct, but lose points for failing to say
> something of central importance, and lose points for saying something that
> is incorrect, and lose points for going off-topic. Be careful to
> distinguish your own ideas from the ideas of others that you happen to
> agree with.
>
> Guidelines: Do not repeat the question within the answer. Answer both
> questions, devoting three pages or less, typed double space, to each
> question. Number your pages. Do not use a cover page or place your answers
> in a binder; just staple together your sheets of paper; and place your name
> on the first page. Use 12 point font and regular size pages 8.5″ x 11″.
>
……………Answer Preview…………..
A logical positivist is oriented more towards that which is real, and can be verified through the use of empirical methods. They form a branch of knowledge called neo-positivism, and they are focused on the reality and concrete concepts more than abstract concepts.
On the subject on whether there exists a reality beyond the physical world, a logical positivist, depending on the content of his knowledge, is bound to have rather interesting views. He probably would acknowledge the fact that there might be a reality beyond the physical world, but from a very different perspective as one would think. For instance, he…………….
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