How do you know the world is not an illusion? How do you know that everyone else in the world is actually self-aware? How do you know the fridge light turns out when you close the door? These are the kinds of questions that bug me some days.
Science has definitely washed its hands of theology/philosophy. For example, the scientific method cannot help us answer "is anyone else real like I am?". You cannot establish a common ground for discussion (also known as intersubjectivitiy) for such a question! How can you sit down and discuss with a person whether or not they are a figment of your imagination?
However, according to the Wikipedia entry on Philosophy of science:
... specialists in the philosophy of science stress the requirement that observations made for the purposes of science be restricted to intersubjective objects ...
If we were to assume that noone else is real, then wouldn't intersubjectivity become impossible? There can be no intersubjectivity without at least two subjects! Does that mean that science itself is based on the assumption that other people are as real as ourselves? Does the success of the scientific method itself provide scientific evidence that other people are real?
I can't answer that question tonight, but I think the answer is "yes", in which case a scientist can claim something about the nature of other people. Not bad really.
Anyway, g'night to whoever is out there! I say that on the assumption you are real and equal, in which case I should treat you as I do myself. :)
8 comments:
You have blown my mind. I cannot comment on such a topic. However, it does look like you're making great progress on your thesis. SUCCESS!
Good heavens Peter you have too much time on your hands.
I concur with your mom...
The light in my fridge turns off slightly before the door shuts. You can see it. Also, I agree that science as we presently define it is based upon that assumption.
We studied the concept in media studies at uni, but I'd never thought about how it applied to the scientific method. Gotta love existentialism!
Next you'll be into absurdism! It all revolves around existentialism.
Have you ever wondered about light bulbs? Do they emit light or do they suck out darkness???
They suck out darkness!!!
You arty types can never get your head around simple electrical facts. Cut and paste these links to get the truth:
http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/5599/dark_sucker_2.html
http://home.netcom.com/~rogermw/darksuck.txt
Instead of spending all that time philosophysising, just enjoy life for what it is, like a wild roller-coaster ride ;p. Make the best of whatever you've got. Whether you believe in re-incarnation or one life or a parallel dimension, have fun anyway.
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