January 12, 2010
"Consider the real history of Newton’s physics, compared to what might have been the history of Cartesian dualism. Newton’s physics reigned dominant for two hundred years. It gave us false beliefs but many benefits. I don’t think anyone will say ‘It would have been better if Newton had never lived!’ Imagine that Cartesian dualism had not been so conclusively rejected by the late seventeenth century but had also reigned for two hundred years. Would we say that the false beliefs that metaphysics gave us had been but a small price to pay for the ease and intuitive appeal felt in its explanation of the human condition?"

—

Bas van Fraassen: The Empirical Stance

via fuckyeahphilosophy

2:38pm  |   URL: http://micro.maximalis.me/post/330615051
(Notes: 12)
  
Filed under: history science philosophy ideology 
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