There are different ways we come to know the “stuff” in this world. We generally prefer theories that are simple. The simpler the theory, the less entities involved; therefore, the fewer assumptions we have to make. Quine supports the principle Ockham’s Razor in acceptance of an ontology. Ockham’s Razor is a principle that is preferred when trying to determine our ontological beliefs. The first step of Quine’s method suggests that we use simple theories. As a naturalist, Quine also only takes what scientific theories give him. This is slightly problematic because that means only science can determine what exists and seems to deny common sense.
Ontology is the study of what there is and is a theory about the types of entities there are
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Simpler theories are generally preferred over complex theories because they contain fewer types of entities and not a fewer number of entities. Quine makes note of the difference between the number of different types of entities and the actual number of entities within a theory. He defines them as sparse (having fewer types) and abundant (having more types) ontology. The example he provides is the example that there may be the same amount of grains of sand in a desert as there are individual items in a rainforest; however, there is only one type of sand in the desert but a variety of different kinds, or types, of things in a rainforest . Differentiating between sparse ontology and abundant ontology is important because only then will we be able to analyze whether a theory we use to determine our ontological commitments is inherently simple or not. Another reason for why we should prefer simple theories as opposed to complex theories is the actual lack of varying entities present in a simple theory. A theory that is trying to describe too many things or makes too many assumptions is deemed complex. On the other hand, a simple theory, that is, one with fewer entities is assumed to contain a higher level of truth due to fewer assumptions being made. When fewer assumptions are made, there are fewer things to be possibly wrong …show more content…
That is, he allows for science to be the determiner of what exists and what does not and so only material “stuff” exists for him, as that is what science determines to be real. In other words, Quine makes the goal of ontology, ultimately, taking the best and the simplest science theories and putting them to use within his method . His method can be criticized because Quine, being a naturalist, denies a priori knowledge by definition and therefore, rejecting anything abstract such as mathematics. However, we do take that mathematics and other abstract theories to
This movie is told from Augusten Burroughs' point of view of his childhood. He was very close to his mother; he skipped school to stay with her. To him he seemed to have an ordinary life. His house was very clean and he would polish things because he liked it so clean. His mother Deidre Burroughs, who has gone insane after her divorce from his father, gives him up for adoption to her psychiatrist, Dr. Finch. She comes to their house quite often throughout the movie and asks why he spends so much time with them.
2) A theory is defined as an organized set of concepts that explains a phenomenon or set of phenomena. - True
Object-oriented ontology is a Heidegger-influenced idea of thought that rejects the privileging of human existence over the existence of nonhuman objects. Object-oriented ontology maintains that objects exist independently
Theory of knowledge; often provokes big questions on the meaning and justifications of conventional knowledge.
The Ontological argument is an a priori deductive argument. That is, an argument relating to being, that is independent of prior knowledge of the subject and with a conclusion you must accept IF one accepts the preceding premises. St. Anselm of Canterbury presents the Ontological
theories. It focuses on two seperate issues: the meaning people give to traits, actions and
With regards to the Omelas article, rule utilitarianism would create a rule that could say that torture is wrong under all circumstances. This would give value to the child’s life and the child’s suffering. It would promote that we not allow the child to live in squalor so that the child would be free to live in a horrible society filled with corruption and evil. The story says that if the child were to go free “all the prosperity and beauty of Omelas would wither and be destroyed” (Le Guin 234). Rule utilitarianism would stand that this be an acceptable outcome for Omelas, simply because it would no longer be inflicting the suffering upon this one person. The level of destruction Omelas would face is seemingly insignificant to rule
Strengths of the ontological argument, prima facie, are rather superficial and do not withstand objection if the argument is further probed and examined. Therefore, I do not see much strength in the argument itself, but in Descartes’ formulation of it. Firstly, of the few strengths that are initially brought to mind, the argument employs succinct propositions and does not rely upon evidence
There are two different types of orientations that a theory can be, objective, which uses quantitative data and believes in singular truths, and there is interpretive, which uses qualitative data and believes in multiple meanings and truths. Different types of studies can fall under each of the two approaches, and will be seen further into the course as specific studies and theories are mentioned and examined. Some studies could be concluded as
Theories are a set of interrelated concepts that give a systematic view of a phenomenon (an observable fact or event) that is
Theories are a series of interconnected proposals. Theories are an effort to describe, explain, predict, and finally control a period of events. We are able to base our experiments and select the contenders for the experiments off of our theories. We are able to test our theories by how well the cumulated data describes, relates to and predicts reality. Theories act as patterns for interpreting specific data that we may refer back to. These patterns ensure we stay on topic and are able to obtain the proper results needed to verify our theories.
Ontological argument is an argument that is not based on inspection of the universe, but rather on rationality alone. This type of argument reasons from the study of being or existence (ontology).
Theory explains how individual act toward things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things. The meaning comes
A theory is a set of systematic informed hunches about the way things work. A good theory goes beyond accepted wisdom and offers explanations and speculations about phenomena. Additionally, a good theory consists of a system of concepts which means that the theorist were able to make connections among his ideas. A theory tends to shape our perception of reality and behaviour and guides us through unknown areas.
According to Haralambos and Holborn (2008), a theory is a set of ideas which attempts to explain how something works.