A Dialogue on Opposing Worldviews: A Set of Powerful Sparring Matches Between Two Imaginary Philosophers - Softcover

Schrock, Joseph

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1477259317 ISBN 13: 9781477259313

Verlag: AuthorHouse, 2012

Inhaltsangabe

This book comprises the fruits of much deep thinking for decades on the issues discussed. The book is very largely a summation of the author's philosophical reading, probing, analyzing, and creative thinking involved in critiquing much philosophical literature, and deeply contemplating the implications of all that reading and analyzing. This philosophical work touches on a great variety of philosophical questions; however, the most diligent and persistent analyses revolve around questions concerning the nature of language (where reference and meaning reside), the nature of human (and animal) consciousness, and how it is that we human beings can know anything at all. Studiosus and Scepticus are the two interlocutors (debaters) in this very lively discussion. Throughout the book, they take aim at each other's worldview, and they passionately debate the pros and cons of each issue under the fires of critical analysis. The debates sometimes get into great technical detail, but they never get dull, dry or pedantic. The intellectual passions of each debater see to it that the dialogue never gets unduly bogged down in tedious details and analyses. When Scepticus and Studiosus debate, it never gets dull for very long. However, they do come head-on concerning some very difficult and deep philosophical probing and analysis. Therefore, the reader should be prepared to do some critical thinking, even if this thinking can be kept colorful and exciting.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

The author is a devout seeker after harmony with Ultimate Reality (God, in other words). He has studied philosophy and mathematics at a state university -- at the undergraduate levels. The author believes wholeheartedly that a search for Union with the Divine is the most vital concern to which a human being can devote oneself.

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A Dialogue on Opposing Worldviews

A Set of Powerful Sparring Matches Between Two Imaginary PhilosophersBy Joseph Schrock

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Joseph Schrock
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-5931-3

Contents

Preface...................................................................................ixBeer, Women, and Music....................................................................1Language, Reality, and Knowledge..........................................................7Discussions of a Developing Book on Epistemology and Language.............................11A Philosophy of Language Must Reckon with Reality.........................................16Languange as the Structure of Reality.....................................................20The Nature of Meaning in Language.........................................................28Reference - Where Does it Reside?.........................................................33Consciousness and its Implications........................................................38The Intrinsic Contradiction in Denying the Reality of Consciousness.......................40The Vacuity of Physicalism Regarding Consciousness........................................46Is Physical Reality All there Is?.........................................................53Are "Paranormal" Phenomena Credible?......................................................64What is Free Will?........................................................................77Free Will is Logically Necessary for Any Viable Morality..................................86Does Truth Exist?.........................................................................99What is Mathematics?......................................................................112Mathematical Nominalism, Realism, Social Constructivism, or Mysticism.....................117Studiosus' Mystical Tangent and Scepticus' Disdain........................................122What is Logic?............................................................................128Language and its Logical Basis............................................................137An Attempt to Define "Psychology".........................................................142What are Human Will and Human Motivation?.................................................150Is the Human Will Physical?...............................................................156Can We Define "Truth"?....................................................................160Does Truth have a Spiritual Dimension?....................................................168Can Truth Relate to Spiritual Reality?....................................................180Is Atheism Justifiable?...................................................................193Does Evil in the World Imply Evil in the Progenitor of the World?.........................198What is Logic?............................................................................212Logic and Language........................................................................217Logic and Epistemology....................................................................223Some Concluding Thoughts..................................................................236About the Author..........................................................................241

Chapter One

Introductory Discussions Beer, Women, and Music

Studiosus: Good evening, Scepticus.

Scepticus: Hello, Studiosus. It'll become an even better evening after a few beers.

Studiosus: Yes, a few drinks can be relaxing to those of us who stretch our dendrites to the limit. Who would ever suggest that alcohol and intellect don't mix well? However, I'll confess that I ought not to focus on our supposed intellects. After all, the Originator of our universe must have intellect such as to render our human intellects – even those among us who are blessed with genius endowment – mere trivia, and unworthy of the note of even a moron.

Scepticus: Well, Studiosus, your views on the greatness of human accomplishment might tend to demean us – do you wish to render us insignificant, the creatures who might well possess the highest intelligence of any reality in the universe?

Studiosus: I do not wish to unduly demean us; however, you might remember that Einstein, the scientist par excellence of the 20th century, considered by many to be among the greatest geniuses that human conception has produced, declared that those who failed to stand in awe of the intelligence and mystery underlying the universe are as good as dead (I, of course, am paraphrasing).

Scepticus: Oh yes, Einstein was a bit inclined toward mysticism. Actually, when it comes to genius, I'd favor Bertrand Russell, whom I regard as the single greatest thinker produced by the 20th century.

Studiosus: Oh, you skeptics are always rallying behind each other – you represent those radicals who wish to doubt their very own existence.

Scepticus: Ah, Studiosus, why become so quickly acidic? Has the beer not been sufficiently mellowing of your hostilities?

Studiosus: You might have a point; after all, there are a few nice ladies here in our vicinity, even though some of them might give off an air of the banality of failed feminist ideologies.

Scepticus: You seem to like old-fashioned ladies – those with long, flowing hair, long dresses, and with "meek and quiet spirits".

Studiosus: Well, Scepticus, you actually must have read (or heard) some scripture at some time or other. But really, I do like women who wish to be real women!

Scepticus: Now, just what do you mean by "real women"?

Studiosus: I refer to women who take joy and satisfaction in their femininity, rather than wishing to emulate men.

Scepticus: In other words, you want a woman who is willing to sit at home, take care of her kids, watch soap operas, and do house cleaning and cooking. Furthermore, I suppose that you wish for her to have no ambitions to use her intellect and potential for anything greater than home making – am I right?

Studiosus: No, you're not right. What I refer to has deeper implications than mere occupation or career. It has to do with true femininity, and by that I refer to that mysterious quality of a woman who strongly values masculine powers in her man, and who is gratified in seeing her femininity accentuated and enhanced by her man. Furthermore, she takes satisfaction in using her feminine powers to empower her man – rendering to him that enchanting and mysterious quality for his inspiration and empowerment that only a true woman can ever offer. She also realizes that she needs his empowerment to be the best and greatest lady she can be.

Scepticus: You keep referring to "mysterious qualities" and something on the order of other-worldly mystical powers.

Studiosus: I think you're misinterpreting my descriptions. The "feminine mystique" I refer to arises innately from a woman, when given opportunity and nourishment. Conversely, the man's desire to provide for his lady the masculine features and powers that only a real man can provide will dovetail with her femininity, and this can give rise to a powerful and deeply rewarding bond.

Scepticus: But do female assertiveness and career ambitions militate against her femininity?

Studiosus: I would not claim that they so much militate against her femininity, so long as she takes the proper attitudes toward men, and realizes that men naturally love to dominate, to push, to initiate, and to lead a woman. Of course, I understand that...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: AuthorHouse
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2012
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1477259317
• ISBN 13: 9781477259313
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 252
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
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