@The Outsider,
The Outsider wrote:
Philosophy is dead. So says Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow in their recent publication, The Grand Design. They state this deeply profound statement and then support it with... one sentence. "Philosophy has not kept up with modern developments in science, particularly physics."
I won't bother going any further right now as to why I think they're off their rockers.
The book does contain lots of profound and interesting scientific insights. But why the authors (both seemingly very intelligent men) think this constitutes a philosophy is beyond me.
So, forum, thoughts, comments, snide remarks?
The debate within this particular thread seems to serve Mr Hawking's point, a load of self-referential lessons on the history of philosophy rather than the search to progress human thought and understanding of our existence.
Perhaps Mr Hawking is attempting to provoke a response, like shining a light in philosophy's eye to see if it reacts. If it does not react to the provocation of his new book, then, yes, it must be dead.
I have yet to get my hands on a copy of the new book. Has anyone out there read it? Arguments for, or against this new publication? Or shall we continue to flog the dead horse some more?