Isn’t that what Wittgenstein and Quine were saying?
Not necessarily a contradiction but here is slightly different take on it:
Scientists sometimes deceive themsevles into thinking that philosophical ideas are only, at best, decorations or parasitic commentaries on the hard, objective triumphs of science, and that they themselves are immune to the confusions that philosophers devote their lives to dissolving. But there is no such thing as philosophy-free science; there is only science whose philosophical baggage is taken on board without examination.
The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back.
Reading such quotes, I don’t understand how Moldbug and others can decry their “progressivist” opponents as a sinister and secretive world-spanning stand-alone complex. It’s just a few middle-aged men (they’re neither old nor young when they deploy their key works), and, lately, women, gently guiding history insofar as it can be guided, speaking quite clearly about their capabilities and intentions. Is this power structure necessarily so awful?
I’ve heard Dennett say much the same thing as the original post, and thought you were going to quote as such. He sees the interesting work to be found at the edges of science and technology, where people are still trying to formulate decent questions.
Yes he is of the view that neuroscience, evolutionary theory etc. can cast light on philosophical questions. But I don’t think the quote contradicts that position, just that “Scientists” sometimes do not recognise that they do in fact construct their theories on a philosophical foundation.
Sorry, misinterpreted. I guess I was anticipating a more skeptical answer, since Dennett critique philosophers more often than he critique scientists—as you put it “decent questions”.
Isn’t that what Wittgenstein and Quine were saying?
Not necessarily a contradiction but here is slightly different take on it:
-Daniel Dennett
--John Maynard Keynes
Reading such quotes, I don’t understand how Moldbug and others can decry their “progressivist” opponents as a sinister and secretive world-spanning stand-alone complex. It’s just a few middle-aged men (they’re neither old nor young when they deploy their key works), and, lately, women, gently guiding history insofar as it can be guided, speaking quite clearly about their capabilities and intentions. Is this power structure necessarily so awful?
I’ve heard Dennett say much the same thing as the original post, and thought you were going to quote as such. He sees the interesting work to be found at the edges of science and technology, where people are still trying to formulate decent questions.
Yes he is of the view that neuroscience, evolutionary theory etc. can cast light on philosophical questions. But I don’t think the quote contradicts that position, just that “Scientists” sometimes do not recognise that they do in fact construct their theories on a philosophical foundation.
I didn’t intend what I said to contradict your statement—just elaborate along the same lines.
Sorry, misinterpreted. I guess I was anticipating a more skeptical answer, since Dennett critique philosophers more often than he critique scientists—as you put it “decent questions”.