Review

1. Review • Practical “pragmatic” shift in thought • Focus on action and “ideas” as habits/guides to action • Schemes of ideas/values evolve via adaptation • Stable, social, responsive systems survive • Formulated in Peirce’s 4 methods • Comfort v irritation—seek best method for “fixing” belief • Some trade stability for social agreement and reverse

2. Stability v Sociability • Tenacity and Authority have reciprocal strength and weakness • A priori (inner light, pure rationalism) = Socratic Method • Can’t achieve social agreement • Only science builds in responsiveness and self correction • Like a priori method, needs no authority (a plus) • Gradual, coordinated, independently verifiable change • Free and morally sound—integrity and real concern for truth

3. James’ Contrast • James’ subjective version of Pragmatism • More comfortable with religion • Psychological “pay-off” and make action possible • Moral judgments and free will • Truth is what works • And working can be very individual • Split with Peirce—Dewey as compromise

4. Questions Review Test Arrangements Review next week after finish Dewey. Exam due before May 4

5. John Dewey • Popular and influential – Politics and Education • Educational reforms and backlash • Emphasis on problem solving • Now coming to you from HKU! Problem based learning. • Challenged by Russell—stops taking about truth • Russell insists not a good analysis (correspondence) • Unfair--also a coherence theory of truth (Socrates) • Correspondence never adequately explained • Pragmatism a version of that (or a mild blend) • Coherent system of beliefs that work—brings in reality • Starts to use “Warranted Assertability” to avoid criticism

6. WarratedAssertability v Truth • Process/method v metaphysical relation • What do the social norms of assertion require, allow and forbid saying? • Justification or warrant rest on social norms • The social norms of reasoning survive or die • Sharing information and justifications • Social intelligence  population intelligence • Rejects the “picture theory” of thought • Opposed to classic individualist conception of ideas • Interest (and reception) in China

7. Pragmatic Mix • Darwinism, Kant and utilitarianism • Mind structures reality • Darwinian context: solves problems for the organism • Leads to richer experienced life (utility ≠ pleasure) • Rationality is a product of evolution • Kant and Hegel (focus on social evolution) • Ways of solving problems that • Are compact enough to "fit in genes" • Successful general strategies given how the world is

8. Inquiry • Constructs a Kantian world that works • Change when it doesn't • Survival determining, but lots of room for selection • Hence also utilitarian • Cost-benefit analysis • In the extreme has survival consequences

9. Steps in Inquiry • Habit • Frustration • Doubt • Gathering information • Hypotheses • Testing • Return to action

10. Dewey’s Method of Inquiry • Natural scientific method • Solve an actual frustration • Mind and habit. • Share successful strategies • Forms of social coordination • Science as efficient way to store/retrieve knowledge • Avoid “metaphysical” doubt

11. Only "Practical" Doubt • Mind only "works" when habit is unsuccessful • Intellectually conservative • Accept scientific picture until disproof • Anti-Descartes • No abstract doubt • Evil demon makes knowledge impossible • May be mathematical, intellectual puzzles • But not "systematic" doubt

12. Neurath's Boat • Listing because of a leak • Repair at sea (we have to stay afloat while we fix our system) • Rely on the good side while we repair the broken plank • Might eventually repair the whole boat • No single plank is irreplaceable • No "fundamental belief" • Rely on other beliefs while correcting troublesome one • Might later correct those we relied on earlier

13. Focus on Social Intelligence • Shared information gathering, storing, accessing • Less tolerant than James of individual "success" • Science, logic and scientific method • Efficient storage, retrieval, testing • Cf. Apprenticeships, secret transmission, know-how • Social intelligence about ethics, crime, economics, SARS and so forth • Critical, autonomous, conformity for common good • No authority but doubt only when leads to problems • Including theoretical problems

14. Social Emphasis • Interest in Marxism, China • Shared social focus • American "socialist" • Critical of Marxism but shared view of human social nature • Main divergence: radical v ameliorative • Violent v liberal—like Neurath's boat

15. "Classical Liberalism" • Conservative individualism • Shallow psychology of human nature • Atomistic, egoistic, base hedonistic, amoral individuals (psychological egoist) • Needing law to motivate moral behavior • Self‑fulfilling prophecy • American character v. Chinese character: • Our nature is shaped by culture and institutions

16. Classical Focus Wrong • Not question of individual v society • Question is how to blend nature & culture • New liberalism • Way to justify liberty is that its institutions create free people • Self-critical, responsible, autonomous • Not something demanded by metaphysically free individuals

17. Democracy • Face to face discussion creates communal humans • Shared views • Mutual respect • Equality • Concern for community • Advocate democracy • To create self‑governing, self‑perfecting beings • Not because majority is right or wise

18. Real Problems for Liberalism • Non‑political/cultural factors inhibit moral growth • Even when politically free • Manipulative "free" institutions • Economic determinism • Songs and arts • Confucius on 禮liritual and music

19. Manipulation • Television and advertising create artificial needs • Cars, fashions, perfumes, colognes, style • Related to songs and natural impulse • Cf. Laozi • Education for jobs • Free form of slavery • Sensationalist slaves • Educational system‑‑teaches docility

20. Solution • Political involvement • People take real power over themselves • Set up institutions with that goal • Social intelligence • Value knowledge is like scientific • Social and coherent • Criticize some only—no systematic value doubt

21. Philosophy for All • Reason in morals and in science • Social shared intelligence • We cannot choose not to philosophize • We choose do it well. . . • Or badly

22. Thank You • Please stay for a few minutes to complete the course evaluation • Good luck!