tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922368195777055489.comments2010-12-26T21:10:29.808-08:00High-Sounding NonsenseCalinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02360047782363740942noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922368195777055489.post-53525327269072040692010-12-26T21:10:29.808-08:002010-12-26T21:10:29.808-08:00Heh, seems like I did choose an appropriate title ...Heh, seems like I did choose an appropriate title for this blog...<br /><br />You bring up a good point, and it's actually almost the same point that the professor of the class in which I used that textbook brought up. However, an adequate response to that question would pretty much require another blog post of its own... Which I will start working on. ;)<br /><br />Until then, I can kind of summarize the direction I'll be arguing in... by using an analogy to medicine. If science as science is to be value-free and nonnormative, then medicine as a science should also be so. That being the case, medicine must study medical phenomenon while refusing to pass judgment on whether or not humans should have long and healthy lives, or whether the lives of humans are more valuable than the lives of bacteria and cancerous cells. (Is it even possible to look at cancer while being neutral in the conflict?) Where would medical science even start? You have no basis upon which to call any state of affairs "health" or "disease" because you can't say whether a given configuration of atoms in a human body which is conducive to living is inherently any better than its opposite; that would be making a value judgment, compromising your scientific objectivity. Theoretically, only after making observations under these neutral conditions could you then proceed to make recommendations for treatment for what you've philosophically judged to be "diseases" -- but now you've left the realm of medical science and such prescriptions are made on the basis of medical philosophy...Calinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02360047782363740942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922368195777055489.post-36880592825710790902010-12-26T05:52:49.312-08:002010-12-26T05:52:49.312-08:00What a load of high-sounding nonsense! (Seriously,...What a load of high-sounding nonsense! (Seriously, though, I had to read that twice before I understood it).<br /><br />Unfortunately, not knowing much (anything) about political science, this is all a bit theoretical for me. What is it, exactly, that you study? Can you not break down your inquiry into the political process into, say, "Political Science" and "Political Philosophy"? First, study the science and logic of the political process, and then use the nonnormative knowledge you have learned, and evaluate its justice and morality?<br /><br />As an example, study the principles of democracy from a scientific standpoint. Is this an efficient mode of government? How does the percentage of the population living in poverty compare to those populations under other modes? Answer this line of questions, and then use this knowledge as a background for ethical inquiry: Is democracy a more ethically sound form of government? Is it just?<br /><br />Or, perhaps that's just more nonsense.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13290153687250931570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922368195777055489.post-80443406650527966752010-06-08T13:02:58.709-07:002010-06-08T13:02:58.709-07:00My thoughts: Makes sense to me! I do not deny that...My thoughts: Makes sense to me! I do not deny that people much smarter than I am may understand ways around these laws, but they seem pretty solid to me!<br /><br />Looking forward to attending your wedding on Saturday! I have my USMLE tomorrow, then heading down on Friday.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13290153687250931570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922368195777055489.post-37461706578696078662010-03-28T16:16:41.424-07:002010-03-28T16:16:41.424-07:00Mmhmm. "Cognitive Dissonance" is like th...Mmhmm. "Cognitive Dissonance" is like the theme of my life :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13290153687250931570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922368195777055489.post-42317952370004580192010-03-22T15:44:18.424-07:002010-03-22T15:44:18.424-07:00Matt,
That's primarily what is driving my rea...Matt,<br /><br />That's primarily what is driving my reading. Something along the lines of "If I believe X to be true, then what is the logically consistent position to take on issue Y?" I guess you could call this "philosophical integration" or "internal consistency". Interesting thing definitely turn up when you start to test each of your own sets of beliefs for consistency with each other...Calinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02360047782363740942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922368195777055489.post-245246210428819352010-03-22T08:03:07.596-07:002010-03-22T08:03:07.596-07:00I'm really happy you're doing this! My med...I'm really happy you're doing this! My medical studies keep me busy enough that I have only a very cursory knowledge of many of the political/theological topics I'd like to know more about. Thus, my blog tends to sing to the tune of, "Hmm, I wonder what position I should have about X issue?" Looking forward to the good stuff you churn out!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13290153687250931570noreply@blogger.com