Conversation outline: 00:00 Introduction: What is Philosophy? 03:11 Can Philosophy help you have a better life? 06:47 What’s the story behind your book “Tetralogue”? A discussion on relativism about truth 12:44 Relativism about matters of taste 20:21 Moral relativism 29:47 Tips for finding out the truth about various issues 35:34 Vagueness and Classical Logic 48:20 Sharp cut-offs 52:40 Epistemicism says that you cannot know these cut-offs: why is that? 56:59 Baldness is not really a function of the number of hairs. Does your account apply to situations which are “non-discrete” situations? 01:01:47 How can a colour predicate (e.g. “_ is red”) latch on to an objective property out there in the world when people may have different perceptions? 01:05:37 If the properties expressed by predicates are person independent, wouldn’t this change the ramifications and implications of the epistemic view? Enjoy!
I have a question though. Would you mind telling what you make of it? Q- I haven't probed deeply into various literary theories and i don't know how but i somehow always get a feeling that these theories( which diversified literature and are of recent making 1960s) are somewhat opposed to the classical literrary approach to literature. I can try to explain this observation by using this analogy picked from discussion of TRUTH in philosphy- Whereas one band of philosophers hold 'ONE ABSOLUTE TRUTH' there are others who would say Truth is 'RELATIVE'. Similarly in literature- the truth that literary theories presents of lit works ,they to me appears to be somewhat opposed to classical approach. If you have understood what I am trying to ask tthen can you help me see in a more clearer way as to how various literrary theories are based on this notion of 'relativism' rather than the classical one which is based on 'absolutism'. If I am able to understand this then I plan to further develop my understanding and probe into the fallacy that relativism in lit. Theory poses. I will try and explain as to how relativistic approach while promises to explain truth from multiple angle(dialogue, tetralogue) and not just one angle(monologu), actually crumbles under its own weight.
If I'm fully honest I don't know much about literature-related matters, so I'm afraid I cannot provide a competent answer to your question... However, if you want to find out more about truth as it is approached in philosophical circles, try to read the summary provided by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. You'll get a flavour of the various approaches to truth and maybe you can put the pieces together to see how they fit with your question.
What a wonderful professor. Great talk; thank you for making it happen!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
yeah. such a bright light, inspiring, daunting, intensely committed to the discipline, intellectually courageous. Rare.
Conversation outline:
00:00 Introduction: What is Philosophy?
03:11 Can Philosophy help you have a better life?
06:47 What’s the story behind your book “Tetralogue”? A discussion on relativism about truth
12:44 Relativism about matters of taste
20:21 Moral relativism
29:47 Tips for finding out the truth about various issues
35:34 Vagueness and Classical Logic
48:20 Sharp cut-offs
52:40 Epistemicism says that you cannot know these cut-offs: why is that?
56:59 Baldness is not really a function of the number of hairs. Does your account apply to situations which are “non-discrete” situations?
01:01:47 How can a colour predicate (e.g. “_ is red”) latch on to an objective property out there in the world when people may have different perceptions?
01:05:37 If the properties expressed by predicates are person independent, wouldn’t this change the ramifications and implications of the epistemic view?
Enjoy!
Hey Teddy,
You posed thoughtful questions which was very necessary to get insightful answers from Prof. Thank you .
Hello, thanks for your kind feedback!
I have a question though. Would you mind telling what you make of it?
Q- I haven't probed deeply into various literary theories and i don't know how but i somehow always get a feeling that these theories( which diversified literature and are of recent making 1960s) are somewhat opposed to the classical literrary approach to literature.
I can try to explain this observation by using this analogy picked from discussion of TRUTH in philosphy-
Whereas one band of philosophers hold 'ONE ABSOLUTE TRUTH' there are others who would say Truth is 'RELATIVE'.
Similarly in literature-
the truth that literary theories presents of lit works ,they to me appears to be somewhat opposed to classical approach.
If you have understood what I am trying to ask tthen can you help me see in a more clearer way as to how various literrary theories are based on this notion of 'relativism' rather than the classical one which is based on 'absolutism'.
If I am able to understand this then I plan to further develop my understanding and probe into the fallacy that relativism in lit. Theory poses. I will try and explain as to how relativistic approach while promises to explain truth from multiple angle(dialogue, tetralogue) and not just one angle(monologu), actually crumbles under its own weight.
If I'm fully honest I don't know much about literature-related matters, so I'm afraid I cannot provide a competent answer to your question... However, if you want to find out more about truth as it is approached in philosophical circles, try to read the summary provided by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. You'll get a flavour of the various approaches to truth and maybe you can put the pieces together to see how they fit with your question.
Ah, alright. So we can determine what people mean when they talk about taste just from armchair. That's classic.