Is there any question a philosopher can't answer or does the philosopher have to take an extremist view?
PhilX
Stump the philosopher
- Hobbes' Choice
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Re: Stump the philosopher
Are the two clauses of your sentence supposed to represent; 1) two alternatives, or 2) two separate questions?Philosophy Explorer wrote:Is there any question a philosopher can't answer or does the philosopher have to take an extremist view?
PhilX
If 1) then the question does not represent mutually exclusive choices.
If 2) then the answer to the first clause is yes obvioulsy, and the second is a matter of perspective, and value laden.
Can you think of such a question? And is the question a valid one?
Re: Stump the philosopher
No. There are plenty of questions that plenty of philosophers can't answer to my satisfaction, but they all seem pretty satisfied with their own answers to whichever questions they chose to address.Philosophy Explorer wrote:Is there any question a philosopher can't answer
Why would they have to do that? They can if they want to, but anyone can prevaricate, equivocate, circumlocute, self-contradict and dither without necessarily taking a position at all.or does the philosopher have to take an extremist view?
Since nothing philosophers come up with is ever subjected to rigorous controlled testing, there are no wrong answers - only improper applications.
Re: Stump the philosopher
...as compared to the ones he thinks he can answer because in that case, NO, there is no question a philosopher can't answer.Philosophy Explorer wrote:Is there any question a philosopher can't answer or does the philosopher have to take an extremist view?
PhilX
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Jaded Sage
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Re: Stump the philosopher
I suppose he can't answer questions that have no answer.