Physical Events, Physics and Metaphysics

[jeeprs]

Ortega sounds marvellous. I will have to add him to my library. I believe metaphysics remains a very important discipline, but there are few who can articulate it so clearly. I am also very appreciative of his historical perspective. Many thanks.

[kennethamy]

Originally Posted by jeeprs

Ortega sounds marvellous. I will have to add him to my library. I believe metaphysics remains a very important discipline, but there are few who can articulate it so clearly. I am also very appreciative of his historical perspective. Many thanks.

But does Ortega sound correct? Does he sound as if he has evidence for what he states? That matters too.

[longknowledge]

Originally Posted by kennethamy

But does Ortega sound correct? Does he sound as if he has evidence for what he states? That matters too.

Does he sound sound to you?

[kennethamy]

Originally Posted by longknowledge

Does he sound sound to you?

Ortega? I think he is too excitable.

[jeeprs]

it is a little hard to make a definitive judgement, based on what little information I have, but I looked up the Wikipedia entry, and from what I can see, very well worth reading. He has a very solid grounding in traditional metaphysics, in fact held a chair in it, but also seems to have a very real grasp of philosophy as a life skill. I am starting to like these continental philosphers much more than the boring dull dry academic positivist analyst logic choppes Ayer, Russell, Quine. They are much more humorous and have much more vitality about them. He may be excitable but so what. I bet he was a great conversationalist.

[longknowledge]

Originally Posted by kennethamy

Ortega? I think he is too excitable.

I've been studying his works for over 50 years and I still find him exciting. Maybe I'm too excitable also.

[odenskrigare]

Originally Posted by jeeprs

I am starting to like these continental philosphers much more than the boring dull dry academic positivist analyst logic choppes Ayer, Russell, Quine. They are much more humorous and have much more vitality about them

well gee I never knew that sense of humor makes your points truer

[jeeprs]

well but it's the human dimension. These analytical philosophers only ever seem interested in what makes sentences true. The continental philosophers seem much more interested in what makes life meaningful. I don't really know about Ortega having sense of humour but going on his photo....

[odenskrigare]

Originally Posted by jeeprs

well but it's the human dimension. These analytical philosophers only ever seem interested in what makes sentences true. The continental philosophers seem much more interested in what makes life meaningful

didn't know that, for instance, Bertrand Russell (whom you mentioned) wasn't interested in this issue

http://i32.tinypic.com/2ef6kux.jpg

[jeeprs]

Actually, I agree, Russell was indeed a many-faceted individual, actually it was probably mistaken of me to have categorised him that way. However I think as his career progressed he became more and more focussed on the analytical and logical aspects, and lost some of that rather more speculative and original thinking that he had when younger. I still always remember his conclusion to the History of Western Philosophy, along the lines of 'even though we [analytical philosophers] recognise that there are things the intellect and science cannot tell us, we refuse to admit that there are hidden or higher forms of knowledge'... or something along those lines. Working out the various ways in which I disagree with that statement has been one of my main motivations in life.