philosophy

10 June 2020

Stewart Notes, 02 of 02 c. 2020

Chapters 1 & 2 from Elements of Knowledge; Pragmatism, Logic, and Inquiry

Philosophy 1370: 01 & 02 - Online!

First Summer Session 2020

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Here are some definitions and their applications that are important. Be sure to Google items

given with a triple asterisk (“***”).

Contradiction: the holding of completely incompatible views, simultaneously. Thinking that the lights

in a room can be both on and off at the same moment. Believing that one can be both alive and dead,

at the same moment. The notion that got us back into Iraq, the second time, was that Saddam Hussein

possessed “weapon of mass destruction.” This notion contradicts the fact that no such weapons have

ever been found.

Diseases: The humoral theory claimed that illnesses could be cured by bleeding people. George

Washington (yes, that George Washington) died from being bled three times, one afternoon,

“vigorously.” Every application of this nonsense was a failure, all the way from Greek antiquity right

into the 19th century. The miasmatic theory claimed death from cholera (London, 19th century) was due

to the foul smelling air that prevailed throughout London, due to the disease. Again, every case was a

failure. The infectious or “germ” theory, devised by Louis Pasteur (1822 - 1895), finally established the

idea that disease comes from infection. The humoral and miasmatic theories were, at last, discarded.

Two types of certainty, common sense, instinct, and consensus. For certainty: logical certainty (as in

2 + 2 = 4), and practical certainty (such as that the sun will “rise” tomorrow). For common sense:

everyday common sense (like do not make certain hand gestures towards a policeman), and what Peirce

called the “accumulated wisdom” of our species, brought to its present state of development by natural

selection. Instinct: inborn or innate, as in our drive to survive; acquired as in having learned something

so thoroughly that when called upon, such knowledge reacts automatically. Consensus: agreement by

all that I am presently writing these notes, “objective consensus”, vs. the general agreement in the early

20th century that women were too emotionally unstable to be allowed to vote, “subjective consensus.”

Made into law, this appeared for a while to have been an objective consensus.

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Community of Investigators: C.S. Peirce’s phrase for what we would call “the experts.” Regardless of

the field of inquiry, to be a member of this Community, you must 01) understand the questions in the

field, 02) have the Will to Learn (his capitalizations; very important, and 03) have one’s ego under

control. Cases abound where when this last requirement is not met, disaster ensues. The cases of David

Koresh***, the Rev. Jim Jones***, and Charles Keating*** bring this fact into stark relief.

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