ToKCast

Ep 156: Induction under Objectivist Epistemology - Part 2


Listen Later

This is part 2 of a deep dive into the role of induction in objectivist epistemology as interpreted by an objectivist scholar of Ayn Rand. Thomas Miovas Jr operates a website about Objectivism here: https://www.appliedphilosophyonline.com. The relevant paper can be found here:

https://www.appliedphilosophyonline.com/induction-in-philosophy-and-the-special-sciences.html?fbclid=IwAR2cNLVGxyguM5R2TXaYe3OVclhw34lAdIKN0Mp13zTLK-J8dPMmnfNVlOs

It is the above paper I am analysing.

In this episode I discuss more about induction as it is used by Thomas and his invocation of some science - physics in particular and the broader objectivist usage of the term "induction" and Thomas Miovas attempts to salvage the word despite noticing issues with it as it is typically formulated. This leads to a comparison between Rand's style of philosophy - especially epistemology and it's tendency towards abstractions and Karl Popper's far more practical and concrete problem centred approach. Herein I look at how theory-laden any observation is - like simply observing how the sky can be blue. What does "The sky is blue" mean? Is there a sky? Is the air blue? What is scattering? Popper's vision of how knowledge is constructed accounts for this complex notion of our minds coming to solve such problems: Rand's on the other hand is left grappling with why we do not "observe the facts of reality" as she, and other objectivists such as Thomas Miovas, claim we can.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

ToKCastBy Brett Hall

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

94 ratings


More shows like ToKCast

View all
The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish

The Knowledge Project

2,688 Listeners

Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

26,386 Listeners

The a16z Show by Andreessen Horowitz

The a16z Show

1,109 Listeners

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating by Big Bang Productions Inc.

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

1,063 Listeners

Hidden Forces by Demetri Kofinas

Hidden Forces

1,467 Listeners

The Michael Shermer Show by Michael Shermer

The Michael Shermer Show

940 Listeners

Naval by Naval

Naval

2,147 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

10,242 Listeners

The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad by thesaadtruthwithdrsaad

The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad

1,176 Listeners

Dwarkesh Podcast by Dwarkesh Patel

Dwarkesh Podcast

554 Listeners

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal by Theories of Everything

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

20 Listeners

Patrick Boyle On Finance by Patrick Boyle

Patrick Boyle On Finance

191 Listeners

Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist by Joe Lonsdale

Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist

178 Listeners

The Poetry of Reality with Richard Dawkins by Richard Dawkins

The Poetry of Reality with Richard Dawkins

90 Listeners

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley by BG2Pod

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

470 Listeners