Science, Technology & the Future | Leslie Allan - Assumptions Masquerading as Axioms @scfu | Uploaded July 2023 | Updated October 2024, 5 hours ago.
Leslie Allan talks about the importance of theory construction and testing as opposed to naive induction, as well as the need to be wary of profound conclusions stemming from self-evident axioms - these axioms demand rigorous scrutiny.
In the grand pursuit of knowledge, Descartes' method of deducing theories from self-evident axioms holds valuable lessons. His use of deductive reasoning showcased the power of logical consistency in theory-building, leading to coincidences with the best of known science in his time. Yet, this success also imparts a crucial caution. When profound conclusions arise from what we deem self-evident, we must question the very foundations of these axioms. What seems intuitively true demands scrutiny, empirical testing, and openness to alternative perspectives. History is replete with instances where seemingly self-evident axioms were toppled by progress. Let us cultivate the intellectual humility to critically examine our assumptions, for it is through rigorous evaluation that our understanding truly thrives.
Leslie Allan is a philosopher & humanist - here are some of his papers: https://latrobe.academia.edu/LeslieAllan
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Leslie Allan talks about the importance of theory construction and testing as opposed to naive induction, as well as the need to be wary of profound conclusions stemming from self-evident axioms - these axioms demand rigorous scrutiny.
In the grand pursuit of knowledge, Descartes' method of deducing theories from self-evident axioms holds valuable lessons. His use of deductive reasoning showcased the power of logical consistency in theory-building, leading to coincidences with the best of known science in his time. Yet, this success also imparts a crucial caution. When profound conclusions arise from what we deem self-evident, we must question the very foundations of these axioms. What seems intuitively true demands scrutiny, empirical testing, and openness to alternative perspectives. History is replete with instances where seemingly self-evident axioms were toppled by progress. Let us cultivate the intellectual humility to critically examine our assumptions, for it is through rigorous evaluation that our understanding truly thrives.
Leslie Allan is a philosopher & humanist - here are some of his papers: https://latrobe.academia.edu/LeslieAllan
Many thanks for tuning in!
Have any ideas about people to interview? Want to be notified about future events? Any comments about the STF series?
Please fill out this form: docs.google.com/forms/d/1mr9PIfq2ZYlQsXRIn5BcLH2onbiSI7g79mOH_AFCdIk
Consider supporting SciFuture by:
a) Subscribing to the SciFuture YouTube channel: youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TheRationalFuture
b) Donating
- Bitcoin: 1BxusYmpynJsH4i8681aBuw9ZTxbKoUi22
- Ethereum: 0xd46a6e88c4fe179d04464caf42626d0c9cab1c6b
- Patreon: patreon.com/scifuture
c) Sharing the media SciFuture creates
Kind regards,
Adam Ford
- Science, Technology & the Future - #SciFuture - scifuture.org
