The Pope and Condoms

[Humphrey]

As for poor old metaphysics, it won't in itself provide you with definite knowledge; but it might (often unintentionally) inspire programmes which do end up providing definite knowledge. I can think of plenty of historical examples of this (e.g the Paris condemnations of 1277 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_condemnations ). As I see it, it's kind of like plumbing. Ideally it hums along in the background without you noticing, but when it goes wrong things start smelling of shit pretty quickly.

[munchingfoo]

As for poor old holidays, they won't in themselves provide you with definite knowledge; but they might (often unintentionally) inspire programmes which do end up providing definite knowledge. I can think of plenty of historical examples of this (e.g Penicillin - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penicillin). As I see it, they are like a kind of plumbing. Ideally they hum along in the background without you noticing, but when it goes wrong things start smelling of shit pretty quickly.

Where on earth do we stop? Using intangible concepts that might come good in the end is not something we should be teaching in schools. Mind you, they do get a lot of holidays...

[macgamer]

Blah blah, your still trying to imply that every opinion/'world view' all have some degree of legitimacy. What utter crap.

Hmm, have I found a new ally against the dictatorship of relativism?

[Haunted]

Blah blah, your still trying to imply that every opinion/'world view' all have some degree of legitimacy. What utter crap.

Hmm, have I found a new ally against the dictatorship of relativism?

When it comes science, certainly. Morality, however, is a bit more of a minefield.

[Gregory]

hmm...


Could you just give me a quick run down of the definitive knowledge that metaphysics has given our societies?

Answers on a postcard? A postage stamp? An atom perhaps?

What definitive knowledge do you have? (A philosophy student would probably reply)