Comments on: The Problem with Metaphysics http://www.libertypages.com/cgw/2008/05/09/the-problem-with-metaphysics/ Musings on Science, Religion and Philosophy Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:57:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Clark Goble http://www.libertypages.com/cgw/2008/05/09/the-problem-with-metaphysics/comment-page-1/#comment-455 Clark Goble Fri, 09 May 2008 18:42:04 +0000 http://www.libertypages.com/cgw/?p=220#comment-455 Universals would be metaphysical in my view. Although depending upon how you take the laws of physics ontologically that's debatable I suppose. I think the implication of Peirce's position is that the line between physical and metaphysical is blurry at best. At best it's a terminological one. An other one would be four-dimensionalism verse three-dimensionalism. There are arguments for both and clear differences in terms of how we attempt to verify them. The arguments might be weak but not non-existence. An even better example might be all the conflict over quantum physics. As I take it Peirce would say that string theory; loop quantum gravity; and so forth are all reasonable theories with practical differences even if we don't yet have an empirical way of falsifying them yet. That's because there are clear differences that aren't merely psychological between say loop quantum gravity versus string theory. Universals would be metaphysical in my view. Although depending upon how you take the laws of physics ontologically that’s debatable I suppose. I think the implication of Peirce’s position is that the line between physical and metaphysical is blurry at best. At best it’s a terminological one.

An other one would be four-dimensionalism verse three-dimensionalism. There are arguments for both and clear differences in terms of how we attempt to verify them. The arguments might be weak but not non-existence.

An even better example might be all the conflict over quantum physics. As I take it Peirce would say that string theory; loop quantum gravity; and so forth are all reasonable theories with practical differences even if we don’t yet have an empirical way of falsifying them yet. That’s because there are clear differences that aren’t merely psychological between say loop quantum gravity versus string theory.

]]> By: Lincoln Cannon http://www.libertypages.com/cgw/2008/05/09/the-problem-with-metaphysics/comment-page-1/#comment-454 Lincoln Cannon Fri, 09 May 2008 16:49:16 +0000 http://www.libertypages.com/cgw/?p=220#comment-454 Clark, what is, in your estimation, a strong example of a metaphysical concept that has practical consequence beyond its psychological effects, and why is it metaphysical rather than physical? Clark, what is, in your estimation, a strong example of a metaphysical concept that has practical consequence beyond its psychological effects, and why is it metaphysical rather than physical?

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