Popping Conjectures

Now reading: Conjectures and Refutations (C&R) by Karl Popper

p. 5 "For [Russell] says that epistemological relativism, or the idea that there is no such thing as objective truth, and epistemological pragmatism, or the idea that truth is the same as usefulness, are closely linked with authoritarian and totalitarian ideas."

To avoid a lengthy epistemological discussion, I will first refer to instrumentalism or pragmatism, in the sense that usefulness indicates knowledge (but not that all knowledge must be useful).

"But I think that ideas are dangerous and powerful things, and that even philosophers have sometimes produced ideas."

:D

"the belief in the rule of law... can easily survive the recognition that judges are not omniscient... but cannot well survive the acceptance of an epistemology which teaches there are no objective facts"

p. 8

"Erroneous beliefs may have an astonishing power to survive, for thousands of years, in defiance of experience, and without the aid of any conspiracy."

Given DD's explanation in terms of meme propagation, 'survive' indeed...

p. 11

"Thus we find in Plato the first transition between an optimistic and pessimistic epistemology. Each of them forms the basis of one of the two diametrically opposed philosophies of the state and society."

Plato goes from the doctrine of anamnesis: that your immortal soul knows all but forgets at birth, and my re-cognize the truth again when it sees it, to the cave: seeing the truth (anything but the shadows) is immensely difficult, and will only ever be available to few, and not believed by others.

p. 13

"Socrates' maieutic is not an art that aims at teaching any belief, but one that aims at purgiing or cleansing ... the soul of its false beliefs."

See; Russell, The Problems of Philosophy. What we know comes from science, philosophy is for teaching you what you don't know. Which may be even more important...