Jim Lamb, PhD

A Philosopher’s View

Philosophy
- Philosophy is the investigation of fundamental issues by rational argument.
- It’s defined by:
  - Its subject matter: Any Fundamental Issue.
  - Its method: The Analysis of Arguments
  - Its mindset: Skepticism.

Logic
- Logic is the study of the principles and methods of valid reasoning.

Skepticism
- Practical Skepticism is the disposition to believe based only on the evidence and arguments.
- Philosophic Skepticism, by contrast, is the doctrine that there’s no rational basis for believing much of what we think we know.

Probability
- The mathematical theory of probability is well-developed. But the nature of probability is a puzzlement.

Statistics
- Statistics is the branch of mathematics dealing with presenting, summarizing, and making inferences from data.
- Though essential to the social sciences, there is fundamental disagreement about the nature of statistical inference, between Bayesians and Frequentists.

Scientific Theories
- A scientific theory is (i) designed to explain certain kinds of phenomena, (ii) defined by its postulates, and (iii) supported or disproved by its predictions.
- Big Bang, Electromagnetism, Energy, Evolution, General Relativity, Global Warming, Mendel’s Heredity, Newton’s Gravitation, Plate Tectonics, Quantum Mechanics, Special Relativity, Thermodynamics.

Epistemology
- Epistemology is the theory of knowledge and rational belief.
  - Analysis of Knowledge
  - Philosophic Skepticism

Metaphysics
- Metaphysics is the investigation of basic questions about the nature of reality.

Ethics
- Ethics is the normative and conceptual inquiry into right and wrong, good and bad, and what ought to be.

Political Philosophy
- Political philosophy is the normative and conceptual inquiry into forms of government.

Very Short History of Philosophy
- The history of philosophy is the history of philosophic arguments.