(Queen's University)
Space-Time and the Observer: In Defence of Objective Structrure
Friday, February 6th, 2014
To
begin, I briefly recap (and defend) an old story: (1) Newton provides an
account of space and time that renders them imperceptible and
immutable; (2) Kant later argues that space and time receive
their (necessarily Newtonian) structure from the forms of intuition; (3)
Newton’s account of space and time is shown by Einstein to be
inadequate; (4) this, therefore, spells the end for the Kantian approach
to metaphysics.
I then raise what is for me a puzzling question: why do so many
contemporary philosophers of science and metaphysicians adhere to a
neo-Kantian picture, according to which the world gains
its structure from our representations or representational activities?
Of great influence here is the work of two seminal 20th Century
philosophers: Hilary Putnam and Nelson Goodman. So, I turn next to a
consideration of their arguments. I find them to be
question begging and, indeed, self-undermining, and I think it is
illuminating to see why.
I conclude with some thoughts on the bigger picture: in what direction
might the philosophy of science and metaphysics move if freed from the
influence of Kant.
Friday, February 6th, 2014
3:00pm
University of Ottawa
Desmarais Hall (55, Laurier East)
Room 8161
Aucun commentaire:
Publier un commentaire