Menno Lievers tells us about the ideas and life of an influential British philosopher.
http://philosophynow.org/issues/89/Mich ... _1925-2011
Michael Dummett (1925-2011)
Re: Michael Dummett (1925-2011)
"When I thought that it would be a good idea to stay in Oxford during one Christmas break, Michael invited me over, together with Philippa Foot, for Christmas Day at his home. After dinner I remember his wife Ann asking me what I felt about Michael’s view on the reality of the past, which she rejected as simply unbelievable. Later he sat in his armchair in the living room surrounded by his grandchildren, who were running around and watching television. He smiled, and remarked, true to his philosophy: “If only they would possess the concept of authority.”
An affectionate ending paragraph to this tribute to his teacher.
An affectionate ending paragraph to this tribute to his teacher.
Re: Michael Dummett (1925-2011)
Michael Dummett sounds like another philosopher who if hadn't existed it wouldn't have made a difference. And I think he would've agreed.
The article by Menno Lievers does not mention Dummett's ideas on fatalism. Dummett also had thoughts on Sustainability. He was fatalistic about Sustainability. This is what he had to say on the subject:
(1) Either the sustainable development is going to be realized or not.
(2) If the sustainable development is going to be realized, it will be realized even if we adopt no policies.
(3) If the sustainable development is not going to be realized, it will not be realized even if we adopt policies.
(4) Hence, if the sustainable development is going to be realized, any policies we adopt will have been superfluous.
(5) Hence, if the sustainable development is not going to be realized, any policies we adopt will be fruitless.
(6) Therefore, it is pointless to adopt policies.
Sounds like mumbo jumbo, double-talk. I am thinking he felt the same about his own existence. One way or the other it didn't matter whether he existed or not, judging by what he said about Sustainability.
The article by Menno Lievers does not mention Dummett's ideas on fatalism. Dummett also had thoughts on Sustainability. He was fatalistic about Sustainability. This is what he had to say on the subject:
(1) Either the sustainable development is going to be realized or not.
(2) If the sustainable development is going to be realized, it will be realized even if we adopt no policies.
(3) If the sustainable development is not going to be realized, it will not be realized even if we adopt policies.
(4) Hence, if the sustainable development is going to be realized, any policies we adopt will have been superfluous.
(5) Hence, if the sustainable development is not going to be realized, any policies we adopt will be fruitless.
(6) Therefore, it is pointless to adopt policies.
Sounds like mumbo jumbo, double-talk. I am thinking he felt the same about his own existence. One way or the other it didn't matter whether he existed or not, judging by what he said about Sustainability.