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Author Topic:   Materialism
nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 14 of 114 (738174)
10-05-2014 5:14 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Dr Adequate
10-04-2014 10:02 PM


I've always had a bit of a problem with materialism. The problem is that I'm not quite sure what it means.
That's pretty much why I don't consider myself a materialist.
Materialism: a theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter.
I take materialism to be a philosophy, rather than a theory.
Mathematics does not seem to be material. Some materialists say that mathematics is pencil marks on paper, but that seems too superficial. Others may say that mathematics supervenes on the material, and perhaps it does. But studying material won't help you learn mathematics.
I tend to characterize myself as some kind of behaviorist (but not a Skinner behaviorist). Our behavior in the world leads us to know something about material and something about mathematics.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

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Replies to this message:
 Message 16 by PaulK, posted 10-05-2014 5:24 PM nwr has replied

  
nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 15 of 114 (738175)
10-05-2014 5:21 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by Pressie
10-05-2014 8:56 AM


Maybe the word "materialism" is something from an old age and not applicable today?
Yes, that probably correct.
The view often expressed is that we should be considering physicalism, rather than materialism. The distinction is that physicalism allows time and space without requiring that they be made of material.
However, I do not embrace physicalism either. And that's because I'm not sure what it entails.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

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nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 19 of 114 (738184)
10-05-2014 7:10 PM
Reply to: Message 16 by PaulK
10-05-2014 5:24 PM


"Materialism" etc. is really about what concrete objects are "made of".
Material objects are made of material?
That seems like an obvious truism. You don't need materialism for that.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

This message is a reply to:
 Message 16 by PaulK, posted 10-05-2014 5:24 PM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 28 by PaulK, posted 10-06-2014 1:02 AM nwr has seen this message but not replied

  
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