The bare Experience: Going beyond the manifest image How Aristotle’s Physics can help contemporary problems in epistemology and ontology for a return to a Natural Philosophy

Details

Supervisors

Guay, Alexandre

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en philosophie

Abstract

We are seeking to show the interest and importance of natural philosophy in its natural mind world relation. That even with the development of modern physics we can see a clearer understanding that exists between physics and knowledge, and that our natural experience of the world is not just an accessory to real world objectivity but is an integral part of knowing. Through Descartes and Artistotle we will explore an epistemology that is foundational. Where we argue for the need of a principle-based philosophy undergirding the scientific enquiry into the causes, and how we can come to know those causes via epistemic status. For this we must revisit the myth of the given to see the difference between independence of knowledge and efficacity in knowing. The given as opposed to bare experience is to be corrected and rectified in light of Wilfred Sellars criticism of it. Showing that what is the case, and our endorsement of that which is the case, is the key element in the consistency of knowledge that allows us to demonstrate or explain causal connection.